Russell triumphs, Antonelli surprises, and McLaren struggles in Canada

George Russell takes his first victory of the year in a surprising Canadian Grand Prix, in a race that produced more than one surprise. The British driver dominated with solidity and strategy to climb to the top of the podium, followed by Max Verstappen, who salvaged a valuable second place for Red Bull.

The day's big revelation was Kimi Antonelli, who achieved his first podium in Formula 1, proving that his talent is more than ready to compete at the highest level. The young Italian driver put in a flawless performance and earned applause on a day that will forever be remembered.

Furthermore, this race marks another unusual event in the season: it is the first time that any McLaren driver has taken the podium, a striking fact considering their previous dominance.

Photo: Mercedes amg

George Russell took a flawless victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, in a race that, although linear in its development, was full of details that completely changed the championship landscape. The Briton started from pole and never relinquished the lead, taking advantage of a conservative start by Max Verstappen, who, conditioned by being just one point away from a possible suspension, decided not to take any risks at the first corner.

Although everyone expected a direct duel between Russell and Verstappen from the start, the real battle took place further back, between the McLaren drivers. Lando Norris, who started from seventh position, staged a great comeback with strong pace and intelligent strategy. He found himself battling with his teammate Oscar Piastri for fourth place in the closing laps, in a tense and decisive battle, after a difficult weekend for the Woking team, which was far from the dominant form they had been showing.

The big surprise of the day was Kimi Antonelli, who with a brilliant start overtook Piastri and took third place, thus achieving his first podium finish in Formula 1. A solid, error-free performance confirmed the young Italian's potential in the premier class.

There was no shortage of drama at the close: with three laps remaining, Norris attempted to overtake Piastri, but made a mistake and touched his teammate. The Briton ended up in the wall and retired from the race, a frustrating end to a promising performance. Norris himself took the blame for the incident, acknowledging that he risked more than necessary. Meanwhile, Piastri managed to maintain control and cross the finish line in fourth place, leaving his teammate 22 points behind in the championship standings.

At Ferrari, strategic errors resurfaced, a worrying constant throughout the season. Lewis Hamilton also had a difficult weekend after the floor of his car was damaged following a freak accident with a Canadian woodchuck.

Norris' retirement allowed several drivers to capitalize and score important points: Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and Hamilton himself all benefited.

With all this, the race in Canada closes with the kind of drama that seemed inevitable: the McLarens are fighting not only for positions, but for a drivers' championship that is becoming increasingly tense. The Woking team enjoys a comfortable lead in the Constructors' Championship, a product of its consistency and dominant pace for much of the season. However, in the individual battle, the situation is much more delicate.

Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are separated by just 22 points, a minimal difference considering there is still more than half the calendar remaining. Both are serious title contenders, with consistent performances and important victories and while they battle it out, there's a third player lurking: Max Verstappen. The battle for the title is more open than ever.