George Russell retired from the Canadian Grand Prix due to a battery failure after a close battle with teammate Kimi Antonelli. Russell and Antonelli exchanged the lead repeatedly, sometimes running side by side and trading paint, but Russell’s car shut down on lap 30. Antonelli went on to win and extended his world championship lead to 43 points over Russell. Russell expressed frustration and suggested that bad luck has affected his season, citing earlier technical problems in qualifying in China and unfavorable safety-car timing in Japan. Despite the setbacks, Russell said the pressure is off, that he wants to remain in the fight, and that he hopes luck will improve as the season continues.
"Russell ground to a halt on the circuit Gilles Villeneuve on lap 30 after a thrilling battle with his Mercedes teammate Antonelli that had ebbed and flowed. The British driver deserved better, the two had been exchanging the lead and going side by side repeatedly, inches apart and trading paint on one occasion, only for Russell's efforts to count for naught as he went out not with a whimper when the systems on his car shut down due to battery failure. His ashen face as he stood trackside afterwards said it all."
"The 19-year-old Antonelli went on to win and took a 43-point lead over Russell in the world championship. A cavernous gap even with 17 meetings remaining as Russell acknowledged. Right now it's his to lose, he said in Canada. He is so many points ahead. It feels like the gods don't want me to be in this fight. But you know, the pressure's off. Go out, enjoy every single race. Try to win every single race. I've got nothing to lose."
"It is, of course, frustrating, but I want to be in that fight. Hopefully, the luck will turn. It is understandable Russell feels he has not had the rub of the green. He won the first round in Australia but then in China had two technical problems in qualifying that were costly as his teammate took pole and the win. In Japan he was terrifically unlucky in the timing of the safety car which benefited Antonelli who once more went on to win, while Russell could manage only fourth."
"He took both setbacks stoically, aware a long season lay ahead; his seven previous seasons in the sport and no little maturity allowing him absorb and move on f"
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