George Russell sits fourth in the drivers' championship with 136 points George Russell says he feels like he's "driving better than ever" after winning his first race of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver, who started on pole, held the lead from Max Verstappen at the start and controlled the race from that point. It was the Briton'sfirst victory since Las Vegasin November and fifth podium of the 2025 season. Verstappen's Red Bull team have lodged a protest over Russell's driving behind the safety car in the final stages, following Lando Norris' collision with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri. Russell, 27, also started on pole in Montreal last year but could only finish third. "It feels a bit of a redemption compared to last year because I was really disappointed with my performance last year and we should have won," he told Sky Sports. "It was my mistakes that let the team down but I'm in a different place right now and I feel like I'm driving better than ever. I felt pretty chilled throughout the whole race." Russellhas been with Mercedes since the 2022 seasonand is out of his contract come the end of the season. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested it was only a matter of time before a new deal is confirmed. Wolff said: "The ambience in the team is great and we've agreed on some kind of timeline when we want to settle these things, with triple headers getting out of the way and one race after the other in June and July but we're going to get there." Kimi Antonelli replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this season It was a successful day all round for Mercedes with 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli finishing third for his first podium in Formula 1. Antonelli â at 18 years and 294 days old â becomes the third-youngest podium finisher of all time behind Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. Starting fourth, he overtook championship leader Piastri at the start and dealt with pressure from the Australian in the closing stages of the race. "It was so stressful but super happy," Antonelli said. "The last stint I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and I killed a bit of the front left and I struggled a bit at the end, but I'm really happy to bring the podium home." "This track has been good for us and the car has been incredible all weekend. Hopefully we can carry the same momentum into the next few races." Russell said Mercedes performed so strongly at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve because a "smooth" track and "low-speed" corners suited the characteristics of the car. Next on the calendar is Austria from 27-29 June and the Red Bull Ring will be a very different challenge to Montreal. "It's going to be on old tarmac, more high-speed corners and it's going to be hot as well," Russell said. "We've got three things working against us. I'm not going to sit here and say Mercedes is back because we were the quickest team here last year but we didn't win the championship. We know where we need to improve."
Canada winner Russell 'driving better than ever'
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"George Russell Secures First Win of the Season at Canadian Grand Prix"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
George Russell, the British driver for Mercedes, has claimed his first victory of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix, significantly boosting his standing in the drivers' championship where he currently sits fourth with 136 points. Starting from pole position, Russell maintained his lead over Max Verstappen right from the start and effectively controlled the race, marking his first win since November in Las Vegas. This victory also represents a redemption for Russell, who had previously started on pole in Montreal last year but finished third. Reflecting on his performance, he expressed satisfaction with his improved driving, stating, "I feel like I'm driving better than ever" and highlighted his more relaxed approach during the race compared to previous seasons. Despite the triumph, Verstappen's Red Bull team has lodged a protest regarding Russell's conduct behind the safety car during the race's closing stages, adding a layer of tension to the win.
The success at the Canadian Grand Prix was not limited to Russell; 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli also shone by securing third place, marking his first Formula 1 podium. Antonelli's achievement makes him the third-youngest driver to finish on the podium, following in the footsteps of Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. He started fourth and managed to overtake championship leader Oscar Piastri early in the race, although he acknowledged the stress of maintaining his position in the final laps. Looking ahead, Russell noted that Mercedes' performance at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was aided by the track's characteristics, which suited their car. However, he cautioned against premature optimism, pointing out that the upcoming race in Austria presents different challenges, including high-speed corners and potentially hotter conditions. Russell emphasized the need for continued improvement, acknowledging that while they were competitive in Canada, they must remain focused on the broader championship picture.
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