Russell Claims Victory at Canadian GP After Norris-Piastri Collision Alters Title Race

George Russell won Mercedes their first win of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a dominating lights-to-flag drive at the Canadian Grand Prix, but it was the late-race McLaren teammates' crash involving Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri that was the real highlight.

Pole-sitter Russell was untroubled at the head of the field, with chaos erupting just behind him. The moment of truth arrived on lap 67 of 70, when fifth-placed Norris made a brave move on Piastri down the pit straight.

Underestimating the gap, the Briton hooked the back of his teammate's car, which suffered terminal suspension damage and led to his instant retirement.

Piastri was able to hold on and took fourth behind race winner Russell, Max Verstappen second for Red Bull, and Mercedes new boy Kimi Antonelli, who took a first career podium in impressive fashion.

Clearly annoyed, Norris instantly took blame on team radio: "It's all my bad, all my fault. Unlucky, sorry. Stupid from me."

The accident bore a chilling resemblance to the much-talked-about intra-team scuffle between Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in the same circuit during 2011. For McLaren, the accident was the first time its drivers crashed this season and dealt a severe blow to Norris' championship bid. Piastri is now 22 points ahead of Norris, with Verstappen 21 points behind.

Norris had fought his way through the pack having started seventh on a different tyre strategy. He passed Piastri at the hairpin on lap 66, but only for the Australian to retaliate with an instant slipstream pass down the straight. On the next lap, Norris tried the same slingshot pass but underestimated and ended in the expensive collision.

While McLaren struggled from the incident, Russell drove impeccably out in front. Having stunned the paddock with pole on Saturday, the Brit held on throughout and withstood late pressure from Verstappen. Red Bull have, however, suggested that they intend to make an official protest regarding what they claim was erratic driving from Russell late in the safety car stint that concluded the race.

Antonelli, however, produced a calm and mature performance way beyond his years. The 18-year-old passed Piastri at the start and resisted pressure throughout, maintaining third position before the late safety car put paid to the opposition.

Ferrari had little to cheer about. Charles Leclerc questioned his team's two-stop strategy over the radio and settled for fifth. Hamilton, after an early brush with a groundhog that damaged his car’s floor and affected his downforce, could only manage sixth.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso maintained his recent run of improved form with seventh, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, who earned crucial points for Sauber in eighth. Esteban Ocon took ninth for Haas, with Carlos Sainz taking tenth after following a clean one-stop plan.

F1 next travels to Austria for Round 11 of the championship, where recollections of last year's Russell win—and the Norris-Verstappen scrap—guarantee to provide an extra dollop of spice to the Red Bull Ring battle.