Formula One 2025: Montreal lights Silver spark

After several turbulent seasons that saw Mercedes slip down the pecking order — not to mention the departure of Lewis Hamilton, a monumental loss both on and off the track — the team entered the 2025 Formula One season with renewed confidence and improved pace. While still slightly off the benchmark set by the blistering McLaren duo and a relentless Max Verstappen, the Silver Arrows were firmly back in the mix, constantly grabbing points and staying in the fight, if not quite in the spotlight.The numbers paint a picture of a team on the rise. Mercedes has finished in the points in nearly every race this season, with just a handful of blemishes. The only clear blot came in Monaco, where strategic miscalculations left it out of position and scrambling to recover — a rare off-weekend in an otherwise decent campaign.

George Russell  (in pic, left) has been the clear team leader, doing most of the heavy lifting while allowing his young and upcoming teammate, Kimi Antonelli  (in pic, right), to come up to speed with the complexities of F1. In the first nine rounds, the 27-year-old has notched eight top-10 finishes and missed the points just once. He’s also brought home four podiums, including a strong second-place finish earlier in the year in Bahrain.

The pace has always been there; what Russell needed was a clean, controlled weekend to fully show what he and the car were capable of. Canada provided exactly that.

Making it count

Returning to a circuit where he’d made headlines a year ago — by taking pole over Verstappen with an identical lap time, simply by crossing the line first — Russell made sure there would be no such fine margins this time. He took pole with a dominant qualifying performance, clearly ousting Verstappen.

On race day, Russell backed it up with a commanding display from the front. He controlled the race from start to finish, keeping Verstappen at bay without ever needing to get defensive, thanks to clinical pace, tyre management, and a car that delivered under pressure when it truly mattered. A late-race Safety Car neutralised the field, but by then, the job was done. Russell, who had to settle for third a year ago, cruised to his fourth career win — his first since the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2024.

While Russell carried the bulk of the team’s points, Mercedes also watched with pride as Antonelli came into his own. Just 18 years old and in his debut season, he is quickly proving he belongs on this stage.

Starting from P4, Antonelli launched a fierce attack from the opening lap, managing to snatch third place from Oscar Piastri, the championship leader. For Antonelli, it wasn’t just a shot at a podium finish but also the determination to end a string of poor results over the previous three rounds. When the chequered flag fell under the Safety Car, Antonelli secured his maiden Formula One podium, becoming the third-youngest driver to do so at 18 years and 294 days.

But while Mercedes had a near-perfect weekend, drama unfolded elsewhere — particularly within McLaren.

A costly collision

Heading into Montreal, the intra-team battle between Piastri and Lando Norris had been heating up. Just 10 points separated the pair, and McLaren had committed to the ‘papaya rules’, a ‘let them race’ approach, encouraging clean, respectful on-track competition without the interference of team orders. But it could carry serious implications for the championship.

It was on lap 67 that things took a turn. Piastri, chasing Antonelli for third, found himself closely followed by Norris. The Briton had already made one failed attempt to pass, and on his second try, down the start-finish straight, he misjudged his braking, approaching with too much speed and too little caution. Norris clipped the rear of Piastri’s car and then hit the wall, suffering extensive damage and retiring on the spot.

It was a moment reminiscent of McLaren’s own mishap at the same track — when Hamilton collided with Jenson Button in 2011. This incident, too, could carry long-term consequences. While Norris was quick to take full responsibility for the mistake, the incident was more than just an unfortunate racing moment.

It was a significant blow to his title challenge, especially in a season where his form has already been shaky. In contrast, Piastri escaped without damage, held onto fourth place, and extended his championship lead to 22 points — a major swing at a crucial juncture in the season.

Momentum shift

With the race finishing under the Safety Car, Russell and Verstappen, two drivers who have built a reputation for their sharp on- and off-track duels, did experience a bit of friction. Though there was a moment of dispute where they bickered over their driving behind the SC, they crossed the line in the same order they started: Russell first, Verstappen second. There were no last-lap fireworks this time, just a well-managed win for Mercedes and another strong result for Red Bull.

For Mercedes, though, this victory meant more than just 25 points. It was proof that its rebuild is bearing fruit. The car is getting quicker, and the blend of experience in Russell and promise in Antonelli is starting to deliver results. While they’re still a step behind the absolute leaders, the Silver Arrows are closing the gap, setting themselves up for a more positive season.

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