When George Russell put his Mercedes on pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix, many expected that the Red Bull of Max Verstappen, as well as the McLaren of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, would breeze by. Instead, though, the 27-year-old Brit held his nerve, managing the pace throughout to claim his first victory of the season.
Russell didn’t have it all his own way. A late safety car brought second-placed Verstappen back into contention, and the two frontrunners – just as they did in Spain last time out – would come together once again. This time, it looked as though the Mercedes driver had brake-tested the reigning world champion under safety car conditions, but ultimately, neither driver was punished, and Russell managed to hold off Verstappen to secure a deserved win.
🚨🏎️ THE RACERS ARE OFF FOR THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX 😤
— Bodog (@BodogCA) June 15, 2025
Turning Point for Mercedes?
The victory could represent a turning point for Mercedes. They have been some way off the pace of the McLarens, while Verstappen continues to remain in contention despite his underperforming car. But with a first victory now under their belt – as well as a first-ever podium for teenager Kimi Antonelli – the Silver Arrows could well be turning a corner.
Online betting odds providers remain somewhat unconvinced. The latest Formula 1 betting odds make McLaren a mighty 1/100 favorite to win the constructors’ championship this season, and it would be a huge shocker if the Papaya outfit didn’t end up with a second straight title. In the “without McLaren” market, however, Mercedes is an 11/10 shot to come out on top, ahead of both Red Bull and Ferrari.
With their first race win of the season now under their belt, Toto Wolff’s team could be set to emerge from the doldrums and become a regular contender for race victories. Such resurrections have become commonplace for Mercedes in recent years, as these examples will show you.
2022-2024: Mercedes Return to Contention
Mercedes headed into the 2022 season having won the constructors’ title in each of the last eight campaigns. However, their car that year was riddled with issues, which saw them comprehensively outclassed by both the Red Bulls and Ferraris. That said, as the season progressed, the team began to find its footing.
By mid-season, an understanding of their car’s quirks and upgrades countering them catapulted Mercedes back into the mix. Although race wins proved elusive, Lewis Hamilton came agonizingly close on numerous occasions. Late safety cars in both Great Britain and the Netherlands cost him victory, while he took the fight to Verstappen in the US as well. That first triumph of the campaign would eventually come when George Russell led home a 1-2 in the penultimate race of the campaign in Brazil.
The 2024 campaign followed a similar pattern. Once more, Mercedes found themselves well off the pace in the opening stages, but midseason, the tide turned. Hamilton delivered a thrilling home victory at Silverstone to end a two-and-a-half-year wait for a Grand Prix victory. He would back that up with another win in Belgium, a victory that was originally a 1-2 before Russell was disqualified. The former Williams man would have his moment in the sun as well, though, winning in both Austria and Las Vegas to bring the curtain down on a stellar personal campaign.
2021: Mercedes Upgrades Take Hamilton to the Brink of the Title
During the opening exchanges of the 2021 season, Max Verstappen and the Red Bull RB16B seemed untouchable. While Hamilton managed to pick up victories based on pure experience and know-how, the Flying Dutchman’s raw pace would see him open up a significant championship lead. But as the campaign progressed, Mercedes struck back.
As the end of the season loomed large, Verstappen remained in charge of the championship, but Toto Wolff had built Hamilton a rocket ship. He reeled off three straight victories – including a stunning last-to-first effort in Brazil – to take the title race down to the final day of the season in Abu Dhabi.
On that fateful day in the Arabian Gulf, it looked as though the GOAT did enough to secure a record-breaking eighth world title. Hamilton handled everything that Red Bull threw at him and opened up a ten-second lead as the race neared its conclusion. Then, a late safety car and a series of controversial decisions from now-disgraced former race director Michael Masi saw Verstappen steal his first title on the final lap of the race.
2017-2018: Mercedes and Hamilton Fight Back to Beat Ferrari
Both the 2017 and 2018 seasons began with Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari looking to assert dominance. Mercedes had reeled off three straight drivers and constructors’ titles in the years prior, but the Scuderia had finally built a car that was able to take the fight to the champions. Their four-time world champion lead driver duly set about the task at hand, building up commanding points leads throughout the first half of both campaigns in a bid to end the Silver Arrows’ dominance.
But as the summer heat began to radiate on the European calendar, Mercedes and Hamilton turned the tide. Starting at the British Grand Prix, Hamilton won six of eight races down the stretch to take the title once again. The following campaign followed a similar script, ramping up the pressure on Vettel, who crumbled at the worst possible moment as he crashed out from the German Grand Prix when leading.
On both occasions, Hamilton would ultimately win the title. Fast forward to 2025, and Russell harbors faint hopes of mounting a similar comeback, albeit an unlikely one.