This year’s Canadian Grand Prix saw George Russell convert his pole position into a fourth career win, ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli, who, at just 18 years, 9 months, and 22 days old, has become the third youngest podium finisher in Formula 1 history.
The race ended under the safety car after the two McLarens came together on lap 67. A collision that forced Lando Norris out of the race.
Having nailed the start and fended off Max Verstappen through turn one, Russell found himself under immense pressure from the Red Bull in the opening stages.
Verstappen’s attempts to force Russell into a mistake were ultimately in vain as the reigning world champion eventually had to back off due to excessive tyre wear. Having been touted as the optimal tyre after qualifying, the medium compound had unexpectedly high degradation on race day.
Verstappen pitted after just 13 laps, having been caught by Antonelli, who had in turn, passed Piastri at turn three on the opening lap. Russell responded by coming in a lap later and rejoined ahead of Verstappen.
Piastri held station in fourth for much of his first stint. With no dirty air and no one to fight with, it was assumed that the championship leader would go long on his set of mediums and attempt an overcut.
However, Piastri came in on lap 17, having failed to make any inroads into the leading trio. The Australian would later find himself under pressure from his teammate Lando Norris who, having cleared the likes of Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, began to fill Piastri’s mirrors with less than ten laps remaining.
Piastri held firm and was briefly able to break away after getting DRS off Antonelli on lap 64. However, Norris made what appeared to be the definitive pass coming into the hairpin on lap 66.
Piastri gave his teammate a wide berth and attempted a switchback manoeuvre, as they headed down the back straight side by side. Piastri had the inside line going into the final chicane and Norris’ attempts to regain the initiative going into turn one led to him making an ill-timed move to the left-hand side.
Norris made contact with Piastri’s rear, lost his front wing and was out of the race. Having lost twelve points to Piastri and 18 to Verstappen, Norris’ title aspirations have taken a serious knock in Canada.
Detached from the drama up front, Ferrari endured a middling grand prix. Lewis Hamilton struggled to sixth after striking a groundhog on lap 13. His teammate Charles Leclerc was left equally frustrated.
After starting on the hards, Leclerc was called in after just 29 laps, despite there being no apparent drop-off in pace.
Ferrari opted for a two-stop strategy and fit Leclerc with a second set of hards for his middle stint, a decision he admitted to not understanding. Additionally, Leclerc criticised his delayed switch to mediums in the closing stages of the Grand Prix. The Monegasque eventually finished fifth.
Fernando Alonso underlined Aston Martin’s improved form with seventh, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, who secured a second consecutive points finish for both him and Sauber.
Esteban Ocon managed to secure points in Haas’s 200th grand prix in ninth, while Carlos Sainz made up for his Q1 exit on Saturday with a controlled drive to tenth.
Yuki Tsunoda capped off a disappointing weekend with 12th, one place behind Oliver Bearman. Franco Colapinto came to blows with Alex Albon on the opening lap and eventually had to settle for 13th with Bortoleto, Gasly Hadjar and Stroll the last cars to take the flag.
With, this win, Russell retains fourth place in the drivers’ championship. But the Mercedes driver has extended his advantage over Leclerc. Piastri has also extended his advantage over Norris but with second place, Verstappen has kept himself in contention. The Dutchman is now 43 points behind Piastri and 11 behind Norris.
