Mercedes defied expectations in the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix as anticipated heat-related struggles failed to materialise, allowing George Russell to convert pole into victory.
The British driver made a clean getaway, out-launching Max Verstappen to hold the lead into Turn 1.
As the race settled, Verstappen began to apply pressure, with Red Bull hoping the W16 would wilt under soaring 50-degree track temperatures on a scorching Sunday in Montreal.
But Russell and Mercedes showed no signs of concern – the 27-year-old sealing off a dominant display to the chequered flag.
Mercedes had thrived in cooler races like Las Vegas and Silverstone last year, but heat had typically exposed the car’s weaknesses, as seen in Imola and Spain recently.
In Canada, though, that pattern broke. Despite sizzling track temperatures, Russell looked unbothered as the Mercedes delivered a standout performance.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff offered a light-hearted theory, before highlighting key changes behind the turnaround.
“Well, I thought it’s when I’m wearing a pullover, there’s some kind of correlation with our performances because that means it’s cold,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“And today, 50 degrees track temperature, and we’ve been dominant.
“We’ve had some things changing on the car; we have a new rear suspension.
“I’m really happy how the team has managed that, the trackside team and also back in the factory, how these things have been coming onto the car.
“But I guess you need to look at the track layout. Montreal was always good to us; it lacks the typical high-speed corners where we suffer more in the heat.
“That’s one, and number two is quite a smooth asphalt here, which is less abrasive and therefore less damaging to our car, that suffers from rear tyre degradation and overheating.”
Wolff’s view on Russell-Verstappen clash
Many expected a fiery showdown between Russell and Verstappen into Turn 1, but the start proved surprisingly anticlimactic, with no contact or drama.
Instead, Russell successfully fended off any challenge from the Red Bull driver, whether thanks to the car, the driver, or a mix of both.
When asked if the events of the past two weeks added extra motivation for Russell in Montreal, Wolff shed light on the deep-rooted rivalry between the two.
“These two guys sat in go-karts and racing cars [for] more than 10 years and have fought each other and have known each other off the track as well,” the Austrian said.
“I think they are very civilised when they see each other. It’s just on track, it’s a fierce battle, different characters, different personalities.
“I don’t think that is particularly different going into the first corner, whether there’s Max aside or George aside, they just want to come out ahead.”
Wolff went on to temper expectations for the rest of the season, acknowledging that performance swings remain a challenge when quizzed on whether Mercedes could repeat this performance.
“Never confident, because the swings in performance are still there,” he added.
“We’ve seen it last year that on some tracks it wasn’t even close to who was second, but we dominated throughout the weekend, and that’s a little bit the pattern we have seen here.
“Austria is going to be a different ballgame, different track layout, different challenges, so all of our eyes and brains are concentrated on Austria now, this is done, tick the box.”
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