Canadian Grand Prix: Norris and Piastri collide as Russell wins – reaction

Mercedes’ George Russell, who wins the Canadian Grand Prix from pole position: “It’s amazing to be back on the
top step, the last one for us was back in Vegas. I felt last year was a victory
lost and then we got the victory today probably due to the incredible pole lap
yesterday.

“I’m so happy
to see Kimi [Antonelli] on the podium as well, it’s an amazing day to the team.
Thanks to everybody back at the factory who have been working so hard to get us
back fighting for victories and it feels good.”

On the car: “It’s a little bit cooler around here, we saw it last year in Canada. I would
love to get our hopes up but I think the strength of our car is in the cooler
conditions, let’s see into the coming races but we will enjoy this for now.”

On keeping
the performance for the next race: “Time will tell. We won Austria last year so
maybe that’s a good omen, we will enjoy it for the time being. We did have high
expectations coming into this weekend and it worked out as we thought.”

The trademark George Russell T-pose was out after the chequered flag. Will he do this for the rest of his career?

11. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

12. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)

13. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

14. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

15. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

16. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

17. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

DNF. Lando Norris (McLaren)

DNF. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

DNF. Alex Albon (Williams)

Onto the cooldown room now and the atmosphere is celebratory as the trio watch the highlights of the 70-lap race. I don’t think the McLaren collision shows up on screen, though – there’s no doubt that’s the big talking point from round 10. Lando Norris held his hands up straight away after the two cars touched, so let’s see what he has to say when the drivers take to the media pen shortly.

George Russell gallops out to the top step of the podium and is saluting the fans as the national anthems rings out.

“Kimi!” Kimi!” chant the Canadian crowd. The Italian teenager is beaming from ear to ear with his first podium in Formula 1.

George Russell has the gold marker out and signs the fancy bottle of champagne to his dad in honour of Father’s Day.

Below the top five, Esteban Ocon has picked up points for Haas on their 200th race, Nico Hulkenberg adds to his and Sauber’s tally and Carlos Sainz recovers after his Q1 disappointment to score a point.

1. George Russell (Mercedes)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

8. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)

9. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

10. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

Andy Hart: credit to Norris for holding his hands up to that!

Ash Wilkinson: What is it about McLaren teammates and the start/finish straight at Canada…

Rachel T: No idea what Lando was doing there – fair play to him for holding his hands up immediately.

George Russell couldn’t secure the win from pole position last year in Canada but this time out it’s a perfect weekend for the Mercedes driver. He jumps all over his team, then gives Kimi Antonelli a big hug.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! Thank you guys!” said Antonelli on the team radio.

“The small Kimi grows to grande Kimi,” Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff replies.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

A hugely impressive weekend for George Russell, pole position, fastest lap and race win.

Hats off to Kimi Antonelli as he becomes the third youngest driver in Formula One history to stand on a podium.

The race ends behind the safety car and George Russell wins the Canadian Grand Prix from pole position!

Max Verstappen finishes in second and Kimi Antonelli can celebrate his maiden podium in Formula 1 with his third place in Montreal!

Championship leader Oscar Piastri is fourth and Charles Leclerc is fifth.

The cars follow the safety car as the fans in Canada stand up and get ready to celebrate George Russell as the race winner.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I don’t see this one restarting, I see this one finishing behind the safety car.

Oscar Piastri is in fourth place after that bit of late drama and he’ll extend his lead in the drivers’ championship with Lando Norris out of the running.

Max Verstappen is complaining on the team radio about George Russell, but I don’t think the Mercedes man will care.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That has massive ramifications for the championship as well, that is a 12-point swing in favour of Oscar Piastri.

Piastri is going to be leaving here with over a 20-point lead in the drivers’ world championship.

The safety car is out and McLaren are a driver down now. Lando Norris tried his luck on the inside after the hairpin and the slight contact with his team-mate saw him slam the wall on the pit straight.

Engineer: “Are you alright?”

Norris: “Yep, I’m sorry. It’s all my bad, all my fault. Unlucky, sorry. Stupid from me.”

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

All the talk about how well the two McLaren drivers were working together as team-mates despite going for the championship, but they all knew a crash would happen and it has all happened here in Canada.

Lando Norris said he and Oscar Piastri will probably make contact and now it’s happened. The Briton sees a gap, a tight gap, but he catches Piastri’s car and slams into the wall.

Norris says sorry and takes full responsibility for that contact.

Lando Norris catches Oscar Piastri and takes the Australian’s fourth place. The two are hustling each other on the straight but the Briton stays ahead.

But oh no! The pair have made contact!!

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

This is some pressure that Kimi Antonelli is having to soak up from the championship leader Oscar Piastri.

George Russell out front is doing a sublime job as well on the last lap setting the fastest lap of the race.