Formula 1 returns to the iconic streets of Montreal for Round 10 of the 2025 season. The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve awaits the world’s fastest drivers, promising another dramatic battle. Will McLaren’s momentum carry through Canada, or will Red Bull reclaim control on North American soil?
The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, located on Île Notre-Dame in Montreal, first hosted a Grand Prix in 1978. Formerly known as Circuit Île Notre-Dame, it features 14 corners across a 4.361 km layout and offers three DRS zones. Drivers will tackle 70 laps in pursuit of glory. Valtteri Bottas, then racing for Mercedes, set the lap record in 2019 with a time of 1:13.078.
Flashback to 2024
Last year’s Canadian Grand Prix was a wet and dramatic affair. George Russell (Mercedes) started on pole, while Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were forced to begin from the pit lane due to car modifications under Parc Fermé conditions. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), penalised on the grid, started from P18.
While most of the grid opted for intermediates, Haas gambled on full wets. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) surged through the field and reached P4 by lap 5. On lap 20, Lando Norris (McLaren) passed Max Verstappen (Red Bull) for P2 and seized the lead from Russell on lap 21.
A crash from Logan Sargeant (Williams) on lap 25 brought out the Safety Car. Norris pitted, allowing Verstappen to take the lead on lap 27. Ferrari’s strategy unravelled, and Charles Leclerc retired on lap 43 due to engine failure.
Norris made a bold move on Russell on lap 42 but went off-track. He capitalised on pit stops to regain the lead on lap 45, though Verstappen retook P1 just two laps later. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) crashed on lap 52 and retired with rear wing damage. Moments later, Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) spun, causing Alex Albon (Williams) to crash. Sainz continued briefly before retiring.
Russell and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) clashed in a fight for P3 on lap 63, with the Briton running off-track. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) chased Ocon but went off at Turn 8 and hit the barrier; fortunately, he continued.
Max Verstappen secured victory with a time of 1:45:47.927, followed closely by Norris (+3.879) and Russell (+4.317).
What to expect in 2025?
Although no rain is forecast at present, weather in Montreal remains unpredictable and could shift before race day.
McLaren enters the weekend as the team to beat. At least one of their drivers has finished on the podium in every race so far this season. The team leads the Constructors’ Championship by a commanding margin, sitting nearly 200 points ahead of second-placed Ferrari (165).
Mercedes continues to struggle for consistency. However, the Canadian circuit could offer George Russell another opportunity to challenge for a strong result.
Red Bull remains in contention, though only a small portion of their points have come from Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver will be keen to break into the top 10 in Canada. Max Verstappen, currently trailing Lando Norris by 39 points, faces a critical weekend. Can he reduce the gap with a win, or will it widen? Furthermore, Verstappen must avoid accumulating another penalty point, which would trigger a race ban ahead of Red Bull’s home race in Austria.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) and Franco Colapinto (Alpine) remain without points this season. They must deliver soon or risk facing a premature exit from Formula 1.
