Seething George Russell furiously launches equipment out of cockpit in on-track meltdown after suffering dramatic early exit in Canadian GP
Mercedes F1 driver George Russell has withdrawn from the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal after an engine problem forced him to withdraw from the race.
Russell was leading the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at Île Sainte-Hélène when he experienced engine trouble entering turn eight.
The Mercedes machine had an engine problem that could be heard on air, causing the British driver to stop on the track after losing power.
Furious, Russell began throwing some of his equipment out of his car, a clear display of his frustration.
This included the HANS device, which he threw onto the track a few meters in front of him.
When he finally emerged from the cockpit, Russell was seen slamming his hands on his car before exiting the track.
A disappointed George Russell was one of six people to withdraw from this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix
Russell led the race but suffered mechanical problems and retired from the race
Russell was seen slamming his hands on his car after it went out due to engine trouble.
Russell was seen throwing some equipment from his car as he drove ahead
Russell was one of six competitors to withdraw from the race early due to problems in Montreal.
Arvid Lindblad, Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Sergio Perez failed to complete the race in the required 68 laps.
This year’s Canadian Grand Prix will be held much earlier than its traditional date of mid-June.
The FIA has chosen to change the calendar this year; It moved the Monaco Grand Prix from its traditional race on the last weekend in May to make ‘further improvements in the geographical flow of races’ and create a ‘unified European leg’.
Weather in Montreal was hovering around 54°F (12°C) on Sunday; This is much colder than the 75°F (23°C) high that drivers experienced last year.
Russell’s teammate Kimi Antonelli took the checkered flag and maintained his lead in the driver standings.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton took second place, passing Norris and became fourth in the rankings. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fought him to the end but finished the race in 3rd place.
