Montreal celebrates Canadian Grand Prix as George Russell claims victory
Posted June 15, 2025 3:35 pm.
Last Updated June 15, 2025 10:13 pm.
It’s race day in Montreal, and the city is in high gear!
Fans were revved up as the cars hit Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday — and George Russell gave them something to cheer about by taking the Canadian Grand Prix victory for Mercedes.
Big crowds filled the stands and grassy viewing areas, many dressed in team gear as Formula One cars sped by on the island circuit.
In downtown Montreal, the excitement was just as strong, with fans packed into bars to watch the race on big screens.
Surprise win for Russell thrills some, stuns others
Russell’s win came as a surprise for many fans, especially with dominant teams like Red Bull and McLaren in the mix.
“Honestly, surprising,” said Felix Dandurand, who came downtown with friends to watch the race.
“I was expecting McLaren to be on top, and then seeing Russell starting on pole and keeping the first position for the whole race, and then having Antonelli right there on the podium, is amazing.”
Sam Bourque-Demers, one of Dandurand’s friends, echoed the respect for the result. “He was already P1 in qualification, so he got all the merits. He worked for it.”
Sami Ferneini, an avid Formula 1 fan, said the win wasn’t what he expected but still enjoyed watching the race.
“Russell drove a good race. And his teammate, Antonelli — really good for him. He’s only 18. Unexpected from Mercedes, but we got a good race in Montreal as usual. It was really fun to watch over here,” Ferneini expressed.
Ferneini had hoped for a Red Bull victory but acknowledged the effort across the grid. “I wanted Max to win… but he did all he could.”
McLaren teammates collide in tense late-race moment
The biggest incident of the race came in the closing stages when McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided.
“At first glance I was like, is the friendship over?” said Dandurand. “But when I heard Lando on the radio saying, ‘That was my bad, sorry, stupid move from me,’ I was like — okay, he’s already admitting fault. So I think no harm done.”
Bourque-Demers added: “He thought he had the space, but not really. At least he was honest. He kind of crashed his own race.”
Downtown energy powers Grand Prix weekend
Even far from the grandstands, the city pulsed with Formula One energy.
“The F1 culture here in Montreal is really ingrained into the city,” Ferneini said.
“The fire department even has the checkered flag on the back of their trucks. The whole vibe in the city is amazing. Everyone here is a Formula One fan — and even if you’re not, you’ll become one. The streets are alive, full of energy and excitement. It’s just a really great time to be here,” he added.
Dante LaFontaine, a local originally from Ottawa, said he isn’t a huge F1 fan himself — but the event made the city come alive.
“It attracts a lot of people and a lot of fun as well,” he said. “I would say that Montreal does a really good job of providing activities for its residents. Whenever there are events in the area, F1 does a great job of bringing people together — from Montreal and beyond — to make it fun.”
Montrealer Samuel Labbée agreed. “It’s a cultural institution of the city. Everybody comes out and shows up.”
Fans travel far and wide for the Montreal race
For Christopher Sarai, the Montreal Grand Prix was worth the trip across the country.
“We came all the way from Vancouver to watch F1,” he said. “It’s like a worldwide event — people from all over the globe are here. It almost feels like the Olympics, with so many different cultures gathering in one place for the same reason. It’s awesome.”
Jessica Mitchell, from Plattsburgh, N.Y., said she and her partner became hooked on Formula 1 after watching the Netflix series Drive to Survive. Now, they regularly travel to races — from Miami to Vegas — and Montreal remains a favorite.
“I think it’s because it’s something I do with my other half that we both really enjoy. The people, the culture, everything about it. It’s also helped me understand everything that goes into racing — from kids as young as six years old all the way to where we are today.”
Race moves to May in 2025 — fans weigh in
This year marked the final time the Canadian Grand Prix will be held in June. Starting in 2025, the race will move to May to help consolidate the European portion of the Formula One calendar — a change that drew mixed reactions.
Ferneini supported the shift. “I think it’s a good move. There’s been a lot of talk about the travel and the emissions involved because of the schedule. It doesn’t make sense to jump from Australia to Europe to North America and all over like that. So I think what they’re trying to do is group everything closer together to minimize the impact, which is always a positive thing — especially for CO2 emissions and all that. I also think May is a good time for the race here, considering the rain and weather. Montreal always delivers crazy weather, so it should be a fun race for the fans.”
Sarai was on board as long as the weather holds. “As long as the weather is like this, that doesn’t matter what time of year. We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend weather-wise, so if May is anything like this, I’m all for it.”
But not everyone agreed.
“My two cents is that May is too cold. It’s just getting warm now. We want to really kind of wear some shorts and some t-shirts out here. So we’re here from May, it’s still kind of cold and I feel like that would kind of hinder the outdoor patio or walking outside sort of experience. Tends to be kind of like snow or even rainy. So this is the time to do it,” said LaFontaine.
Labbée was neutral on the change. “I mean, if it doesn’t affect the turnout of the race, I guess it’s fine.”
