Raceday Recap: Montreal Madness
O Canada, O Canada: the 10th race of the season brought cool weather and even colder overtakes as the playing field got shaken up. Let’s discuss why this week’s results look so different compared to the previous races, as well as regulation changes and other jaw-dropping moments.
For the first time in 2025, George Russell took pole position (his first qualifying P1 since the Qatar Grand Prix in 2024) with rival Max Verstappen behind him in P2. Oscar Piastri achieved P3, followed by Kimi Antonelli in P4 and Lewis Hamilton putting up an impressive P5. Fernando Alonso also showed up and showed out to start P6 on the grid, followed by Lando Norris in P7, Charles Leclerc in P8, Isack Hadjar in P9, and Alex Albon rounding out the top ten. However, these drivers weren’t the only notable qualifiers on Saturday: Liam Lawson received a 50 place grid penalty for changing the technology of his car in the parc ferme, therefore starting in the pit lane. (Yes, there are only 20 cars on the grid. And yes, fans did make jokes about him starting in a different country or outside of the track.)
Liam Lawson dissociating after a harsh grid penalty from the stewards. Photo courtesy of RNZ Sport.
Around the first few turns, Antonelli advanced to P3, while Albon, far behind, went wide and took a shortcut across the grass, an incident that allowed Nico Hulkenberg to gain 2 places as he passed both Albon and Franco Colapinto. The craziness died down for most of the race’s middle section, but on lap 45, Lance Stroll pushed Pierre Gasly wide onto the grass while going down the straight and received a 10 second time penalty from the stewards because of it. On lap 55, Piastri began to pressure Antonelli for P3, but Antonelli stayed ahead and maintained his position. On lap 66, 4 laps before the end of the race, Norris overtook Piastri for P4 temporarily. However, Piastri took the position back during the same lap. Norris went left on the final straight of lap 66 to try and pass Oscar, but he ran out of room. His front wing rammed into the rear of Piastri’s car, he got pushed wide into the barrier, and totaled the tires to end his race.
After the McLaren racing incident (eerily familiar to one between McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in 2011), George Russell crossed the finish line to claim P1, with Max Verstappen right on his tail in 2nd and teammate Antonelli completing the podium. Antonelli became the 3rd youngest podium finisher of all time, an impressive record for the young rookie, considering his historical Formula 1 success was accompanied by his recent school exams. Piastri finished a respectable 4th, with both Ferraris behind him (Leclerc in P5 and Hamilton in P6). Alonso ended the race in P7, and Hulkenberg displayed another impressive result as he took home P8 and 4 points for the Kick Sauber team. Esteban Ocon took P9 and Carlos Sainz finished P10, sort of a consolation prize after Albon DNF’d the race due to power unit troubles.
This weekend was an exciting one: Russell’s first 2025 win, the first of many podiums for Antonelli, and a time of reflection for McLaren strategists. Next week in Austria will be hot and quick, and since the drivers have a week off to prepare, let’s hope that Norris and Albon can both get their issues sorted out in the meantime. As always, thanks for reading!
Lights out and away we go,
Lucy xx
