Mercedes explain what happened to George Russell before Canadian Grand Prix retirement

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Mercedes have confirmed that George Russell suffered a power unit failure as he was forced to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix.

The Brit was looking to continue his strong momentum in Montreal. Russell took pole position and won the Sprint on Saturday, and enjoyed another strong battle with Kimi Antonelli in the early stages of the Canadian Grand Prix.

However, on lap 30, the Brit ran onto the grass at turn nine and came to a sudden halt on the track, handing the lead to Antonelli. It brought an abrupt end to Russell’s race, with the 28-year-old throwing his headrest onto the track in frustration.

George Russell suffers power unit failure at Canadian Grand Prix

After his W17 came to a halt, the virtual safety car was deployed. Pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz later confirmed that Russell had suffered an engine failure.

He said via Sky Sports F1: “It was a great fight while it lasted, wasn’t it? They didn’t need to call it off because it’s confirmed from Mercedes, Crofty, that it was a power unit failure for George Russell.

“They hadn’t seen any warning, no telltale signs, nothing that George Russell could have done. Power unit failure, very rare for Mercedes, that’s what’s ended his race.”

It puts Russell’s championship chances in real jeopardy, with the Brit scoring no points at one of his strongest tracks on the calendar.

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Damon Hill reacts to George Russell’s Canadian Grand Prix retirement

Russell’s sudden retirement brought an end to what was an entertaining battle between the two Mercedes drivers.

The 1996 F1 champion Damon Hill was gutted to see the fight for the lead end that way, as he reacted to Russell’s DNF on X (formerly Twitter).

He wrote: “What a shame. That was an epic battle with Kimi and George. Damn.” It is a costly DNF for Russell, with the Brit now facing an uphill battle in the title fight.

Toto Wolff later explained after the race on Sky Sports F1 that Russell had suffered “a battery failure, because the car was literally going dark, there was no electricity anymore in the car.”