Russell on Mercedes' race start weakness
George Russell said Mercedes’ biggest “weak point” is its race starts after taking pole position in Sprint Qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. George Russell said: "Well, obviously the starts are a big focus for us, because that's clearly our biggest weak point. We know, short term, it's going to be difficult to make major gains, and we're obviously trying as hard as we can to solve it short term. But there's also some medium-term items that we need to make changes to and continue to improve. And, of course, race starts, we don't get to practice very often."
George Russell makes Mercedes ‘weak point' admission amid dismissal of F1 title hysteria
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Hamilton on new setup transforming his Ferrari in Canada
Lewis Hamilton says a new setup choice and more time spent analysing data away from the Ferrari simulator has “transformed” his SF-26 for the Canadian Grand Prix, as Ferrari focuses on optimising the package it introduced in Miami rather than adding new parts this weekend. Hamilton said: "Yeah, we worked really hard sifting through the data the last couple of weeks, and I found that so much more beneficial. One, I was able to then just focus on training and not be distracted, and then the second part is just like really going through a fine comb with ride stability, through corner balances and mechanical balance. And I chose a setup that we've not used – we never used it actually before – so it's transformed the car for me."
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Brundle on Hamilton's Ferrari option through 2028
Martin Brundle says Lewis Hamilton has a unilateral option to extend his Ferrari contract through to the 2028 Formula 1 season, after Hamilton insisted he is not retiring. Brundle said: "But my understanding is Lewis has a unilateral option, in his favour, for 2028 as well, if he wants to stay at Ferrari. So, I think what he's saying is, because there have been a few people saying he should retire, he's got to go, that's what he's responding to there."
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Verstappen on staying in Formula 1 through 2027
Max Verstappen says he expects to be on the Formula 1 grid in 2027 and has no plans for a sabbatical, after earlier this year suggesting he could walk away because of his concerns about the 2026 regulations. Verstappen said: "Yes, definitely. Unless very crazy things happen, but I don't assume that. I can confirm that I will stay in Formula 1. I would not take a sabbatical, I'm not the person for that. If I stop, I stop completely."
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Mekies on Jos Verstappen's Wolff conversation in Montreal
Laurent Mekies says he does not believe Jos Verstappen’s conversation with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in the Montreal paddock ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix had any hidden agenda, despite rumours it could be linked to Max Verstappen. Mekies said: "As much as it may sound exciting to see that from the outside, I really don't think there is an intention particularly behind. It's completely natural that they can have a conversation with Toto. Max was racing in a Mercedes last week, a GT3. So, I genuinely don't think it's part of a game plan to get a message or another through."
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F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: Canadian GP
Houldey on McLaren reverting to previous front wing in Canada
McLaren technical director for engineering Neil Houldey said the team reverted to its previous front wing for sprint qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix after its new design did not deliver the performance it expected in practice. Houldey said: "The front wing wasn't quite delivering what we expected and we ultimately took the call to run the previous specification front wing, which gave the drivers more confidence and allowed them to unlock more performance."
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Teams back selected 2027 race reductions
F1 teams have backed an FIA proposal to shorten selected 2027 races by one or two laps and restrict the pre-start run from the pits to the grid to a single lap, if needed to make the planned shift in the new power units from a 50/50 combustion-electric split towards 60/40 work with carried-over chassis and existing fuel tank sizes. Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane said: "We've come to an agreement, certainly at team principal level, that if anyone wanted to carry their chassis over and that wasn't quite big enough to do the 310km race, we would look at selective races and, of course, only where absolutely necessary, by shortening them by maybe one or two laps, and limiting laps to grid to one."
F1 teams ready to shorten races to get 2027 changes agreed
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Gary Anderson on the front wing McLaren had to remove
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Russell on not needing validation after Sprint pole in Canada
George Russell said he did not need “validation” of his ability after taking Sprint pole for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, despite being outshone by Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli so far this season. Russell said: "I've been in the sport for seven years and the trends have been there for seven years. It's just you guys now see it because I'm fighting for victories and for a championship. I didn't need that validation. This feels great after a tough Miami but I never doubted myself. I know what I can do. Miami is unique but this is an amazing circuit with high grip."
Russell 'did not need validation' after earning Sprint pole in Canada
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Stella on Piastri Red Bull speculation and McLaren stability
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella says speculation linking Oscar Piastri with a move to Red Bull is just “silly season” talk, adding that the team are focused on “maximum stability” with their current driver line-up. Stella said: "I think the reaction is in your question – you mentioned the silly season, and I think we are already fully in this silly season. When we think about Oscar, we couldn't be happier. I think we are seeing the best Oscar in the cockpit and also a happy Oscar... So definitely it's very clear, the direction for maximum stability at McLaren."
Stella reacts to Piastri Red Bull move rumours
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Norris on McLaren's improved confidence after Friday concerns
Lando Norris said McLaren were “a little bit worried” about their pace and confidence in the car after Friday practice in Montreal, despite introducing a significant upgrade package, but were able to turn things around to take third in sprint qualifying. Norris said: "After this morning, we were a little bit worried about how far off we were, more just the lack of confidence in the car. But we made some tweaks, we changed some things and seemed to make a good improvement. So happy with third."
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Hamilton on skipping Ferrari simulator after Montreal sprint qualifying
Lewis Hamilton says not using Ferrari’s simulator helped him feel his best of the year and is “the way forward” for him, after qualifying fifth for the sprint in Montreal. Hamilton said: "That was probably the best qualifying session we've had for some time. Just really great work with the engineers, the set-up changes, the car felt really fantastic from [practice] and we made just subtle changes going into quali... Also the fact that I didn't do the sim, and I feel it's the best I've felt all year, so I think that's the way forward for me."
Hamilton sure missing simulator sessions is “the way forward” after Friday qualifying
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Leclerc on illegal cool-down laps in Montreal sprint qualifying
Charles Leclerc said Ferrari should complain to the stewards because he believes some rivals’ cool-down laps in sprint qualifying in Montreal were “for sure illegal”, after the Ferrari driver qualified sixth at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Leclerc said: "We should complain about the cool-down laps, they are for sure, for sure illegal. For tomorrow let's focus on being alone on-track and not having these guys' cool-down laps."
Leclerc told Ferrari to complain about rivals' “illegal” cool-down laps
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Norris on McLaren changes after Sprint Qualifying improvement
Lando Norris said his third place in Sprint Qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix was a “good surprise” after McLaren made changes following a lack of confidence in the car earlier on Friday. Norris said: "Very. A very good result, actually – a good surprise. I think after this morning we were a little bit worried, let's say, about how far off we were and more just the lack of confidence in the car. But we made some tweaks, we changed some things and seemed to make a good improvement. I'm happy with third. A positive turnaround, and I'm proud of the team that we managed to do such a good job."
Norris reflects on Sprint Qualifying P3 after early worries
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Russell on never doubting himself after sprint pole
George Russell says he has “never doubted” himself this season after taking Sprint Qualifying pole at the Canadian Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Russell said: "It obviously feels great after a tough Miami but I never doubted myself – I knew what I could do. Miami was obviously a bit unique. This is an amazing circuit here – high-grip, feels like you're driving a proper Formula 1 car around here which is how it should be. I'm glad today came together."
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Lawson on playing catch-up after hydraulic leak in Canada
Liam Lawson says he will be “playing catch-up” for the rest of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend after a hydraulic leak on his Racing Bulls car curtailed his running in the only practice session on Friday and meant he missed Sprint Qualifying. Lawson said: "I think in a weekend that is a Sprint, already it's tough to get that track time. FP1 is really important to put the laps together because that's the only actual practice we get, the rest of the time we are in competition and in performance mode. It definitely makes it really tough on a weekend like this... it's going to be tough for sure, I'm going to be playing catch-up tomorrow."
Lawson laments tough Friday in Canada after car issues
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Palmer on energy management challenge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Former Formula 1 driver and F1 TV reporter Jolyon Palmer said Circuit Gilles Villeneuve presents an energy management challenge because the chances to recharge and the need to deploy electrical power do not line up neatly across the lap. Palmer said: "What's then difficult is the run out of the hairpin up towards that final chicane because you've only got the chicane to recharge something before you get another run to complete the lap in qualifying. You've got quite a low recharge limit as well. It's the lowest we've seen so far: six megajoules that you can harvest through a lap, so you have got plenty of opportunity to do that in the first two-thirds of the lap."
Jolyon Palmer explains Canadian GP energy management challenge
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