Formula 1: George Russell claims Canada GP win as McLaren teammates collide in Championship twist

In a stunning turn of events at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, George Russell secured Mercedes' first Formula One win of the season. This victory came as a result of a dramatic crash between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the final laps of the race, reshaping the championship landscape. Starting from pole position at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Russell crossed the finish line under a safety car after a collision saw Norris inadvertently strike the back of Piastri’s car just three laps before the end. The incident not only eliminated Norris from the race but also hindered Piastri's ability to compete for a podium finish, ultimately leaving him in fourth place. “It’s amazing to be back on the top step,” Russell exclaimed after the race. Reflecting on his previous near-victory in Las Vegas, he attributed his win to an outstanding qualifying performance. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who was chasing his fourth consecutive win in Canada, had to settle for second place as his efforts faded behind the safety car. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli, a rookie driver for Mercedes, finished third, marking his first podium and making history as the first Italian to achieve this feat since 2009. With this outcome, Piastri extended his lead in the drivers' championship to 198 points, with Norris following at 176 points and Verstappen at 155. Russell's victory elevated him to 136 points, while in the constructors' championship, Mercedes moved ahead of Ferrari into second place, though McLaren maintained a solid lead. The incident between the McLaren drivers added unexpected drama to what had been a relatively controlled race. Norris quickly acknowledged his mistake over the radio, stating, “I’m sorry. All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me.” He later reiterated his remorse during an interview, emphasizing that the crash was purely his fault. Although race stewards issued him a five-second penalty, it proved irrelevant as he had already retired from the event. Piastri had the chance to pit under the safety car and was fitted with fresher tires, but he was unable to leverage this advantage before the race concluded. In the final standings, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton took fifth and sixth positions, respectively, with Hamilton's car reportedly suffering damage from a collision with a groundhog. Fernando Alonso claimed seventh for Aston Martin, followed by Nico Hulkenberg in eighth for Sauber. Esteban Ocon finished ninth for Haas, celebrating the team's 200th Grand Prix, while Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten for Williams. A post-race protest from Red Bull was dismissed by race officials after extensive deliberation. Antonelli's third-place finish made him the third-youngest driver in history to stand on an F1 podium, with the 18-year-old expressing relief that the race had concluded without further incident. As the Formula One season progresses, the competition intensifies, both among teams and within their ranks.