McLaren experiences a debacle at the Canada Grand Prix shortly before the end. George Russell confidently triumphs in the silver arrow.
Lando Norris immediately took blame for this first big bang.
“That goes to me, excuse for boys. That was stupid of me,” the Brit sparked in a disappointed voice to his McLaren crew – a few moments before, he was rushed into the rear of Oscar Piatri and then could not continue.
His teammate finished fourth, but after the end of the race it stood in the pit lane with a pale face and empty view. The Super-Gau near McLaren had been expected for a long time, in Montreal it was now.
While in the Papaya team and thus in the fight around the World Cup tip, George Russell drove the first win of the season for Mercedes.
Antonelli for the first time on the Formula 1 platform
Remarkable above all: The two McLaren stars had nothing to do with the top in Montreal. In front flew away from the pole position in the silver arrow and left world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull.
In third place, 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli celebrated his first podium in Formula 1 in the second Mercedes. The actually favorite McLaren remained a surprising pale on the Circuit Gilles-Eachve-for the first time this year no driver of the papaya team was allowed to inject champagne.
With his victory, Russell also broke through the dominance of Red Bull Star Verstappen and McLaren in the tenth season race. Previously, only they had won, Russell rewarded himself in the shade of the three for his strong year. With regard to his future, his fourth career win is gold, his contract at Mercedes has been running out at the end of the season.
“It’s great to stand at the top, the last time was a long time ago,” said Russell, “but I don’t want to fuel too many hopes. Our car works well in these cooler conditions. We enjoy the time, the time will show how it goes on.”
Hülkenberg collects points again
In the fight for the World Cup tip, Norris, however, missed an impact goal, the contact with Piatri throws him back: the leader from Australia now has 22 points ahead.
The Ferrari pilots Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed in places five and six. According to his surprising points, the Emmerich Nico Hülkenberg was recently happy to be countable in Spain. In his clean, the 37-year-old was eighth behind Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).
The focus was above all the duel in the first series of start between Russell and Verstappen. “The first curve becomes tricky and crucial, but it’s a long race,” said Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko at “Sky”. However, he did not see the risk of a new scandal between his protégé and the silver arrow pilot. “Max should not be provoked and drive his race. I think nothing will happen,” said the Austrian.
When the start -up tamp gone out, Marko should be right. Russell got away best, Verstappen could not be dangerous. Behind it, Piatri lost third place after a few curves to Antonelli, Hülkenberg shoved ninth in the opening round. But after a while Verstappen sparkled with his tires with an increasingly bad feeling.
McLaren-Crash just before the end
A pit stop became inevitable, Antonelli already put a lot of pressure behind him. Racensell followed a short time later and stayed in front. Antonelli also followed up immediately. Norris and Leclerc took over the top at the front-both had started with hard tires and possibly pokered on a one-stop strategy. But Russell and Verstappen steadily rustled up from behind, the tire changes from Leclerc and Norris followed.
The Mercedes driver Russell began to expand his lead over the champion around the racing half. Until then, the race was unusually unobtrusive for the McLaren. Russell took the lead again 15 laps before the end.
After their last stops, Norris and Piatri blew again to attack the podium – and ultimately drove each other into the cars.