Let’s get one thing straight: this wasn’t luck. It wasn’t rain. It wasn’t safety cars or strategic flukes. It was dominance… cool, clinical, champagne-worthy dominance.
George Russell led from lights to flag in Montreal, claiming his fourth career win and snapping Mercedes’ dry spell with the poise of a driver who’s no longer just waiting for his moment…. he’s owning it. Behind him? A 17-year-old phenom with ice in his veins and fire in his foot: Kimi Antonelli, who became the third-youngest driver in Formula 1 history to claim a podium.
Forget what you thought about this season. The Silver Arrows are back.
Formel 1 – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Großer Preis von Spanien 2025. George Russell
Formula One – Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, 2025 Spanish Grand Prix. George Russell
Russell’s Redemption
Montreal has always been kind to Mercedes. But this year, it didn’t just suit them, it served them.
Russell, starting from pole, nailed the launch and never looked back. On a track with deceptive grip, aggressive curbs, and the ever-haunting Wall of Champions, he made it look like a Sunday drive. Precision braking. Flawless tire management. No mistakes. And when Verstappen came knocking? Russell answered with pace, not panic.
“I felt in control throughout,” Russell said post-race. “We’ve taken a step forward. But we’re not done.”
Translation: the fire’s back… and it’s burning in both cars.
Kimi’s Coronation
Let’s talk Antonelli. Or better yet, let’s just watch him again on Lap One.
From P4, the Italian teenager pulled a move on Oscar Piastri at Turn Three so smooth it could’ve been set to jazz. From there, he shadowed Verstappen like a veteran strategic, patient, but hungry. Mercedes even tried the overcut to steal P2, but the grip didn’t quite stick. No matter. Kimi held firm in P3 through a final-stint McLaren onslaught and a nail-biting Safety Car restart.
“That was intense,” Kimi admitted. “But I’m just really happy to get the podium. I pushed too hard early, but I managed it at the end.”
You heard it here: the kid learns fast.
Wolff’s Return to Form
Toto Wolff has had to grit his teeth through a lot this season. The smile in Montreal wasn’t just for show.
“George was faultless. Kimi earned it. We’ve taken a positive step,” Wolff said, hinting at upgrades that are finally hitting their mark.
Hot tarmac? No problem. Tire deg? Managed. Team morale? Restored. With the Constructors’ Championship now tighter than a DRS train, Mercedes vaults to second place heading into the Austria–Silverstone double-header.
The Bigger Picture
This wasn’t just a win. This was a warning.
Mercedes, after playing catch-up for most of the year, just threw down a clean, unapologetic gauntlet. They’re not clawing back anymore. They’re coming for it.
And as the calendar heads to the high-altitude ballet of Spielberg and the bruising cathedral of Silverstone, the question isn’t if they can win again.
It’s how soon.
