Report: A Mechanical Retirement in Montreal

Alex's 2025 Canadian GP ended with a DNF after a Power Unit failure

Published

15 JUN 2025

Est. reading time

2 min

A second successive 2025 retirement hit Alex Albon in the Canadian GP after a tricky day at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Starting from P9, Alex had hoped to return to his points-scoring ways, but a tough opening lap preceded a race that had Albono ending his day finding a spot to park his car after power unit problems on Lap 49.

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Signs that all might not be well came on the formation lap, with Alex having issues with his throttle. Radio messages between car #23 and the pit wall as Alex made his first lap of the day discussed the problem, but he made it back to the grid okay.

A solid launch had Alex out of trouble with a clean getaway, but wheel-to-wheel fighting with 2024 teammate, Franco Colapinto, into Turn 8 ended with Alex having to take to the grass. He dropped back to P12 but did avoid picking up damage despite the off-track running.

The race settled down in the first stint as a mixture of strategies played out. Alex began his Sunday on the Medium tyre and ran a longer stint than those around him before pitting for the first time on Lap 24.

Unfortunately for Alex, the fading grip on the tyres had him drop down the order before his stop, including Carlos Sainz in the second Williams, who Alex let through in the interest of the team.

Emerging in P20 after stopping for the Hard compound tyre, Alex followed Lance Stroll around the Canadian's home circuit as the two closed in on a long train of cars stuck behind the Saubers.

With several of the racers still to box, Alex was set to inherit positions as the race continued, but problems with his car began during a fight with Pierre Gasly to end any hopes of recovery.

Pulling off safely at the Turn 10 hairpin, Alex avoided triggering a Safety Car after a lap of loud engine noises, becoming the first of the race's three retirements.

"It’s been a frustrating one today," summarised Alex after the race finished.

"We retired with the PU issue, but the race was already over for us.

"I struggled on the first lap, and then we tried to make a one stop work, but with the graining today it was really hard to manage the tyres. Sometimes you can drive around it but not today.

"Race strategy is also something we are usually strong at, but we struggled today and that’s not to blame the team, but it just wasn’t quite there, so we’ll have a look at it and come back stronger next time."