George Russell would have left Montreal with mixed emotions. He scored a first podium of the season for Mercedes, but it could have been more.
The Silver Arrows surprised their rivals by jumping to the front of the field in Canada, with both drivers running a new front wing. Mercedes had spent much of the year isolated between the top three and the midfield, but they stormed into the fight for victory.
On Saturday, Russell took just the second pole position of his career, having set the exact same lap time as world champion Max Verstappen. By crossing the line first, he earned the right to start ahead.
The 26-year-old began the race in commanding fashion as he looked to add to his maiden victory at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. But a couple of mistakes allowed Verstappen and Lando Norris to pass him at different stages.
Team principal Toto Wolff even came over the radio to tell him to ‘focus’. And when he eventually crossed the line third, he apologised to the team for an ‘ugly’ showing.
It isn’t the first time Russell has faltered when a shot at victory has presented itself. He crashed out of the Singapore Grand Prix last autumn as he hunted down Carlos Sainz and Norris in the closing stages.
Toto Wolff critical of George Russell for move on Oscar Piastri
After Mercedes called both drivers into the pits during the second safety car period of the race, they dropped behind the two McLarens. But with the advantage of fresh rubber, they were able to put their rivals under pressure.
Russell tried to bully his way past Oscar Piastri around the outside of the final chicane but the Australian defiantly held his ground. This forced the former to take to the run-off area, allowing Hamilton through.
While Russell was eventually able to overtake Piastri and re-pass his teammate, Norris had scampered up the road. Having already surrendered a potential victory to Verstappen, he’d spurned a shot at P2 as well.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Wolff offered an honest assessment of Russell’s performance. He feels that his driver’s aggression is generally a positive, but he should have kept it in check when fighting Piastri.
“On one side there was brilliance in the race, and then on the other side, maybe he could have avoided [the mistakes],” he said. “I think the pass was never on in that corner.
“As a driver, what makes his overtakes good are that he takes a risk and he drives very hard. This one was maybe a bit too ambitious, cost a position, but he regained that afterwards.”
The incident between the two drivers was subject to an investigation by the stewards. In the end, they decided neither deserved a penalty for causing a collision.
Kimi Antonelli shoot-out looms for Russell at Mercedes
Russell has taken ownership of his intra-team battle with Lewis Hamilton this season. With Hamilton approaching his move to Ferrari, the ex-Williams driver has thrashed him 8-1 in qualifying and 6-2 in the races.
That puts him 14 points ahead in the championship with more than a third of the season gone. If Mercedes can sustain their Montreal levels and Russell continues to have the edge, then that margin will only grow as the team score more lucrative results.
Russell is preparing himself for a likely team leader role ahead of the anticipated arrival of Kimi Antonelli in 2025. Antonelli will be 18 and fresh out of Formula 2 when he’s driving for one of the sport’s biggest teams.
F1 expert Peter Windsor says Russell will back himself to have Antonelli ‘for breakfast’. But if he doesn’t beat him convincingly, he could have a problem.
Verstappen may be on the market for 2026, and Mercedes is his most likely destination. That sets up a potential shoot-out between the two drivers for the right to partner the triple world champion, with Wolff forced to make a brutal call.
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