George Russell (Mercedes) won the Canadian Grand Prix, 10th round of the Formula 1 season, marked by a collision between the two McLarens a few laps from the finish, Sunday on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montreal.
The Briton beat the reigning Dutch quadruple world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and his young Italian teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), who, at 18, won his first podium in the premier category of motorsport.
As they battled for fourth place, Lando Norris crashed into his teammate Oscar Piastri from behind at the start of the 67th of the 70 laps of the race. The Briton, who hit the wall on the pit straight, had to retire, while the Australian was able to finish the race, which ended under safety car regime, in fourth place.
Norris admits his mistake
“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault, it’s unfortunate and it was stupid,” the Englishman immediately declared into his radio. Norris is the big loser of the day since he is now relegated 22 lengths behind Piastri in the championship after the 12 points scored on Sunday by his teammate.
In front of the McLarens, Russell had a very solid race and won without trembling. Starting in pole position, the Briton contained Verstappen’s attack at the start and then took the lead thanks to a very good pace in the race.
The Englishman thus won the fourth victory of his career in 138 Grands Prix, the first since his success in Las Vegas last November. He also obtained his fifth podium in ten races this season, proof of his consistency, and consolidated his fourth place in the championship.
Sauber still in the points
“It’s fantastic to be back on the top step of the podium. A year ago I felt like I had let the victory slip away so to win this year and to see Kimi (Antonelli) also on the podium is really incredible for the team,” said Russell.
The Ferraris of Monegasque Charles Leclerc and seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton took fifth and sixth places, ahead of Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).
The top 10 is completed by the German Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber), still in the points after his exploit in Barcelona (5th) two weeks ago, the Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Haas) and the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Williams). The two other Frenchmen Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Isack Hadjar had to settle for 15th and 16th places.
