Russell on set-up changes leaving Mercedes out of sync in qualifying
George Russell said Mercedes made set-up changes based on the expected rain that left the car “out of sync” in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, even though he still took pole position. Russell said: "We made some changes based on the forecast for tomorrow. It may have hurt us a little bit for now. It just took the car out of sync a little bit, and both of us; Kimi was definitely more competitive than I in that session, but we weren't as clear ahead of everyone else as we were yesterday."
George Russell reveals Mercedes F1 ‘changes' that almost ended Canadian GP pole hopes
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☔️ What to expect from the Canadian GP as @NobleF1 reports from a damp, cold Circuit Gilles Villeneuve:
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Bortoleto on expecting to lose positions at Canadian GP start
Gabriel Bortoleto says he is expecting to lose positions at the start of Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix, after he and Audi team-mate Nico Hulkenberg both dropped four places at the start of the sprint in Montreal. Bortoleto said: "Most likely we're going to lose positions again tomorrow, unless everyone behind me fucks it up at the start and I do a mega start. It's true! What can I do? I'm not going to lie, be the optimistic here and then tomorrow we lose positions. It's something we are working on, it's clear, it's not pointing fingers, it's just a problem we have that we need to work [on]."
Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto set for tough Canadian GP start ‘unless everyone else f**** it up’
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Antonelli on needing clarity over Mercedes engagement rules
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli said he asked Toto Wolff for clarity over Mercedes’ engagement rules after his Sprint clash with team-mate George Russell. Antonelli said: "For sure, I think probably we just need a bit of clarity, and then once it's clear, then it's all going to be fine. But the main thing for the team is that there's no contact, that we don't crash into each other, which in the end, was very close. So, for sure, we will clarify, and everything is going to be fine."
Kimi Antonelli names demand from Toto Wolff talks after Sprint intervention
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Leclerc on one of the worst weekends of his career
Charles Leclerc said his Canadian Grand Prix weekend has been “one, if not the worst” of his career and “a nightmare” after struggling to feel his Ferrari through practice and qualifying in Montreal. Leclerc said: "Honestly, it's one, if not the worst weekend of my career. Since FP1, I haven't had one lap where I could feel the car. I just felt like I was going to put it into the wall in every single corner I do just because the tyres were completely out of the window today. I'll analyse on what I can do to be better in these kinds of conditions… because it's been really a nightmare so far."
Charles Leclerc delivers Ferrari ‘nightmare' verdict amid ‘worst weekend’ of F1 career
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Colapinto on a perfect day after reaching Q3 in Canada
Franco Colapinto said it had been a “perfect day” after reaching Q3 at the Canadian Grand Prix for a second straight round and qualifying 10th for Alpine, ahead of team-mate Pierre Gasly. Colapinto said: "I think today has been a perfect day. It's been very good in both sessions – the Sprint race and Qualifying. The race was very strong, very good pace, close to the points, and now again going flat-out from the start to the end and setting very good laps. I have confidence in the car and I'm very pleased with the result."
Colapinto energised by ‘perfect day' after making Canada Q3
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Antonelli on missing pole by 0.068 seconds to Russell
Kimi Antonelli says he will “remember” the margin of 0.068 seconds after being beaten to pole by the same gap in both sprint and grand prix qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix by Mercedes team-mate George Russell. Antonelli said: "Yeah, it was again 68 milliseconds. I'm going to remember that number for a very long time. Yeah, I mean, it was a difficult session. It was very difficult to get the tyres in the right window, especially for lap one. So of course, it was a pity to miss out by this close, but I think it was still a decent session and George did a great lap."
The Canada F1 qualifying quirk Kimi Antonelli ‘will remember for a long time'
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Norris on tricky wet-weather conditions in Canada
Lando Norris says the Canadian Grand Prix could be “insanely tricky” if the forecast rain arrives, with only a few drivers having tested the new cars in wet conditions and temperatures also expected to drop in Montreal. Norris said: "I have no idea. We've never driven in the rain. I don't think anyone knows how difficult it's going to be to drive these cars around. Not bad, just how difficult it's going to be. I mean, it is our job, so I think the expectation obviously should be there, but I think it could be an insanely tricky race. I mean, it's difficult enough to get temperature into a soft tyre, let alone when it's 10 degrees colder tomorrow and we're going to have inters and wets on the car."
Lando Norris issues 'insanely tricky' Canadian GP prediction as rain threatens
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Bearman on Haas chasing setup with Canada upgrade package
Ollie Bearman says Haas have been “chasing our tails” at the Canadian Grand Prix as the team tries to optimise a significant upgrade package he has been running all weekend. Bearman said: "We've been chasing our tail all weekend, really. It's been really, really challenging. Haven't been able to find a solution that's worked. The performance is there, but it's just the characteristics of the car have become really challenging. So we're kind of balancing that knife-edge."
One F1 team's major Canada upgrade package has left it "chasing our tails"
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Ollie Bearman: Haas "chasing our tail all weekend" with updates and Montreal bumps
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5h ago
Lindblad on qualifying ninth despite higher hopes in Canada
Arvid Lindblad admitted he was “a little bit sad” to qualify ninth for the Canadian Grand Prix after hearing during Q1 and Q2 that he could be higher up the order. Lindblad said: "Part of me was a little bit disappointed – I was hearing sort of P5, P6, P7 during Q1 and Q2, so to end up P9 was a little bit sad! But at the same time I think it was inevitable when the top teams figured everything out, so I think it was the best that was possible – best of the rest. Looking forward to tomorrow now."
Why an F1 rookie was “a little bit sad” after season-best-matching qualifying result
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Gasly on wet tyre concerns in Canada rain
Pierre Gasly says the Canadian Grand Prix could turn into an “elimination game” if it rains, with drivers concerned about how Formula 1’s current wet tyres perform. Gasly said: "I think just the track on itself in the dry, it's difficult to warm up the tyres. So, I think in the rain, it will be extremely difficult. I would not be surprised that we end up having a bit of an elimination game."
Pierre Gasly anticipating "elimination game" if rain strikes Canadian GP
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Hadjar on not delivering in Q3 since Miami
Isack Hadjar said he is “very upset” that he has not been “delivering” in Q3 since Miami after qualifying seventh for the Canadian Grand Prix. Hadjar said: "Yeah, too much, actually. I am very upset. Since Miami in Q3, I am not delivering. I make mistakes, and I'm not sharp enough in the final laps of Q3, and I overdrive it. There's lap time going away, and it's a shame."
'Very upset' Isack Hadjar voices frustration over delivery failure
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Russell on sprint clash with Antonelli not being investigated
George Russell said the fact his sprint race clash with Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli was not even investigated by the stewards showed he had done nothing wrong. Russell said: "I didn't think I did anything wrong and I wasn't investigated, so I guess the race director and stewards thought the same. But I need to check it. It is clear that between team mates we race hard and fair and [make] no contact, that's always the objective… There was nothing untoward with the driving and, as I said, I don't think it was even investigated. I think that says enough."
Russell on sprint race clash with Antonelli: “I wasn't investigated, I think that says enough”
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Berra on full wets possibility in wet Canadian Grand Prix
Pirelli's Simone Berra said F1 drivers should consider starting the Canadian Grand Prix on full wet tyres if the expected rain hits Montreal, because cold temperatures at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve could make intermediates harder to use. Berra said: "I think it is the perfect storm. Because we have cold temperatures and it is a low-energy circuit, if it rains, it will be complicated... it could be more tricky on the intermediates than the full wets... It is a possibility that for one time in the last few years, the wet is faster than the intermediate... So if it rains on Sunday... I would personally use the wet tyres."
F1 drivers handed crucial advice as 'perfect storm' to hit Canadian GP
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Verstappen on Red Bull confusion after Canadian Grand Prix qualifying
Max Verstappen says he has “no idea what’s going on” with his Red Bull after qualifying sixth for the Canadian Grand Prix, as he described the car and a set-up change as “very confusing”. Verstappen said: "I don't know, that's the honest answer. I have no idea what's going on. Everything is so confusing, and the setup change that we made, I also didn't like. It was very difficult, very confusing, everything."
Max Verstappen questions Red Bull: 'I have no idea what's going on'
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Piastri on tyre and power unit concerns in wet conditions
Oscar Piastri says both the tyres and the power units could be “a big problem” if Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix is rain-affected, with McLaren still unsure how the new cars will react in changeable conditions. Piastri said: "Everything! The tyres, I don't know, but I've not heard amazing things. And the power units, they're tricky enough in the dry and consistent conditions, let alone in the rain, so I think both will be a big problem. We did a lot of preparation in Miami, trying to understand. I think the conclusion was – we don't know what's going to happen."
Tyres and engines “will be a big problem” as wet Canada F1 race looms
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Russell on Mercedes team-mate racing rules with Antonelli
George Russell said Mercedes have cleared the air on how he and Kimi Antonelli will race each other after their fight for the lead in the Canadian Grand Prix sprint. Russell said: "Yeah, as Kimi said, all good. Had a good discussion and we know what we need to do and how we're going to race each other. And nothing's going to change because we've always had that respect for one another. We're not going to wave anybody by, doesn't matter if he's a competitor or a team-mate. Of course, we know the number one rule is never to crash with your team-mate."
Kimi Antonelli and George Russell had "good discussion" on Canada sprint race clash
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