Mercedes-Benz Drives the Weekend Celebrations During Montreal’s Grand Prix
Mercedes-Benz x SHARP
Montreal was electric. Crowds and cars filled the city as the Canadian Grand Prix took over. SHARP Magazine attended alongside photographer Alexis Belhumeur and model and DJ Yasmine Seck (Yaya) to experience Formula 1 weekend in style with Mercedes-Benz. Both on and off the track, Mercedes-Benz owned the weekend, highlighted by a double podium finish for the Silver Arrows. Off the track, Alexis and Yasmine experienced an array of exclusive events at The Ritz-Carlton, where a Mercedes-AMG SL Roadster and Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe were parked outside throughout the weekend for all to see.
On Friday evening, the Ritz Royale party kicked off the weekend; multi-level party rooms, filled with an assortment of food and drink options, took over the Ritz-Carlton. Mercedes-Benz VVIP guests, including Alexis and Yasmine, were able to escape the bustle thanks to a more discreet sanctuary at the exclusive Mercedes-Benz Lounge des icônes. The hidden entrance took invitees into a photo booth before entering the vinyl listening lounge — a sea of red, where cocktails were served to the sounds of DJ sets by Yaya and Jacques Greene. Although VVIP guests could explore the entire party, the Lounge des icônes was a coveted hidden treasure during the late-night festivities.
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
Ritz Royale
During Saturday’s qualifying session, Mercedes-AMG F1 driver George Russell put in a commanding performance as the only driver to break into the 1:10s — a fraction of a second off the track record set by Sebastian Vettel in 2019 — earning himself pole position for Sunday’s race. His performance combined raw speed and precision around the tight and technical Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, marking the sixth pole of his Formula 1 career and reinforcing his reputation as one of the sharpest drivers on the grid. Teammate Kimi Antonelli wasn’t far behind, clocking a strong lap just a few tenths off Russell’s pace to secure P4, putting both Silver Arrows firmly in the fight heading into Sunday.
Following qualifying, George Russell made a special appearance at another exclusive Mercedes-Benz event at the Ritz-Carlton on Saturday evening. Co-presented by Mercedes-Benz, Nobu Toronto, and Moët & Chandon, Oto by Nobu created a moment of calm sophistication for guests to enjoy a glass of champagne (or, alternatively, a Hennessy espresso martini to align with the weekend’s fast-paced affairs) and was accompanied by a delicious offering of sushi from the Nobu chefs before continuing the evening at events across Montreal. During the night, George Russell spoke in conversation with sportscaster Kayla Grey, covering memorable moments throughout his career and the road he took to get to this point. In an unforgettable weekend, the event marked a truly special moment for all guests to experience while hearing directly from one of the most talented drivers in the world.
Nobu Party
Nobu Party
Nobu Party
Nobu Party
Nobu Party
Nobu Party
Nobu Party
Nobu Party
The main event of the weekend was the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and SHARP, Alexis, and Yasmine had the opportunity to watch from the Mercedes-AMG Elite Suite. Mercedes-AMG Elite Suite tickets include VIP shuttle service to the track, a selection of luxury food and drink options available in the suite throughout the weekend, and an enhanced race day experience with special commentary from a Mercedes-AMG expert host. Of course, what else would you expect from the weekend’s double-podium team? Situated between the start and finish line at the Senna corner, the Mercedes-AMG Elite Suite guests had the best vantage point to witness the drivers as they exited the pits onto the track and made the notoriously tricky turn.
Both drivers executed a two-stop Medium-Hard-Hard strategy, with George starting from pole and Kimi lining up P4. A brilliant move from Kimi on the opening lap saw him cut inside Oscar Piastri at Turn Three, moving him into P3 behind George and immediately giving Mercedes a commanding position at the front. From there, George delivered a masterclass in race management. He controlled the pace from the lead, expertly preserving his tires and fending off pressure from Max Verstappen to take a well-earned victory. Behind him, Kimi pushed Verstappen at key moments, nearly snatching second during an ambitious overcut attempt. In the final laps, Kimi found himself under heavy pressure from Piastri’s McLaren but held his nerve, defending hard to maintain P3. A late-race Safety Car neutralized the closing moments, locking in a double podium for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS.
Mercedes-Benz Elite Suites
Mercedes-Benz Elite Suites
Mercedes-Benz Elite Suites
Mercedes-Benz Elite Suites
Mercedes-Benz Elite Suites
Mercedes-Benz Elite Suites
Mercedes-Benz Elite Suites
The Mercedes-AMG Elite Suite erupted as George Russell took the checkered flag in Montreal and Kimi Antonelli earned his first-ever podium with a third-place finish, making him the third youngest podium finisher in Formula One history. With the recent announcement to extend the Formula One partnership with Montreal to 2035, we look forward to another decade of excitement and exclusive experiences with Mercedes-Benz.
Photography by Tristan Forbes.
