George Russell secured his first podium of the season for Mercedes at the Canadian Grand Prix, but it was a bittersweet achievement as he lamented what he described as an “ugly race.”
Russell clinched third place in a dramatic race at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, finishing just ahead of his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. This result marked the best performance of the season for Mercedes, with the Silver Arrows taking third and fourth positions respectively.
The young Briton, starting from pole position, led the race for the initial 20 laps and remained a strong contender for victory throughout much of the event. However, a series of errors marred his otherwise promising performance.
Russell’s race was punctuated by a string of scruffy moments. A notable incident occurred during a fierce battle with McLaren’s Lando Norris, where Russell was forced to cut across a kerb at the final chicane. This misstep allowed Hamilton to temporarily claim the podium spot, which Russell later regained.
In another tense encounter, Russell made wheel-to-wheel contact with Oscar Piastri’s McLaren, forcing him into the runoff area at the same chicane. Despite these setbacks, Russell managed to hold onto third place, securing his first podium since last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Immediately after crossing the finish line, an apologetic Russell radioed his team, saying, “Ugly race on my behalf. Sorry for that. I’m very sorry for that.”
Post-race, Russell’s disappointment was palpable as he addressed the media. “It felt like a missed opportunity, to be honest,” the 26-year-old reflected. “We were really quick at the beginning on the inters, and then obviously Lando came through fast. Switching to slicks, I made a couple of mistakes pushing the limits, which cost us.”
Russell elaborated on the race dynamics, noting, “We had the pace. Max [Verstappen] was very strong at that point, but with the mediums at the end, we were really fast. The mistake with Oscar, losing the position to Lewis, cost us at least P2, and maybe a chance to fight with Max. But we’ll take the positives: first podium, first pole of the year. We’re moving forward.”
Despite the errors, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff remained optimistic. “We certainly could have taken one or two more positions and maybe have fought for victory,” Wolff said. “It is a little bittersweet, but ultimately, if you had told us before the weekend that we would be third and fourth, we would have taken it.”
The Canadian Grand Prix highlighted both the potential and challenges facing Mercedes as they continue their 2024 campaign. As the team looks ahead, the Montreal performance offers a blend of hope and hard lessons for the races to come.
