Canada has experienced some chaotic moments in the past, and this trend is expected to continue into the 2025 season.
The Practice sessions see several crashes and close encounters with the walls, and groundhogs galore as they appear all around the track in Canada. And a new C6 soft Tyre for the Canadian Grand Prix is an exciting change.
Leclerc, Stroll, Piastri, and Hulkenberg caused some incidents in the practice sessions, and a complete mix of cars tops the three for all practice sessions. So it’s anyone’s game.
A Crazy Qualifying
Albon had an unfortunate start to qualifying as half of his engine cover burst off, causing a red flag in Q1. With not too long to go, the F1 drivers are desperate to set some fast laps before they run out of time.
Albon’s team of engineers are quick to fix his car, and he’s out on track again, desperate to set a time. An unfortunate end for Stroll at his home track, ending in 18th, and a surprising sadness for Sainz as he’s out in 17th.
Hadjar may receive a penalty due to his incident with Sainz, which caused Sainz to lose time and not make it into Q2, but Hadjar managed to advance.
It’s a short turnaround for Haas, who ended their qualifying in 14th and 15th. Hulkenberg in 13th, which is a decent result but nothing compared to his 5th place finish at the last race. Will he score points again?
Colapinto gets his best qualifying result yet in 12th, and Tsunoda just missed out on the top 10 positions.
Now onto the final qualifying, and it’s a tight battle amongst the top drivers left. Albon, with a miracle drive, finished in 10th, considering that at the start of qualifying he lost half of his engine, he has done exceptionally well.
Shocking results for Norris and Leclerc in 7th and 8th compared to their teammates, with Hamilton in 5th and Piastri snagging 3rd.
Antonelli leads the rookie leaderboard as he slips into 4th, and it’s a fight for the final two spaces. Verstappen performs a perfect lap, and it looks like it’s his for the taking, but just as Russel crosses the line, he beats him by less than a tenth.
With a stonking lap from Russel, Mercedes showed their consistency, but it’s all to race for.
Ready for Race Day!
Hadjar receives a 3-place grid penalty due to his impeding Sainz, and both Lawson and Gasly have a new engine fitted, so they start last in the pit lanes.
Russel launches forward with a fantastic reaction to the start, and Piastri loses a place to Antonelli within the first few corners.
Albon flies off the track, taking a bumpy ride over the grass and losing three places. DRS kicks in, and Verstappen is tight on Russel’s heels.
The medium versus the hard tyre is the strategy decision today. The medium tyres seemed to be fragile, according to Verstappen, as he pits the earliest car on lap 13.
Russel pits a lap later, desperate to hold onto his first advantage as his rookie teammate takes the lead in the Canadian Grand Prix.
The medium tyres are coming off quickly for many drivers, all deciding it’s not the best tyre for the race; those who started on hard tyres seem to be accelerating ahead.
After several pit stops, it left Norris leading the Canadian Grand Prix at lap 17 with his hard tyres holding out for him.
Albon’s frustration is evident as he speaks over the radio, refusing to pit, and hoping to employ a one-stop strategy. Compared to the majority of the field who have already pitted and only he is left on the medium Tyre.
Norris and the original positions are regained, with Russell in first, Verstappen hot on his heels, and Antonelli still in third after overtaking Piastri at the start of the race.
Verstappen undercuts Antonelli and regains his track position, a well-done tactic at Red Bull.
Albon pulls out, causing a brief yellow flag, an unfortunate incident and an even more saddening race end for him. Similar to the previous year in Canada, it appears that it’s not his best track. Another Mercedes power unit failure for Williams may be a destructive pattern arising.
Home town’s favourite Stroll gets a 10-second penalty for pushing Gasly off track and into the grass, ruining any chance of getting a points finish.
With only 20 laps to go, both McLarens are in 5th and 6th with planned strategies to overtake Russel and Verstappen.
It’s not looking suitable for Leclerc, although he leads the race, he needs to stop again, and is still desperate to get back on the medium Tyre, one of the only drivers who has enjoyed that Tyre.
Now, in the last 15 laps, we have a tough fight between all of the top 5 drivers. Verstappen is closing in on Russel, and Piastri is swerving desperately to overtake Antonelli in 3rd, but he’s holding his own.
Five laps left to go, and it’s a tight battle amongst the two McLaren teammates, inching closer together and also moving closer to rookie driver Antonelli, but can he hang on and win his first podium in Formula 1?
Yellow flag on lap 67 caused chaos, Norris and Piastri made contact, a devastating end for Norris’ race, going for a gap that wasn’t there.
The safety car was finished due to the debris, and little time was left.
Russel with a superb win for Mercedes with a first and third-place finish, and Antonelli was the third youngest finisher in Formula 1 of all time. Verstappen demonstrated his tremendous skills in 2nd place, staying calm and collected throughout the race.
Piastri secured 4th, and the Ferrari duo in 5th and 6th, and a solid performance from Alonso in 7th. Hulkenberg snagged some more points, as did Ocon and Sainz.
An amazing drive from Antonelli, a well-deserved first podium for him in Formula 1, hopefully, there will be many more for this young driver.
No papaya on the podium this time, but smiles all around for both Mercedes drivers and Verstappen.
Is this the comeback for Mercedes?
Next up, we have Red Bull’s ring and Verstappen’s home Grand Prix. Let’s see if they can dominate.
On to the Austrian Grand Prix.
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