George Russell Wins in Montreal as McLaren's Title Battle Explodes in Late-Race Collision

George Russell delivered Mercedes its first Formula 1 victory of the 2024 season at the Canadian Grand Prix, capitalizing on chaos between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the closing laps. The dramatic crash between the title contenders handed Russell a well-earned win from pole position, while 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli claimed his first-ever F1 podium with a third-place finish.

Russell Reclaims the Top Step

Starting from pole, Russell drove a composed race to take the checkered flag under safety car conditions. It marked his first victory since Las Vegas in November and served as redemption for last year's disappointment in Montreal when he also started from pole but finished third.

"It's amazing to be back on the top step," said Russell. "Last year felt like one that got away, so this one's special—especially after the lap yesterday to get pole."

Russell's performance also propelled Mercedes into second place in the Constructors' Championship, overtaking Ferrari but still trailing McLaren by 175 points.

McLaren Meltdown: Norris Collides with Piastri

The defining moment of the race came just three laps from the finish, when Lando Norris collided with teammate Oscar Piastri while attempting an aggressive overtake. Norris, who had been leading after a long first stint on hard tires, admitted full responsibility.

"All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me," Norris said over team radio, later echoing the sentiment on live television. "This wasn't even like a 'that's racing' moment—it was just silly on my part."

The contact forced Norris to retire on the spot, while Piastri—now the championship leader—pitted under the safety car but couldn't capitalize on fresher tires due to the race ending behind the safety car. He finished fourth, extending his lead to 198 points ahead of Norris (176), Verstappen (155), and Russell (136).

Verstappen Settles for Second

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was unable to challenge for a fourth straight win in Montreal. After running behind Russell for much of the race, Verstappen saw his opportunity fade when the safety car froze the order late in the race. A post-race protest by Red Bull was rejected by the stewards nearly six hours after the finish.

Historic Podium for Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli became the third-youngest driver in F1 history to stand on the podium, delivering a mature drive to third place after overtaking Piastri early on. "I was just hoping for the race to finish," said the Italian rookie, who held his ground amid the late-race drama.

Other Race Highlights

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) rounded out the top six, with Hamilton nursing a damaged car after hitting a groundhog.

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas), and Carlos Sainz (Williams) completed the top 10.

Williams' Alex Albon and Alpine's Franco Colapinto endured early struggles and dropped back after promising starts.

Leclerc questioned Ferrari's decision to pit him while his hard tires still had life, showing internal friction remains.

Hamilton, running behind Russell, voiced concerns about his car's lack of performance throughout the race.

Championship Outlook

With Piastri now leading the title race, the intra-team rivalry at McLaren is heating up. But the late-race clash in Montreal raises new questions about team dynamics, strategy, and pressure under the spotlight. Meanwhile, Russell's Montreal win sends a clear message: Mercedes is back in the fight—and he's not done yet.