Latest news with #CanadianGP
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
George Russell Remains Unconcerned Despite No Confirmation on 2026 F1 Seat
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Mercedes Formula One driver George Russell is unconcerned about not having a confirmed F1 seat for next year after his recent win at the Canadian Grand Prix. Despite his current Mercedes contract expiring at the end of 2025, the Briton is confident about racing next year. Russell secured pole position for the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and dominated the entire race until the chequered flag came out. He is currently placed fourth in the Drivers' Standings with 136 points, 19 points adrift of Max Verstappen in third. While the Montreal race last weekend was his first win of the 2025 season, Russell showcased an excellent performance last year and proved what he can do with a quick car. Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team in the Drivers Press Conference during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team in the Drivers Press Conference during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, question about his Mercedes contract extension arrived amid rumors of Aston Martin reaching out to him for a potential seat in 2026. When asked about the delay in Mercedes' contract extension after the Canadian GP, Russell said: "It doesn't hurt! It doesn't hurt at all. But, you know, as I've said many times, I'm not concerned at all about next year. I know I'm going to be on the grid next year. "I feel that I'm driving better than ever. I still feel I've got more in the tank. I feel ready to fight for a World Championship, and I think results like today, results like Bahrain this year when we got half a chance of a good result, we're there to take it. "And I'm pretty relaxed. Just enjoying the moment, enjoying my racing, and just taking it week by week." Russell hinted that he has been approached by other teams, but confirmed his loyalty to Mercedes, despite reports of the team's interest in Max Verstappen. He added: "No. I'm not talking with anybody else and any teams who have shown interest. "I have been quite open to say my intentions are to stay with Mercedes. That's always been clear. And I am loyal to Mercedes. They gave me this chance to get into Formula 1. "There haven't been any hard feelings with any of the talks that have been going around, especially around Max. Because, like I said on numerous times, why wouldn't teams be interested in Max? "If every driver had no contracts for next year, Max would be number one for every single team. And that's understandable. But ultimately, there are two seats for every race team. "I knew if I continue to perform as I'm doing, my position would not be under threat whatsoever. So, I feel in a good place. "We're in no rush to do contract negotiations. We want to win together. Especially Kimi and I being team-mates now – we're getting a result like today, both junior drivers from Mercedes, we're both doing the job in terms of performance. Why would you want to change something that's working?" Newsweek Sports reported Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's comments from the race weekend in Canada, who confirmed that a contract extension is coming for Russell. However, it remains to be seen when both parties choose to sign the new deal.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Toto Wolff brandishes Red Bull protest ‘petty' and 'embarrassing'
Red Bull challenged Russell's victory in Montreal for both driving erratically and committing unsportsmanlike conduct behind the safety car, a claim which was rejected by the stewards. It was the second time they had launched a protest against the Mercedes driver this season following a claim he had failed to slow sufficiently under yellow flags in Miami. 🗣️ "It's so petty and so small" Toto Wolff has branded Red Bull's protest of George Russell's win in Canada as 'petty and embarrassing' 🎙️ — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 17, 2025 Speaking to Sky Sports at the launch of the new F1 movie in New York, Mercedes principal Wolff said: 'First of all, it took team Red Bull Racing two hours before they launched the protest, so that was in their doing. You know, honestly, it's so petty and so small. 'They come up with some weird clauses, what they call clauses. I guess the FIA needs to look at that because it's so far-fetched it was rejected. 'You know, you race, you win and you lose on track. That was a fair victory for us, like so many they had in the past. And it's just embarrassing.' Russell's win in Montreal was a first of the season for Mercedes and the protest represented the latest in a series of controversies involving he and four-time world champion Verstappen. 🗣️ "It's a teams right to do so" Christian Horner says he has 'no regrets' over challenging George Russell's Canadian GP win 🇨🇦 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 17, 2025 However speaking at the same event, Red Bull boss Christian Horner insisted he had no regrets about the decision to go to the stewards. Horner said: 'No, absolutely not. I mean, it's a team's right to do so. You know, we saw something we didn't think was quite right. 'You have the ability to put it in front of the stewards and so that's what we chose to do. Absolutely no regrets in that.'
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
F1 to race in Canada until 2035
The Canadian Grand Prix will remain on the Formula One calendar until 2035 as F1 agreed on a four-year extension with the local promoter and the governments of Canada and Quebec, F1 said in a statement on Tuesday. Last Sunday's race in Montreal, won by Mercedes' George Russell, marked the 54th edition of the Canadian GP since the inaugural event in 1967. Since 1978, the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, named after the legendary Canadian F1 driver, has been the permanent host. 'As Formula 1 celebrates its 75th anniversary, it is fitting that we have announced an extension with the Canadian Grand Prix, a race that has such incredible history in our sport and is named after a true legend in Gilles Villeneuve,' F1 president Stafeno Domenicalli said. (DPA)
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Canadian GP CEO Unfazed by Growing F1 Popularity in the USA
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Canadian Grand Prix President and CEO, Jean-Philippe Paradis, has shared his vision for the future of the Montreal race, explaining that the growing popularity of Formula One in the USA won't diminish the value of Canada's market of "40 million people." The 2025 Canadian GP concluded successfully last weekend, with Mercedes' George Russell securing victory, followed by runner-up Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in third. Related: Toto Wolff Drops Bombshell After Canadian GP: 'Need to Learn Why It Worked' Paradis admitted that he wanted to make this year's event a hit, considering the administrative challenges faced in the 2024 round. He took over the role from Francois Dumontier last year and immediately set out to make the event better in every way. Hinting at a growth plan to make the event one of the best Grand Prix destinations, he said: George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal,... George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W16 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. More"There was something where people wanted to make it different. We want to bring Canada to a top quartile GP. There's a path for us to get there, and we wanted to showcase that there is some improvement." The 2026 Canadian GP has been moved from June to May 22, set to take place after the race in Miami. Paradis confirmed that the change will lead to a slight temperature variation. He said: "The month of May might have been a little bit colder this year. But historically there's about a 1.5 to two degrees (Celsius) difference." However, the change in dates will lead to a clash with IndyCar's Indianapolis 500, which Paradis believes won't affect the numbers. In addition, he believes that despite the growing influence of F1 in the USA, with three successful Grand Prix venues, Canada's market is large enough not to lose out to competition. He said: "Canada is a huge market, right? It's 40 million people. There's obviously a huge economic market. We serve really well the Northeast of North America. It's an iconic race. "I'm personally waking up every day to make sure that we have a top race, and this race stays here for the next 100 years." He added: "If you ask me, why do you wake up every day in the morning? It's to try to make the race really amazing. Each time, I will improve the fan experience, the personnel experience." The Canadian Grand Prix is under contract with F1's governing body, the FIA, until 2031. However, a rumor spread that the deal could end in 2029. Addressing the report, Paradis said: "What we wanted to focus on is making sure 2025 is an amazing success we can build on. As we get success, I'm sure things will fall into place."
New York Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
Lewis Hamilton ran over a groundhog. Plus, 200 thoughts for our 200th newsletter
Prime Tire Newsletter | This is The Athletic's twice-weekly F1 newsletter. Sign up here to receive Prime Tire directly in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday. Welcome to the 200th edition of Prime Tire, where we're excited to announce that, in celebration, we're going to see if we can write 200 thoughts about F1 in this newsletter. Buckle up. Apologies to my editors. I'm Patrick, and Madeline Coleman will be along shortly. Let's dive in. 200: It took 5 hours and 34 minutes for the FIA to confirm the results of the Canadian GP, thanks to Red Bull filing a protest against George Russell's win. It was eventually dismissed, and Russell retained his win. We go into all that in depth here, but … 5 hours and 34 minutes. 199: No thank you. The race itself lasted 1 hour and 31 minutes. 198: You could have watched the entire race three full times, and be 31 minutes into your fourth viewing by the time F1 confirmed Russell's win. 197: Other things you could've done: 196: This is silly. I know why it took so long: the stewards tackle issues in the order they come in — after the race, there were five, including the protest. 195: But, come on. At some point, this isn't officiating; it's a trip to the DMV. 194: On a week when a steward got suspended, it wasn't a great look. 193: Russell's pole lap on Saturday was one of the cleanest, fastest, no-notes laps of the year. 192: If Max Verstappen had done it, we'd be calling it ominous for the title fight. Because it was George, we mostly called it surprising. 190: But maybe we shouldn't have. He's been quietly sharp all season — just didn't have the machinery to rule a weekend. In Canada, he did. 189: Madeline wrote about that today — how a tweak to Mercedes' suspension finally gave Russell and Kimi Antonelli the chance to show their stuff. Advertisement 188: I think it's nice we have our first non-Verstappen/Lando Norris/Oscar Piastri win of the entire 2025 season. 187: Variety is nice. 186: That's why berry-themed Skittles are often disappointing. 185: Antonelli's first F1 podium was a quietly huge moment. 184: He's 18. He's racing and still doing school. 183: But he stood next to Max and George and didn't look out of place! Except the height thing. 182: I thought what George said, when asked about the year-long talk of Verstappen joining Mercedes, was right on: 'Why would you want to change something that's working?' 181: Beyond Piastri and Norris, Mercedes might have the second-best driver lineup in F1. Madeline broke it all down here. 180: Sometimes my dog will try to take a shortcut to go downstairs. Instead of going around the couch, she'll see a gap between the other side of the couch and the end table, closer to the stairwell. It's her preferred line to overtake me on the way downstairs. 179: So sometimes she'll go for that gap. As she gets closer, you'd think she'd notice that the gap isn't as big as she thought it'd be. But she still goes for it. 178: It never works. She just won't fit. The table will shake as she bumps into it. 176: One time, she knocked over a bowl of soup I had spent all afternoon making. Ruined my day, so to speak. Ruined my race to make a good bowl of soup. A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1) 175: And then I wondered, will I ever be good enough to make a bowl of soup as good as my wife makes? Consistent enough? Or am I too mistake-prone to make a bowl of soup as good as my wife, my teammate, makes? To put it all together over a full season of making soup? 174: Anyway. Lando Norris DNFed after crashing while trying to pass Oscar Piastri. 173: Norris trails his teammate in the championship by 10 points more than he did before Montreal. Luke wrote all about it here. 172: Speaking of Montreal, I think (see what I did there) it's time to throw it to Madeline in the paddock … One of the unique parts about Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is the groundhogs. They're more courageous than most people would be, escaping the safety of their homes to sit trackside as cars zip past. Some will creep up to the track edge while others will be daring enough to sprint across — even with a live track. Advertisement This does, unfortunately, lead to casualties at times, though it is not a yearly occurrence. Nicholas Latifi hit one during practice in 2022, while Romain Grosjean struck a groundhog in 2018, damaging his front wing (also during a practice session). On Sunday, Lewis Hamilton hit a groundhog early in the race, around Lap 12, and suffered damage to his car, experiencing a loss of downforce. 'I got a good start (to the race), held position, I was holding onto the group and managing tires well, so I was feeling optimistic,' Hamilton said to Sky Sports on Sunday. 'I didn't see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog so that's devastating. 'I love animals, and I'm so sad about it. That's horrible. That's never happened to me here before. But the floor, basically the right side, there's a hole in it and all the vanes are all gone.' Matters only got worse for Hamilton from there, as the seven-time world champion also experienced a brake issue around halfway through the grand prix. He ultimately finished the race sixth after starting fifth. 154: Thanks, Madeline. This is where I plug my interview with a groundhog expert from last year — still one of the happiest moments of my career. I'm counting that section as 20 thoughts, including Nos. 191 and 177. Please do not double-check my math. During the Canadian GP weekend, some of the media (including The Athletic's own Luke and Madeline) got an early look at F1: The Movie, the Brad Pitt-led and Lewis Hamilton-produced attempt to bring Formula One to the big screen. It's not officially out until June 27 in the U.S., but we can say this: it's not made for longtime fans — and it doesn't pretend to be. This is a movie movie. It's glossy, dramatic. It's got slow-mo shots and orchestral swells and some cheesy lines. If you live and breathe F1, you might find yourself squinting at certain details or rolling your eyes once or twice. But if you accept it as a stylish recruitment ad for people who have maybe heard of Verstappen but definitely know who Brad Pitt is — hey, it might work. Advertisement Read our full review here. Wow, I count, like … 150 thoughts in that review. Amazing. 4: Verstappen got testy when asked too many times about being close to a race ban. I think that was entirely predictable. 3: I also think it's no surprise that both Las Vegas and Canada announced extensions to their F1 deals. Great races both. (F1 Academy extended in Canada, too.) 2: Hamilton came to the defense of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur this weekend. I think the pressure on Vasseur will only grow the longer Ferrari goes without sniffing a race win. 1: And, finally, I think (no, I know) I'm grateful for you, our Prime Tire readers. Here's to 200 more. I will not be doing this idea again. 📫 Love Prime Tire? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters. (Top photo of Lewis Hamilton and a groundhog: GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images, Malcolm Griffiths – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
