George Russell delivered a masterful performance to claim victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that culminated in high drama and a safety car finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The Mercedes driver fended off challenges from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli, who celebrated his first Formula 1 podium, in a thrilling 70-lap contest that erupted in the final stages.
The race, which simmered for much of its duration, boiled over in the last 15 laps as strategy calls tightened the leading pack. A pivotal moment came on lap 67 when McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided while battling for fourth.
Norris, attempting an overtake on the pit straight, misjudged a gap and struck Piastri, sending his own car into the wall and out of the race. Piastri escaped unscathed and continued, while Norris took full responsibility, issuing a heartfelt apology to his team over the radio.
The incident triggered a safety car, under which several drivers, including those in the midfield, pitted for fresh tires. The race concluded behind the safety car, securing Russell’s win, with Verstappen in second and Antonelli third. The tight margins were evident by lap 60, when fewer than six seconds separated the top five, setting the stage for the late chaos.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton endured a challenging race, grappling with an underperforming Ferrari to finish outside the points. Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg capitalized on consistent drives to score consecutive points finishes.
Local hero Lance Stroll, however, suffered a disappointing home Grand Prix, receiving a 10-second penalty for a clash with Pierre Gasly, which relegated him to P18, the last car running after retirements for Alex Albon and Liam Lawson.
The dramatic clash between the McLarens overshadowed a strategic masterclass by Russell, whose victory marked a significant moment for Mercedes in a season of intense competition.