The spell has finally been broken. After a string of predictable Formula 1 Sundays dominated by the same two cars at the front, the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix delivered a thrilling shake-up — a race that reminded fans why they fell in love with the sport in the first place.
George Russell stormed to victory, clinching his first win of the season in commanding style. Behind him, Max Verstappen showed grit to hold onto second place, while the breakout star of the day — Kimi Antonelli — claimed his maiden podium with a remarkable third-place finish. Two Mercedes in the top three, and a Red Bull between them — this was not your usual 2025 Grand Prix.
For weeks now, race fans have been groaning as Sundays turned into processions, with the same front-runners cruising to easy wins. But Montreal broke the monotony. The starting grid itself was a breath of fresh air, and by the time the chequered flag dropped, the order had been well and truly shuffled.
Antonelli, just 18 years old, proved he’s not just hype. Starting fourth on the grid, he made a bold move into Turn 1 and claimed third — and there he stayed, fending off pressure and keeping his cool like a seasoned pro. Even after pit stops and a change of tyres, he fought his way back and never let go of the position. At times, he was just a hair’s breadth from Verstappen’s gearbox.
Let’s be clear: Kimi Antonelli is still a rookie, but so far, he’s easily been the best of the bunch. Full credit must go to the Mercedes development program, which picked him up young and nurtured his rise through the ranks. While Isack Hadjar has shown flashes of potential, he’s still finding his footing. And unfortunately for Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda continues to struggle — his performance this season has been underwhelming, and he hasn’t managed to contribute meaningfully to Red Bull’s team results.
The next race takes place in Austria on June 29th, and after Montreal’s excitement, fans will be hoping this marks a turning point in the season — a shift toward more competitive, unpredictable racing.
P.S. I grew up reading Formula 1 reports in the Cape Times, written by my father, Brian Grobbler, and later by Adrian Pfeiffer. Their words brought the sport to life for so many readers in South Africa. We could use voices like theirs again in today’s Formula 1.
