Formula 1 returns to Montreal for the Canadian GP next weekend, carrying in memory one of the most tense moments of last season. The collision between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the final laps of the 2025 race marked the first major internal conflict at McLaren in the title fight last year.
Read more Montreal goes on alert for rain before the Canadian GP
The race held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve also had other decisive elements for the championship. George Russell secured a surprising pole position with Mercedes, while Max Verstappen started alongside him on the front row, raising expectations for a direct duel between the two.
Right behind appeared Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli, who occupied the second row of the starting grid. The young Italian was seeking his first podium in Formula 1, while Norris had to start a recovery race after a qualifying session below expectations.
At the start, Russell managed to maintain the lead and tried to open a gap over Verstappen. Norris, in turn, had to overcome Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton to get back into the fight for the top positions and close in again on his teammate.
Meanwhile, Piastri was pressuring Antonelli in the fight for the podium. The Italian managed to resist the Australian’s attacks for much of the race, but the battle allowed Norris to reduce the gap to the two in the final laps.
Read more Ford Chief reiterates commitment to F1 even with Verstappen’s departure
The decisive moment happened on lap 67. After an overtaking attempt at the hairpin on the previous lap, Norris was overtaken again by Piastri at the last chicane but tried another attack immediately after. The maneuver ended with the Brit hitting the wall on the left side of the track and retiring from the race, while the Australian managed to continue to fourth position.
That accident caused the Safety Car to come out three laps from the end, neutralizing the fight for the victory. With that, Russell confirmed the win at the Canadian GP, ahead of Verstappen and Antonelli, who celebrated the first podium of his Formula 1 career.
Even without winning, Verstappen left Montreal satisfied with the result in that race. The Dutchman managed to reduce the championship gap to Piastri and, especially, to Norris, who ended up being the biggest loser of the weekend and immediately admitted the mistake over the McLaren radio.
Read more F1: Where to watch and the schedule for the 2026 Canadian GP
