If you’re a fan of Formula 1, you know that the sport rarely gives you time to breathe. Just as the dust settles on the Spanish Grand Prix, the circus packs up and heads across the Atlantic for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. But this year, the story is not just about the present. It’s about the ghosts of Formula 1 past, the resilience of its drivers, and the way the sport’s history and future are colliding in a single, emotional weekend. As the F1 paddock prepares for the roar of engines at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a parallel drama unfolds at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where no fewer than 19 ex-F1 drivers are set to chase glory in the world’s most grueling endurance race.
This is a weekend where legends are made, careers are reborn, and the line between heartbreak and triumph is as thin as a carbon fiber front wing. Let’s take a deep breath and dive into the stories that matter most.
The Ghosts of Grands Prix Past: Montreal’s Emotional Pull
There’s something about the Canadian Grand Prix that tugs at the heartstrings of even the most jaded F1 observer. Perhaps it’s the memory of Gilles Villeneuve’s maiden win in 1978, a moment so powerful that the circuit now bears his name. Or maybe it’s the knowledge that, at this track, the script is never finished until the checkered flag falls.
Who can forget Jenson Button’s miraculous victory in 2011, when he pitted six times, survived collisions and rain delays, and snatched the win from Sebastian Vettel on the final lap? Or Robert Kubica’s emotional comeback in 2008, winning a year after a crash that should have ended his career? Montreal is a place where the improbable becomes possible, and where the past is always present.
The Montreal circuit is definitely one of my favourite tracks and it’s a fantastic event. The atmosphere in the city is great: the whole of Montreal becomes a giant motorsport festival. You feel the energy and excitement everywhere in the city.
Esteban Ocon
The city itself seems to conspire with fate, turning every race weekend into a celebration of speed, resilience, and the unpredictable nature of sport. It’s no wonder that, as the F1 world descends on Montreal, the air is thick with anticipation—and a touch of nostalgia.
The Return of the Native Son: Lance Stroll’s Homecoming
This year, the emotional stakes are even higher for Canadian fans. Lance Stroll, the local hero, returns to action for Aston Martin after missing the Spanish Grand Prix due to a hand and wrist injury. The team’s “Plan A” was always to have Stroll back in the car for his home race, and the young Canadian has fought through pain and rehabilitation to make it happen.
I am excited to get back behind the wheel with the team for my home Grand Prix this weekend. I was always going to fight hard to be ready to race in front of the Montreal crowd. I’m feeling good after my procedure and put some laps in at Paul Ricard this week to prepare. Thanks for all the support, see you guys this weekend!
Lance Stroll
Stroll’s determination echoes the spirit of Canadian racing legends, even if—unlike the great Gilles Villeneuve—he hasn’t had to stage a comeback from a life-threatening crash. Still, the sight of a Canadian driver fighting to race on home soil is a reminder of the grit that defines this sport.
Read more: Aston Martin confirm Lance Stroll to return to action for Canadian Grand Prix
The Battle at the Top: McLaren’s Renaissance and the Championship Fight
While the headlines in Montreal will focus on Stroll’s return, the real battle is at the sharp end of the grid. McLaren, a team that once seemed destined for perpetual midfield mediocrity, now leads both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have turned the papaya orange cars into the class of the field, with Piastri holding a slender 10-point lead over his teammate after the Spanish Grand Prix.
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 99 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 89 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 50* |
*Verstappen’s points are illustrative; see official F1 site for full standings.
The Constructors’ table tells a similar story: McLaren sits atop with 246 points, well ahead of Mercedes and Red Bull. It’s a renaissance that would have seemed laughable just a few seasons ago, when McLaren was more likely to be found arguing with Honda than fighting for wins.
Watch: McLaren’s Lando Norris on start to 2025 season | Formula 1 | BBC Sport
The Aggression Game: Liam Lawson and the Midfield Maelstrom
If the fight at the front is about precision and consistency, the midfield is a bare-knuckle brawl. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of Liam Lawson, whose elbows-out approach has made him both a hero and a villain in equal measure. Lawson’s aggressive style has earned him penalties, bruised egos, and—occasionally—points. But as Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies put it:
We are coming from a sequence where the elbows out [attitude] had more disadvantages than advantages in the last few races. When he came back to us, we were actually quite happy to see him going through the field flexing his muscles. Fine, get the penalty, but he was trying to get back on his feet and get in the fighting spirit again. So, it was good that we came back with that approach to turn the page.
Laurent Mekies
Lawson’s story is a reminder that, in Formula 1, survival often requires as much mental resilience as raw speed. The midfield battle is as fierce as ever, with Racing Bulls, Williams, Haas, and Alpine all scrapping for every point.
Read more: Is Liam Lawson’s aggression a blessing or a curse in F1?
The Other Race: Le Mans and the F1 Diaspora
While Montreal hosts the present, Le Mans is where the past comes to play. This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans features a staggering 19 ex-F1 drivers, each chasing a different kind of immortality. From Felipe Nasr and Pascal Wehrlein in the Porsche 963, to Kamui Kobayashi and Nyck de Vries in the Toyota GR010 Hybrid, the grid is a who’s who of F1 alumni.
The tradition of F1 drivers seeking glory at Le Mans is as old as the sport itself. Five F1 World Champions—Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt, Graham Hill, and Fernando Alonso—have won the legendary endurance race. Graham Hill remains the only driver to achieve the Triple Crown of motorsport: Monaco, Indy 500, and Le Mans.
This year, the question is whether any of the 19 ex-F1 stars can join that elite club. The likes of Kevin Magnussen, Will Stevens, and Brendon Hartley will be hoping to add their names to the roll of honor.
Read more: All the ex-F1 drivers competing at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans
F1 Academy: New Ground, New Dreams
Not all the weekend’s drama is confined to the men’s championship. The F1 Academy, the all-female series, makes its debut at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, bringing a new generation of talent to one of the sport’s most iconic venues. Maya Weug leads the standings by a single point, but with three races on the schedule and a field hungry for success, anything can happen.
The Academy’s arrival in Montreal is more than just a footnote—it’s a sign that the sport is finally beginning to embrace diversity and opportunity. For the young women on the grid, this weekend is a chance to write their own history.
Read more: The storylines to look out for as F1 ACADEMY breaks new ground in Montreal
Odds, Ends, and the Wall of Champions
No preview of the Canadian Grand Prix would be complete without a nod to the infamous Wall of Champions, the concrete barrier that has claimed the likes of Schumacher, Villeneuve, and Button. The circuit’s hybrid street layout, long straights, and tight chicanes make it a test of nerve and precision.
The weather forecast promises sun and 22°C for race day, but as history has shown, Montreal is a place where the unexpected is always lurking just beyond the next corner.
For those of you playing F1 Fantasy, the smart money is on Oscar Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg, and Isack Hadjar, but as always, fortune favors the bold—and the lucky.
Read more: F1 FANTASY: Strategist Selection – What’s the best line-up for the Canadian Grand Prix?
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly as obsessed as I am. Here are a few more ways to procrastinate before the lights go out in Montreal:
- All the ex-F1 drivers competing at the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans
- Aston Martin confirm Lance Stroll to return to action for Canadian Grand Prix
- McLaren’s Lando Norris on start to 2025 season | Formula 1 | BBC Sport
- Is Liam Lawson’s aggression a blessing or a curse in F1?
- The storylines to look out for as F1 ACADEMY breaks new ground in Montreal
- F1 FANTASY: Strategist Selection – What’s the best line-up for the Canadian Grand Prix?
