McLaren missteps in Montreal offer rivals a glimmer of hope for 2025
Canadian Grand Prix Shakes Up McLaren’s Dominance in 2025
The Canadian Grand Prix delivered an unexpected plot twist to the 2025 Formula 1 season, as McLaren endured its most lackluster performance of the year. The event marked the first race of the season without at least one McLaren driver on the podium—nor a car on the front row of the grid—which could embolden rivals as the championship rolls on.
McLaren’s Struggles Highlight Montreal’s Unique Challenges
Even without the dramatic late-race collision between teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the start of Lap 67, McLaren’s performance would rank as subpar by the lofty standards it’s set this season. As team principal Andrea Stella acknowledged, the papaya-clad cars were ill-suited for Montreal’s unique challenges, validating fears about potential vulnerability at certain circuits.
McLaren entered the Canadian weekend knowing they were unlikely to shine. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s layout—long straights broken up by sharp chicanes—stood in stark contrast to the high-speed, flowing nature of tracks like the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where McLaren claimed a dominant 1-2 just two weeks earlier. That track perfectly complemented McLaren's downforce advantage, while Montreal’s stop-start nature exposed the team’s weaknesses.
“I think one of the reasons why this circuit has been a little bit of a struggle—which we have seen pretty much straight away in Free Practice 1—is that the car wasn’t able to generate much grip,” Stella explained. “Even if it’s low-speed corners, there’s actually a lot of braking and traction [in Montreal] … and in both conditions, we have to say that the car struggled a bit to start with.”
Tire Issues Compound McLaren’s Difficulties
The team’s struggles were compounded by a track surface that negated one of McLaren’s greatest strengths: tire management. Whereas many 2025 tracks have rewarded McLaren’s ability to protect tires from overheating and resulting degradation, Montreal presented challenges of a different kind. Tire graining—where the surface rubber tears prematurely—became the primary issue, most visibly on Piastri’s car during Sunday’s race. The smooth asphalt and frequent sharp braking zones further emphasized this limitation.
Mercedes Capitalizes on McLaren’s Setback
McLaren’s uncharacteristic struggles opened the door for their fiercest competitors, none more so than Mercedes, who maximized their chance. George Russell seized victory, and teammate Kimi Antonelli earned his maiden podium in third, signaling progress for a team still chasing consistent competitiveness under the current regulations.
The Mercedes camp identified Montreal as a particularly favorable match for their car's setup. Principal Toto Wolff explained, “Montreal was always good to us … it lacks the typical high-speed corners where we suffer more in the heat. [The smooth] asphalt is less abrasive and therefore less damaging to our car, which suffers from rear tire degradation and overheating.”
Mercedes took another step forward with a newly revised rear suspension layout, aiming to address its tire-temperature issues that had plagued previous weekends. While Wolff emphasized caution in declaring the change a panacea, the development direction showed promise in Canada. “It’s always difficult to know whether you land development or don’t … the track layout here helped us, but the real test will come at more demanding circuits,” he added.
Russell, pragmatic as ever, echoed his boss’s sentiments: “We’re under no illusions that this really suited the strengths of our car the same way as it did last year. But it’s great to see that when we get that chance, we take it.”
McLaren’s Dominance Remains Intact
Despite the optimism of McLaren’s rivals, Sunday’s setbacks are likely a mere blip in an otherwise dominant campaign for the Woking-based team. McLaren remains the benchmark this season, and the Canadian Grand Prix served primarily as a reminder that no team is invincible.
The unique demands of Montreal won’t be replicated at every stop on the calendar. Circuits highlighting McLaren’s immense downforce capabilities—like Spa-Francorchamps or Suzuka—will likely bring the team back to its commanding form. However, the weekend did reinforce the belief among competing teams that on certain layouts, McLaren can be challenged, especially when conditions align in their favor.
Looking Ahead: The Championship Battle Intensifies
As the Formula 1 circus marches deeper into the heart of the season, there’s still room for surprises, and Montreal offered a tantalizing preview of the battles yet to come.
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