George Russell’s Rollercoaster Race: Mercedes Sees Progress Despite Missed Victory in Montreal

George Russell celebrated at the end of the race for the Formula 1 World Championship in Montreal, Canada, on June 9, 2024. Toto Wolff, head of Mercedes, acknowledged that Russell made mistakes in the Canadian Grand Prix, but refuted the idea that it cost the team a victory. Russell led the race from pole position until lap 21, when Lando Norris overtook him and established a significant lead. Although Russell regained second place when McLaren made a questionable decision at the pit wall, he made a mistake at turn 8 and allowed Norris to overtake him again. Russell subsequently made a pit stop under the Safety Car and finished in third place. Wolff believed that beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was unlikely. When asked if Mercedes missed the opportunity to secure their first victory since November 2022, Wolff stated that the win was difficult. He mentioned there was a fleeting thought of victory when Russell was closing in on the leaders with a strong pace, but cautioned against being too greedy. Russell attempted to pass Oscar Piastri at the final chicane, but ended up behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Although Russell regained his positions in the final laps, Wolff admitted he should have been more cautious in his approach towards McLaren. Wolff acknowledged Russell’s brilliance in the race, but also believed he could have avoided making errors. He stated that the overtaking move on Piastri was too ambitious and cost Russell a position. However, Wolff denied that the incident with Piastri prevented Russell from winning and instead focused on the positive aspects of Mercedes’ performance. He mentioned that P2 was within reach and emphasized the progress the team had made in terms of speed and car development.