Russell Triumphs in Dramatic Canadian GP

MONTREAL – George Russell secured a hard-fought victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that saw significant late drama unfold when McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri made contact while battling for position.

While pre-race focus was on a potential battle between Russell and Max Verstappen (who reportedly expressed frustration regarding penalty point discussions after qualifying), a direct duel for the win didn`t fully materialize. Verstappen finished second. Red Bull`s post-race protest against Russell`s win, concerning conduct under the safety car, was ultimately dismissed by stewards.

The most significant on-track incident involved the McLaren drivers. Stewards investigated the collision, resulting in Lando Norris receiving a five-second time penalty.

The collision occurred on Lap 66 as Norris attempted to overtake Piastri for fourth place. Norris gained on Piastri down the main straight but drifted wide as the track curved right, making contact with Piastri`s car and subsequently hitting the wall.

The crash forced Norris to retire from the race, while Piastri continued, maintaining his championship lead over Norris.

Despite the significant nature of the incident, Norris immediately accepted full responsibility. On his team radio, Norris stated, “Sorry. All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me.”

The incident led to the race concluding under safety car conditions.

The safety car period benefited Russell`s teammate, the young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who secured his first career Formula 1 podium finish, becoming one of the youngest drivers to achieve this milestone.

Antonelli described the race as “so stressful” but was “super happy” with his result, noting his good start allowed him to reach P3 and stay near the front.

Russell expressed his joy at being back on the top step, calling it “amazing.” He reflected that a win felt lost in the previous year`s race here but credited his pole position for securing the victory today. He also shared his happiness for Antonelli`s podium.

Piastri managed to bring his car home in fourth place despite the contact. Ferrari`s Charles Leclerc finished fifth, ahead of Lewis Hamilton in sixth.

Lewis Hamilton had a challenging race, reportedly feeling confused by his lack of pace and comparing driving his car to dancing without rhythm. He was heard on the radio saying, “I`m nowhere in this race, mate.” Hamilton also reported hitting a groundhog during the race, which he said he was “devastated” about, as it damaged the car`s floor.

Fernando Alonso continued his improved form, finishing seventh for Aston Martin, followed by Nico Hulkenberg for Sauber in eighth. Esteban Ocon secured ninth place for Haas, and Carlos Sainz took the final point for Williams in tenth.