The 26-year-old British driver was lamenting what he claimed to be two—but was actually three—mistakes that kept him from contending for Mercedes’ first victory since the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Russell made a valid point. He had made some potentially crucial mistakes that had cost him a great deal of time. However, the overall picture for Mercedes in Montreal was overwhelmingly favorable.
Russell secured the team’s first pole position since the race in Hungary the previous year, as well as his own since the same event the year before.
He remained in the lead the whole race, leading the opening 20 laps under fierce pressure from Max Verstappen of Red Bull. Verstappen and second-place finisher Lando Norris of McLaren thought the Mercedes was the fastest car in Canada.
Russell, who came in third, admitted that he was a little upset with himself. I paid for two mistakes. Perhaps there wouldn’t have been much of a difference in the outcome. However, I’m thrilled to be let down by third.
“This weekend, we really had a pretty quick vehicle, and it was great to be back in the mix and competing for the win.
“If you told us ahead of this weekend [that we would take] pole position and [finish] P3, we may not have believed you.”
