2025 Canadian Grand Prix strategy briefing: All the data to follow the race with

For the second year in a row George Russell will start the Canadian Grand Prix from pole position. He wasn’t able to convert pole to victory on that occasion – but will he this time?

In another repeat of last year, Russell will share the front row of the grid with Max Verstappen. The pair collided while disputing fourth place at the last round, and Verstappen ended up on the brink of a ban because of it. Both would clearly relish getting the upper hand as they face each other again for a potential win.

Unusually, the championship-leading McLaren drivers start off the front row: Oscar Piastri third and Lando Norris seventh. Russell may be ideally placed to become this year’s fourth different winner, but he’s going to have to see off some strong competition first.

Weather

Last year’s Canadian Grand Prix was held in wet conditions but a dry, warm and sunny day is expected tomorrow. Air temperatures should reach around 24C.

Start

At Imola, Russell despaired at how little resistance Piastri offered when Verstappen swept around the outside of him to take the lead at the start. Will he be able to show the McLaren driver how it’s done in Canada?

The run to turn one at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is one of the shortest on the calendar. The opening sequence of corners is unusual, too: the pole winner holds the inside line for a quick left-hander which feeds into a right-handed hairpin.

If a driver on the outside senses they are about to be forced off they have two options. Either cut the corner entirely and rejoin after turn two, which is tricky as it requires a sharp right turn, or risk running out of room at the exit of turn one, in which case it can be hard to avoid a tangle at the next corner.

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The last pole-winner to lose the lead at the start was Lewis Hamilton in 2016 as a fast-starting Sebastian Vettel burst past him from third on the grid. Significantly, Hamilton banged wheels mid-corner with team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg, sending him across the run-off and badly compromising his race.

Distance from pole position to first braking zone. Source: Mercedes

Russell kept his lead from pole position in a standing start on a wet track last year.

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Strategy

Last year drivers chose the following compounds to start the race on:

A pit stop and tyre change costs drivers around 19 seconds compared to a car which does not pit. The drivers have the following tyres available for the race:

The tyres are one stage soft than those used for the race last year. Most teams have tried to preserve their stocks of the harder compounds.

McLaren and Ferrari, whose race pace has tended to be stronger relative to their single-lap pace, appear to be playing to that strength by ensuring they have the option of starting the race on fresh sets of medium rubber. They may lean towards a one-stop tyre strategy if the hard tyre proves up to it.

Overtaking

The DRS zone configuration is the same as it was last year. One of the main overtaking spots at Montreal, the turn 13-14 chicane, is easy to cut and drivers who go off at that point on the circuit must rejoin the track via the designated route or risk receiving a penalty.

The penalty points situation has been a matter of intense discussion after the Spanish Grand Prix, where Verstappen collected three more, putting him on a total of 11 and one away from an immediate ban. The next-highest tally belongs to Liam Lawson, with six:

• Formula 1 drivers’ current penalty points

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Speed trap

Red Bull appear to have trimmed their cars out more than their rivals to improve their top speeds, especially compared to Russell’s Mercedes.

Safety Cars

The limited run-off and lack of space to recover cars means Safety Car periods and other disruptions are not uncommon at this track. The Safety Car was deployed twice last year.

Grid

The grid for this year’s race is as follows. Any changes between now and the start of the race will be added here:

• 2025 Canadian Grand Prix grid

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Championship implications

If the drivers finish where they start, Piastri will almost double his lead over Norris to 19 points. Verstappen will close in slightly, to 46 points behind.

• Formula 1 drivers’ championship points calculator

Over to you

Will Russell become the fourth different winner this year? Will Verstappen stay out of trouble?

Share your views on the Canadian Grand Prix in the comments.

2025 Canadian Grand Prix

• Piastri explains decision not to use McLaren’s new suspension
• Mercedes’ victory chances “a little bit out of our hands” despite pole in Canada
• Russell expects Verstappen will race rivals harder to “prove a point” in Canadian GP
• 2025 Canadian Grand Prix strategy briefing: All the data to follow the race with
• McLaren not among top two teams for first time this year: Lap time data

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