Hello and welcome to this Total Motorsport live blog for the F1 2025 Canadian GP from Montreal, where the fight for victory is very much up in the air as Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren all look to be in the hunt.
George Russell secured a spectacular pole position at the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, setting the stage for an intense showdown. The Mercedes driver will lead the field into Turn 1, aiming for victory at one of Formula 1’s most demanding circuits.
Alongside Russell on the front row will be his fierce rival Max Verstappen, ensuring an electrifying start given their recent heated exchanges. Verstappen’s strong qualifying performance was overshadowed by lingering tension from a controversial collision with Russell in the previous race at Barcelona.
Total-Motorsport.com’s F1 2025 Canadian GP live updates offer fans unparalleled insight into team strategies, reliability concerns, and potential frontrunners. So stay tuned with us as the F1 2025 Canadian GP unfolds live from Montreal.
F1 Canadian GP 2025 – Latest Updates
Russell reacts to incredible Canadian GP win
George Russell becomes the fourth different winner of the 2025 Formula 1 season as he delivers a masterful performance in Montreal to beat Max Verstappen to the punch.
And humble in victory, he makes sure he credits the team for all of their efforts throughout the offseason as he takes his first triumph since November 2024.
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“It’s amazing to be back on the top step,” Russell said to F1 TV. “The last time for us was back in Vegas.
“I felt last year was a victory lost and probably got the victory today due to the incredible pole lap yesterday. Obviously so happy to see Kimi on the podium as well.
“Amazing day for the team. Thanks to everyone back at the factory for working to get us back fighting for victories. it feels good.”
Verstappen content with second in Canada
Max Verstappen gains 18 points over Lando Norris at the 2025 Canadian GP and also eats fractionally into Oscar Piastri’s lead at the top of the standings, proving he can never be counted out once again.
Although he didn’t win, he’s keen to take the positives from a race he thought he was on the back foot throughout as he struggled to keep up with George Russell’s Mercedes.
“It was quite a good race,” Verstappen reflected to F1 TV. “Even though I think the first two stints we were struggling quite a bit on the tyres.
“We were doing quite an aggressive strategy, but luckily on that final stint we managed to hang in there, and actually the pace was a bit better on the lower fuel load.
“I think we drove an attacking-slash-defending race – attacking with the strategy, defending with the cars behind, but it worked out for us and I think that was the maximum possible for us today.”
Kimi Antonelli had to work for his first podium as he reacts to the Canadian GP
The 18-year-old becomes the third youngest podium sitter in the sport behind Lance Stroll and Max Verstappen after a superb effort under a lot of pressure throughout the race from the Dutchman and McLaren pair behind.
The Mercedes driver showed great pace and composure to keep up with the leaders and seasoned heads on the grid to help his team secure a 1-3 finish at the 2025 Canadian GP, and it’s no surprise he’s buzzing.
“It was so stressful but super happy,” Antonelli told F1 TV. “I had a good start, managed to jump into P3 and just stayed up there at the front.
“The last stint I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and I killed a bit the front-left, and struggled a bit at the end, but really happy to bring the podium home.
“Definitely this track has been good for us, the car has been incredible all weekend, and hopefully we can carry the same momentum into the next few races.”
Check out how the title leaders collided in Montreal
Drama for the fans. Disaster for Lando Norris.
Check out how his 2025 Canadian GP came to an end as he hit the back of his teammate and title rival!
RUSSELL WINS CANADIAN GP AS NORRIS CRASHES OUT
George Russell takes the chequered flag behind the safety car and wins the 2025 Canadian GP for Mercedes!
The Brit delivered an excellent effort to fend off Max Verstappen throughout the 70 laps in Montreal and takes a well-deserved triumph in North America.
But the story is all about the two McLarens, who crashed in the dying embers of the race as Lando norris ran into the side of his title rival, Oscar Piastri.
What will the pair have to say about that?
Top 10: Russell, Verstappen, Antonelli, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Ocon and Sainz.
Lap 68/70: Verstappen reports Russell 👀
George Russell hits the brakes hard behind the safety car and Max Verstappen locks up as he tries not to overtake the Mercedes.
Gianpiero Lambiase tells the four-time world champion they will report it to race control. That could be a time penalty if the FIA finds Russell drove aggressively.
SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED: Norris OUT
Lando Norris goes for a gap that doesn’t exist and costs himself his own front-wing and his chances of a podium finish in Canada!
The safety car is deployed as Oscar Piastri picks up a set of new tyres in the pits, but it’s unlikely we will get racing once again.
The Aussie is going to extend his championship lead by at least 12 points today.
Lap 67/70: NORRIS AND PIASTRI CRASH
Lando Norris is OUT of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix after crashing into his teammate on the start-finish straight!
His front-wing is gone and so is his front suspension! They were very aggressive on the run out of the hairpin!
Piastri gets away with it and will extend his championship lead by a huge margin!
Lap 65/70: Russell comfortable
George Russell is under no threat from Max Verstappen at the moment, opening up a 2.5-second gap to the Red Bull and leading this race.
The Mercedes star is on course for his first win of the year!
Lap 64/70: Steely composure from Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris has got very close to Oscar Piastri in the recent laps, and the Brit is busy in the mirrors of his teammate.
However, the Australian does not flinch and defend nothing. He’s showing off that ice cold compsoure behind the wheel.
They’re fighting for fourth and fifth at the moment, but Kimi Antonelli is also right there for third place too.
Lap 62/70: Norris painfully close to Piastri
Lando Norris is now within half a second of his colleague.
How will Oscar Piastri handle this situation in the other McLaren?
The pair are contending for the world championship, remember.
Lap 60/70: Norris in DRS of Piastri
Lapped traffic has not been very kind to Oscar Piastri and it has allowed Lando Norris to close within one second of the championship leader.
Will McLaren allow their drivers to race? Both have alluded to this moment coming all season long.
George Russell, meanwhile, has responded to Max Verstappen and is now 2.1 seconds clear of the Red Bull behind.
Lap 57/70: Excellent finish on the cards
Max Verstappen is now just 1.5 seconds behind George Russell, who leads this 2025 Canadian GP. Are the pair set to do battle for the victory just one race after their drama in Spain?
Lando Norris is also closing up on Oscar Piastri as they race for fourth place, and potentially third. Will we finally see the title rivals go wheel-to-wheel?
Do not look away from this finish at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Lap 55/70: Liam Lawson OUT
It’s been another anonymous race for the Kiwi as the pressure grows on Liam Lawson to make an impression.
He might be thankful this 2025 Canadian GP is finally over for him, as he pulls into the pits to retire from proceedings.
Lap 53/70: Charles Leclerc pits
Charles Leclerc pits from the lead and comes out into this race back on the medium tyre finally, the Ferrari now must charge through the field to catch the front. A safety car would benefit him big time.
George Russell leads Max Verstappen by 2.3 seconds, then comes Kimi Antonelli (1.4), Oscar Piastri (0.6), Lando Norris (2.5) and Leclerc (11.6).
This is building up to a thrilling finish.
Lap 52/70: Leclerc not happy
Charles Leclerc is questioning why he hasn’t come into the pits as a train of cars queue up to pass the Ferrari behind.
He has to take the medium tyres until the end, but the pit wall isn’t keen to bring him in just yet because they don’t like the yellow-walled compound.
That’s something confusing the Monegasque racer, who thinks it’s an excellent choice.
Lap 48/70: Albon OUT of race as Stroll collects time penalty
Alex Albon pulls to an escape road near the hairpin and he is out of this 2025 Canadian Grand Prix with power unit issues, the same kind that seemed to affect him in Spain.
Meanwhile, Lance Stroll collects a 10-second time penalty for pushing Pierre Gasly off track into the final chicane.
The pair had banged wheels in their battle for 17th.
Lap 47/70: Norris pits
Lando Norris gets rid of his medium tyres and is back onto the hards, as he now needs to charge through the field to catch the cars ahead. Is he up to the challenge?
He’s 3.9 seconds behind his teammate, Oscar Piastri, who had also pitted just a few moments prior. Charles Leclerc leads for Ferrari, but he will have to pit again.
Lap 45/70: Oscar Piastri pits from the lead
Oscar Piastri now comes into the pits to take on a set of new hard tyres that will take him through to the end of the race.
He slots back into sixth and he’s behind George Russell, Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli for the “true” lead of this 2025 Canadian GP.
Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc continue to lead, but both will likely pit again. In Leclerc’s case, he has to.
Lap 42/70: Russell pits to avoid traffic
George Russell gets nicely out of the way of back marker traffic by pitting before he hits seven cars all battling for position in Canada.
That would’ve cost him a lot of time if he had to make his way through the train, and he’s back out into this race in fourth. He’s 4.6 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
He’s also got to catch Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri if he wants to win this 2025 Canadian GP.
Lap 37/70: Verstappen pits!
Max Verstappen now pits again to try to trigger the undercut on Kimi Antonelli, who he was already ahead of anyway and stays ahead of by just a tenth or two! Very fine margins!
The pair are now out in fifth and sixth, and George Russell might respond in a lap or two to protect his lead.
Oscar Piastri isn’t liking the idea of trying to one-stop from this position. He’s eight seconds behind Russell.
Lap 36/70: Hamilton has damage
Lewis Hamilton complains that he’s in the middle of nowhere in this race as he finds himself 7.5 seconds behind Charles Leclerc, who is the car ahead on sixth.
His engineer tells him that he’s doing well considering he’s carrying damage, which Martin Brundle tells Sky Sports F1 that’s half-a-second of lost time.
Lap 35/70: Russell comfortable in the lead
George Russell now has a 4.8-second gap to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull behind, which could be absolutely critical when he catches lapped cars in a few moments.
The Mercedes driver is in an excellent place to win this race, can he deliver through the strategy?
Lap 33/70: Alonso up to ninth
Fernando Alonso is keen to race, ignoring his engineer’s directions to look after his tyres a bit better through Turn 3 and 8.
The Aston Martin ace blasts past Carlos Sainz’ Williams down the back straight to take ninth position away from his Spanish compatriot.
Next up is Esteban Ocon, who is 15 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. Passing the Haas is Alonso’s race now.
Lap 29/70: Norris pits from the lead
Lando Norris now pits from the lead to respond to a potential undercut from Charles Leclerc, and unlike the Ferrari, he takes the option of the mediums.
Norris now doesn’t have to pit again if he doesn’t want to, and he’s out into fifth and behind Oscar Piastri, his championship rival. Will we see fireworks from the McLaren pair?
George Russell now takes over the lead once again ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who is three seconds behind.
Lap 28/70: Leclerc frustrates Verstappen and then pits
Charles Leclerc puts on the hard tyre after holding up Max Verstappen and that means the Ferrari is now officially committed to a two-stop strategy in Canada.
That releases the Dutchman to chase after George Russell, who has disappeared to 1.8 seconds up the road with Lando Norris continuing to lead.
Leclerc is confused at the strategy choice, now committed to pitting again. Hopefully Ferrari were confident and not confused themselves.
Lap 27/70: Russell clears Leclerc – Big move for Mercedes
George Russell picks off Charles Leclerc on far fresher tyres and that’s a big move in the context of his battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
That can allow the Silver Arrows driver, who started on pole, to build a buffer to the four-time world champion behind.
How quick can Verstappen get through?
Lap 24/70: Albon finally pits
Alex Albon can finally get off those horrific medium tyres and put on some of the hards to see what he can do – maybe to try and one-stop to make up the lost times and places.
He’s now running last in the order, behind Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll at the back the field.
Lap 23/70: Your order at the front
Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc continue to lead this 2025 Canadian GP, both started on the hard tyres and are yet to make their respective stops.
George Russell is running in third, then comes Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli, Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and Yuki Tsunoda in the Top 10.
Norris holds a 2.7-second advantage at the moment.
Lap 20/70: Sainz slips through Albon as Hamilton makes moves
Lewis Hamilton’s looking to make his way back through the running order as the Brit moves through past Alex Albon and Esteban Ocon in a matter of laps.
Albon is also passed by his Williams teammate, Carlos Sainz, and is clearly frustrated with how this race is unfolding.
He’s in 11th and running on the medium tyres, yet make a stop. He’s now eyeing up a tyre offset advantage.
Lap 16/70: Piastri pits from the lead
Oscar Piastri had momentarily taken over in the lead of the race, but he decides to pit instead of going long to get off the medium tyre.
He’s mirroring what all of the cars around him did and he’s back out into the order in sixth place, chasing down Kimi Antonelli.
Lando Norris, who started on the hards, now leads the race. Don’t expect to see him in the pits anytime soon. He’s followed by Charles Leclerc on the same strategy.
Lap 15/70: Hamilton overtaken… And pits
Lewis Hamilton is overtaken by Lando Norris in a rapid McLaren, but pits at the end of the lap in response to all of the stops going on around him.
He’s back out into the order in 10th, and quite a way behind Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes although he is on the hard tyre now, something he has a famous mastery of.
Lap 14/70: Antonelli pits
Following suit, Kimi Antonelli also pits to mirror the cars around him and he’s back out on the hard tyres, but he’s back behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Can the young Italian close up on the four-time world champion once again? He has a one-lap tyre advantage.
Oscar Piastri now leads.
Lap 13/70: Russell responds to Verstappen
George Russell comes in at the end of the next lap and all is well on his pit stop, as he shuffles down to seventh in the order and keeps his place in the net lead of the Canadian GP.
Verstappen has Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber between himself and his target ahead.
Kimi Antonelli takes over in the lead.
Lap 12/70: Verstappen pits!
Max Verstappen decides to bin off his medium tyres and pits for a set of hards, dropping down to seventh as he comes back into the order.
He’s trying the undercut on the Mercedes pair who were ahead of him, and that will no doubt trigger a response from the Silver Arrows.
Russell continues to lead by a few seconds.
Lap 11/70: Norris clears Alonso
Fernando Alonso practically waves Lando Norris through as the Aston Martin driver doesn’t offer much of a fight against their quicker McLaren behind.
That’s a big move for Norris, who can now set about chasing after Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari ahead.
Is the hard tyre coming to life in Montreal?
Lap 11/70: Antonelli closing in on Verstappen
Kimi Antonelli has just got back in DRS range of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, covering around the eight tenths margin to the four-time world champion.
Can the Mercedes driver make a move soon?
Stay tuned to see how this one unfolds.
Lap 9/70: Rear degradation the key says Piastri
Oscar Piastri observes the front degradation is better than Free Practice 2, the most similar conditions to this race, but that rear degradation is worse.
It’s still unclear if managing is the key, or if you should go for broke with multiple pit stops expected.
Either way, the hard doesn’t seem great so far, but it’s still early doors.
Lap 6/70: Russell OUT of DRS range
Max Verstappen might be starting to manage his tyres now as he drops just out of DRS range of George Russell.
The rear-left is the key one according to Esteban Ocon. Let’s see how this shapes out when the strategy comes to life later on in this Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell leads Verstappen ahead of of Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton in the Top 5.
Lap 4/70: Bad news for Piastri as Antonelli drops out of DRS
Kimi Antonelli has now slipped out of DRS range of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which is bad news for Oscar Piastri if he wants to catch the leaders.
They can now DRS away from the McLaren, who will need to clear Antonelli soon if he wants to get back into the fight for this win.
Antonelli is now two seconds behind Verstappen, with Piastri a further 1.5 back – although it seems as though he’s managing his tyres.
Lap 2/70: DRS enabled
Max Verstappen can get some DRS to have a look at George Russell’s Mercedes, but the four-time champion isn’t close enough to make a move yet.
Russell leads Verstappen from Antonelli, Piastri, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, Leclerc, Hulkenberg and Colapinto in the Top 10.
LIGHTS OUT: Piastri loses out
Kimi Antonelli is the big winner from that race start as he jumps ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, putting the young Mercedes driver up to third.
George Russell holds the lead from Max Verstappen, but can he resist the Red Bull when DRS is enabled?
Alex Albon goes off track at Turn 8 and cuts the grass, rejoining and almost wiping out two cars! But he gets away with it.
FORMATION LAP BEGINS
George Russell heads the field away for the formation lap, meaning lights out is moments away in Montreal.
Will the Mercedes be able to fend off Max Verstappen’s Red Bull into Turn 1, and what can Oscar Piastri do from further back down the order?
Action is almost here in Canada. Find out how it all unfolds with Total-Motorsport.com.
Strategy options at 2025 Canadian GP: When will they pit?
McLaren and Ferrari have a brand new set of medium tyres to use at the 2025 Canadian GP, could that give Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton an advantage over their competitors?
Medium-medium-hard could be the way to go for the Australian and the Brit as they both look to win this race from outside of the top two.
Check out the best way to use the rubber below, according to Pirelli, amid the baking hot temperatures in Montreal.
READ: Your grid for the 2025 Canadian GP
You know it’s George Russell on pole ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri but where do the rest of the drivers shape up?
Check out the full grid below, including those taking pit-lane starts at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve today…
National anthem time…
A young Willingdon School Choir sings the Canadian national anthem and that means lights out is now far away now.
The music is impeccably observed by the grid, with the locals in the Grand Stands singing along as a flyover from the air force blasts over Montreal.
What can home hero, Lance Stroll, do from 17th on the grid?
Baking heat means advantage McLaren
It’s scorching hot in Canada, with track temperature hitting around 45 degrees celsius and that means those tyres are going to be punished. It’s the rear-left that Esteban Ocon is watching out for, and so will the rest of the grid too.
This plays perfectly into McLaren’s hands. The team have shown excellent tyre management throughout the season – as the temperature rises, they get faster.
Advantage to Oscar Piastri in his battle against George Russell and Max Verstappen.
Punchy comments from Max Verstappen
Red Bull’s defending world champion starts from second on the grid for the 2025 Canadian GP, just behind George Russell.
Max Verstappen’s got Oscar Piastri close behind and he feels as though he’s well in the mix as he looks for his first win of June. Can the four-time champ deliver?
“Just looking forward to today,” Verstappen tells F1 TV. “Hopefully we can have a strong race and we’re competitive.
“We’ll just try to have the best possible race, look after our tyres well and see who’s fighting around us.
“I think it will be all quite close between the front cars. It’s a super long race. A lot can happen.”
Hamilton hunting down podium in Canada
Can Lewis Hamilton get his season back on track with a podium at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve today? That’s the target from the Brit as he starts from fifth on the grid.
This is one of his most successful tracks too, so if anyone is going to be fast around here then it’s the 105-time Grand Prix winner. Let’s see what he can deliver.
“I think today is going to be massively challenging, but we’re not in a bad position,” Hamilton told F1 TV. “We have slightly fresher tyres than the cars that are ahead, so fingers crossed we can utilise that, and stay with them.
“I’m trying to get to a podium today. It’s a beautiful day. We have so much support here. This is one my favourite races with the turnout we get.
“I would love, love, love to get my first podium with the team here today.”
Huge grid drop for Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson takes a 50-place grid drop penalty for the F1 2025 Canadian GP, dropping him from 19th and to a pit-lane start alongside Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda.
That’s a penalty that hasn’t been seen since the McLaren Honda days!
Welcome to the blog!
It’s George Russell on pole position from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen as the Mercedes driver produced a superb lap to start from the front for the first time in 2025.
What can Oscar Piastri do from third on the grid? Can the championship leader get ahead of Verstappen, one of his rivals for the title, into Turn 1?
And can Lando Norris fight back from seventh in the order after a shocking Q3 lap in qualifying for the 2025 Canadian GP? Find out here with Total-Motorsport.com.
Where to Watch 2025 Canadian GP?
For viewers in the United States, 2025 Canadian GP will be shown on ABC, with streaming coverage via ESPN+.
In the UK, all sessions, including 2025 Canadian GP are available on Sky Sports F1 including the race itself. And fans in Australia can catch all the action on Fox Sports 506, Kayo Sports, and Foxtel.
What time is the 2025 Canadian GP?
The 2025 Canadian GP begins at 2:00pm local time on Sunday in Montreal. That means an early evening start for F1 fans in the UK, where FP2 begins at 7:00pm on Sunday.
Over in the USA, the 2025 Canadian GP begins at 2:00pm ET on Sunday afternoon, which means an 11:00am PT start for those on the West Coast.
