Canadian Grand Prix 'An Opportunity Missed', Admits Mercedes' George Russell

George Russell secured Mercedes their first podium of the Formula One season at the Canadian Grand Prix, but felt his third-place finish was a missed opportunity. (More Motorsport News)

The British driver was on pole for the first time since the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2022 and led for the first 21 laps before being o✃vertaken in quick succession by McLaren's Lando Norris and eventual winner, Max Verstappen. 

In a contest that saw the driv🍬ers endure difficult conditions and in which five cars failed to finish, Russell did manage to regain first place from his compatriot on lap 27 following the safety car being deployed, but again found himself chasing Norris after running wide. 

He dropped to fourth behind Oscar Piastri, but would reclaim a podium place with his fresh medium tyres for the closing laps, enough to get p🌃ast the Australian and team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who w🌟ere on the hard compounds.

Red Bull's Verstappen claimed his sixth🙈 victory of t🌳he season, extending his championship lead over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc to 56 points after a weekend to forget for the Italian team. 

Speaking after the race, Russell believed he had the pace to catch the Dutchman before his com🐷ing together with Piastri, but enjoyed being back♋ at the front of the pecking order despite admitting to a few mistakes. 

"It feels like a missed opportunity, to be honest," said Russell shortly after the conclusion of the race. "We were really quick at the beginning of the race on the inters, and then obviously Lando came through real📖ly fast.

"Then we got back on to the slicks, m♏ade a couple of mistakes out there just pushing the✨ limits and paid the price for it.

"Nevertheless, first podium of the year and we truly had a really fast car this weekenꦬd and to be back in the mix fighting for victory was ♛really fun.

"When we p🌄ut the mediums on at the end we were really, really fast and I think that mistake with Oscar when I tried overtaking him and I lost the position to Lewis cost us at least P2 and maybe we could have fought with Max later in the race."