The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve—a staple of F1 since 1978—delivered another memorable chapter in Formula 1 history, though this year’s Canadian Grand Prix will be remembered more for its off-track controversies than on-track fireworks. George Russell claimed Mercedes’ maiden victory of the season, while rookie Kimi Antonelli stunned with a podium finish in only his eighth F1 start.
Race Recap: A Mercedes Resurgence
- Russell Dominates: Led from start to finish, capitalizing on Montreal’s traction-heavy layout that masked Mercedes’ tire overheating woes.
- Antonelli’s Breakthrough: The 18-year-old’s third-place finish marked F1’s youngest podium since Max Verstappen in 2016.
- McLaren’s Meltdown: Lando Norris crashed into teammate Oscar Piastri while battling for fourth, ending his race and triggering a late safety car.
The Verstappen Suspension Threat Looms
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (P2) now sits on 11 penalty points—one away from a race ban. The tension escalated when:
- Red Bull accused Russell of baiting Verstappen to pass under safety car (appeal dismissed).
- Russell quipped: “I’ve got a few more points on my license to play with.”
Ferrari’s Frustrations & Media Warfare
- Lewis Hamilton’s race ended after hitting a marmot (yes, really), compounding Ferrari’s struggles.
- Italian media turned on team principal Frédéric Vasseur, demanding results after 17 title-less years. Critics ignore that Ferrari’s last dynasty (Schumacher/Todt/Brawn) took 7 years to build.
Why Montreal Delivered (Quietly)
While not a classic, the race highlighted:
- Mercedes’ progress after early-season woes.
- Antonelli’s meteoric rise as F1’s next star.
- McLaren’s intra-team rivalry boiling over.
- Verstappen’s precarious penalty count—now a season-long subplot.
