Berlin, 16 June 2025 (dpa/MIA) - George Russell made the best out of his pole position to win the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, while his Mercedes team-mate and rookie Kimi Antonelli claimed his first podium finish and McLaren had a day to forget.

Russell snatched pole from Max Verstappen on Saturday with a fantastic lap and only lost his position at the front in the pit stop rounds.

The Briton reclaimed the lead and becomes the first driver other than Verstappen and McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to win this season.

"It is amazing to be back on the top step. I felt last year was a victory lost, so to get the victory and see Kimi on the podium too is an amazing day for the team," Russell said.

Last year he also had pole in Montreal, but finished third and the race was won by Dutchman Verstappen.

Italian Antonelli was third this time, behind the Red Bull of four-time defending champion Verstappen, who was on the podium for the first time in over a month.

But constructors' champions McLaren had a terrible day in Canada as they were out of the top three for the first time this season and Norris didn't complete the race after a collision with team-mate Piastri with three laps to go.

Australian Piastri - who finished fourth - now tops the drivers' standings with 198 points, 22 ahead of Briton Norris.

The race

Russell got off to a great start to retain his lead, while Verstappen stayed in second. Piastri tried to make a move on the Dutchman, but ended up being overtaken by Antonelli.

Just like at the Spanish Grand Prix two weeks ago, pit-stop plans played a big role and Mercedes mastered their strategy, as Russell never really had his lead threatened.

Antonelli, meanwhile, had some stressful final laps as he was being chased by both Piastri and Norris.

But the two McLarens were fiercely fighting among themselves, going wheel to wheel on lap 67. Piastri went ahead, but Norris braked too late and ran into the back of the championship leader.

"I'm sorry, all my bad, all my fault. Sorry, stupid from me," Norris said over the radio. The race finished with all the cars behind the safety car, which was deployed due to the crash.

Antonelli made his F1 debut this year as he replaced seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes after the latter joined Ferrari.

"It was so stressful! But super happy, I had a good start, managed to jump into third, and just stayed up there in the front. Last stint I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and killed the front left, and I struggled a bit at the end. But happy to bring the podium home," the Italian driver said.

Verstappen still needs to watch out

Next on the calendar is the Austrian Grand Prix on June 29 and Verstappen will need to be on his best behaviour as he's still one licence point away from a race ban.

Two of his penalty points will expire on June 30, moving him three points away from a race ban in time for the British Grand Prix on July 6.

The Dutchman was punished for causing a collision with Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix and he was also handed a 10-second penalty in the race.

After his podium in Canada, he said: "Was quite a good race, even though in the first two stints we were struggling with the tyres. We hung in there in the final stint, and the tyres were better under lower fuel loads. That was the maximum we could have achieved today."

Ferrari were fifth and sixth through Charles Leclerc and Hamilton respectively, with Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in seventh.

Nico Hülkenberg of Kick Sauber, Esteban Ocon of Haas and Carlos Sainz in the Williams completed the top 10.

Photo: EPA