The 2025 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix

After a wild and sometimes controversial end to the triple-header in Spain, the teams and drivers got a weekend off before heading across the Atlantic. Now they are in Montreal at a track that often brings the drama, and there are still a lot of questions waiting to be answered.

Verstappen Under Pressure?

What will Verstappen do next? Max Verstappen was looking strong for most of the Spanish Grand Prix. He and Red Bull were on the attack, keeping McLaren guessing with an aggressive three-stop plan.

But things started to fall apart late in the race. A Safety Car came out and Red Bull had no choice but to put Max on new hard tires, which did not hold up well. He started losing places fast. Then came a controversial crash with George Russell that earned Verstappen a time penalty, dropping him to tenth.

The next day, Verstappen posted on social media saying the incident should not have happened. Whatever your take on it, the fact is he picked up three penalty points and is now just one point away from getting an automatic race ban.

That means he will need to be extra careful in Canada and Austria before some of those points expire. So the big question is whether he will play it safe or just keep doing his thing and hope for the best.

The McLaren Duel

The McLaren teammate battle continues While the chaos was going on behind them in Spain, the two McLaren drivers were mostly unbothered. Oscar Piastri came out ahead, grabbing his fifth win of the season.

It was a big one for the Aussie, especially after Lando Norris had closed the gap to just three points the week before with a win from pole in Monaco.

Now the gap is back to ten points, but the two are still neck and neck. They are both always in the mix for pole positions and wins, and who has the edge seems to shift from race to race.

McLaren knows this battle might eventually boil over, but so far the two drivers have kept it clean. Whether that continues as we head into the heart of the season is anyone’s guess.

Mercedes Looking Strong & Hopeful

Could Mercedes be back in the fight? One of the fun parts of this season is seeing different teams take turns challenging McLaren. In Miami, Kimi Antonelli got Sprint pole for Mercedes. Then Verstappen won in Imola, and Ferrari made a big push in Monaco thanks to Charles Leclerc.

In Spain, Red Bull were back in the mix. But Canada has usually been a good place for Mercedes, thanks to the cooler weather and the way the track is laid out.

Of course, the weather is always a wildcard in Montreal. Sometimes it is warm, sometimes it is not, but right now it looks like it will be on the cooler side. That would play into Mercedes’ hands. Last year, George Russell grabbed pole here with a lap identical to Verstappen’s, but since he set it first, he started from the front. The top seven in Qualifying were separated by just over a quarter of a second.

Mercedes will be hoping for another strong result and a chance to bounce back after dropping behind Ferrari in the Constructors’ standings.

An All-round Driver & Fan Favorite

A track that always delivers Last year’s Qualifying was already exciting, but the race added even more drama thanks to the rain. Conditions were tough and there were multiple drivers fighting for the win. The top four finished within five seconds of each other, with Verstappen taking the victory.

Even if it stays dry this time, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve usually produces good racing. There are plenty of long straights that lead into chicanes or tight corners, which means lots of chances to pass. Turn 1, the Turn 10 hairpin and the final chicane are all popular spots for overtakes.

The track is lined with concrete walls in a lot of places, so mistakes usually come with a big price. A small slip-up can cost you time or even open the door for someone to make a move.

Add in the passionate crowd and the electric vibe around the city, and it is no surprise the Canadian Grand Prix is always a fan favorite.

The Home-Town Hero Returns

Stroll is back for his home race Aston Martin has confirmed that Lance Stroll will be back in the car this weekend after sitting out the last race in Spain.

The team announced after Qualifying in Barcelona that Stroll would not be racing on Sunday because of hand and wrist pain. He needed a small procedure, and the issue seemed to be linked to the injuries he picked up in a cycling crash before the 2023 season.

Stroll broke some bones back then and needed surgery, followed by a long recovery. But now, after this latest procedure, he is ready to get back in the car and race in front of his home fans in Montreal, just two weeks after missing the last round.

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