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Sunday’s Final Word – HotAir
Mercedes F1 driver George Russell is out of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal after an engine problem led to his eventual retirement from the race.
Russell was leading the race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the Île Sainte-Hélène when he suffered an engine issue going into turn eight.
His Mercedes machine suffered an engine issue that was audible on the broadcast – leading the British driver to stop on the track after losing power.
In something of a fit, an irate Russell began to throw some of his equipment out of his car in a clear demonstration of frustration.
This included his HANS device – which he launched a few feet in front of him onto the track.
When he eventually climbed out of the cockpit, Russell was seen slamming his hands on his car before getting off the track.
A frustrated George Russell was one of six retirements at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix
Russell led the race but suffered mechanical problems leading to him dropping out
After the race, a perplexed and dismayed Russell bemoaned his chances for success at the weekend.
‘Disbelief,’ Russell told reporters when asked how he felt when his power unit failed. ‘It feels like somebody doesn’t want me to fight or compete for this championship.
‘Three out of the last fie races there’s just been something really going against us. [I’m] just a bit lost for words right now.’
Russell was in a tense battle with teammate Kimi Antonelli for the lead at the time of his retirement.
But after his engine failed, Antonelli would go on to claim the victory and stood atop the podium for the Brackley-based team.
‘Yea, I loved the battle.’ Russell said of the competition. ‘I was happy with how I handled it, how I drove and I’m just pleased with the weekend in terms of my own personal performance.
‘There were a lot of doubters maybe after Miami and a lot of chat, but I know what I can do. Pole in the Sprint, win the Sprint, pole in Qualifying, leading the race.’
He added, ‘I wanted to continue for 30 more laps. I would have loved to see how it would have panned out, but here we are.’
Russell was seen slamming his hands on his car after an engine failure led to his exit
Russell was seen throwing some equipment out of his car after dropping out with the lead
Russell was one of six competitors to retire early from the race due to issues in Montreal.
Arvid Lindblad, Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Sergio Perez all couldn’t finish the race in the required 68 laps.
This year’s Canadian Grand Prix is being held much earlier than its traditional date of mid-June.
The FIA chose to change the calendar this year – removing the Monaco Grand Prix from its traditional running in the final weekend of May to make ‘further improvements to the geographical flow of races’ and to make a ‘consolidated European leg.’
Weather in Montreal hovered around 54°F (12°C) on Sunday, which is much colder than the high of 75°F (23°C) that drivers experienced last year.
Joining Antonelli on the podium were Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton – who passed Norris in the driver’s standings – and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in P2 and P3 respectively.
