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F1: Chequered Flag

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From Canadian GP Review: Ecstasy, Agony and Strategy BlundersMay 25, 2026

Excerpt from F1: Chequered Flag

Canadian GP Review: Ecstasy, Agony and Strategy BlundersMay 25, 2026 — starts at 0:00

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK F one Checkred Flag is sponsored by Cadillac Cadillac has entered Formula One, bringing its racing ambition to the world's biggest stage, uniting V sereries performance with race bred presence. From street to circuit, every detail is engineered to thrill with precision, innovation, and adrenaline V series is where luxury meets race ready performance, head turning design, advanced technology, and the kind of power that makes every drive feel like you're pushing for position V series The definition of luxury performance, disiscover more at Cadillac. comot Take the leash off your lap processor that gives you long battery life Work on the go, jump between back to back calls, stay locked in from brewing morning coffee to burning the midnight oil get maximum performance, even when unplugged Finally The freedom to move across the room or across the world is here Snap Dragon That's how Five live, Formula One The potential of rain, mixed up tyres on the grid and teammates with their elbows well and truly out. The Canadian Grandbrix has come to a close one out by the Mercedes driver, Kimmy Antoni who extends his lead in the championship. He took to the top step of the podium ahead of Ferrari's Louis Hamilton and the reed Bull of Max Verstappen. Welcome to your checkered flag deepbrief. Come on in. I'm Harry Benjamin, and join me is the formerclaren mechanic Mark Priestlely and F one journalist Rebecca Clancy I mean, it seems obvious where to start with this one, Beck. And Mercedes, George Russell and Kimmy Antonlli, well they're not afraid to fight. It's only round five. you would think it was the championship finale at this point. Yes, more of this, please. What an amazing thirty or so lapse we had. Absolutely elbows out. I think there are a couple of radio messagers weren't there from the pit wall saying couldould you perhaps maybe not crash into each other? otherwise we are going to have to stop you racing But it was brilliant to see. they clearly are being allowed to race There is respect between them. Sometimes there was a bit of contact or it suddenlyed like there was contact. They are not afraid to go up against each other. And what we're seeing is the leader in George Russell and then this young nineteen year old, Kimmy Antonelli, absolutely taking the fight Not the one who's sitting there saying, you know what? I'm just going second season. I'm just going to learn a few things. No no. he's here for the championship. Yeah. This is what we want though, isn't it? Mart. We want to see see these two fighting because it does look from this weekend that Mercedes have made a step. We know they've brought a big upgrade and it does seem like they are a little bit clear of the rest of the field. So if it is going to be a two horse fight We want this kind of fzy. We don't want to be told, no, no, no, don't race. No one hundred percent. I mean, they've both got a car capable of winning at the moment. There's a long way to go. and it is going to be a season of development because these are brand new carars for twenty six. We know how much of a a huge change in technology is. So I think There will be some ebbing and flowing of the gaps. I think it closed up a little bit in Miami where a lot of other teams brought upgrades, but Mercedes responded here with an upgrade of their own and it's really brought performance and I think today in the race, we saw just how much of a gap they've got over the rest of the field because really there was no one else in contention. But you know, given all of that, we've got two drivers, one quite experienced in the hands of George Russell, one very young, as you say, but both haaving never won a world title before and this is their first opportunity and they're seeing that happening already. Yes, it's race five, but the world championship is in their sights and there's no one else really going to get in the way of it other than each other But we were robbed, Beck. We were robbed. It was, as you say, for about thirty or so laps, those two absolutely hammer and tongs. You didn't know which way it was going to go. And so many times, I think Mark and I in the commentary box, you know what I certainly had my hands on my head pulling my hair out. canan't imagine what Toto Wolf was thinking. Bossg Hilton all over again. But a reliability issue for George Russell paved the way for Antone's victory. Yeah, it was a real shame. We were robed a power unit issue. It's not what you want to see. and we saw George Russell showing his emotions. He absolutely launched his headrest in front of the car and actually slightly onto the track he is under investigation for that as we're recording He could get a fine for that, I suspect. But yeah it was a shame, it did take away from it and Antonelli just pulled away into the distance. like Mark said, they're so far ahead that even when they were battling and it was proper yooyo battling as we have seen this year, even with that battle, they were still pulling away from the cardars behind them. That's how dominant they were in Canada, which is absolutely incredible. George Russe He needs to keep that in his mind. There are still seventeen races to go. It's an incredibly long season. Europe is up next, Monaco, they come thick and fast. O, Kimy Antonelli has won four consecutive races. abbsolutely amazing from him. but George Russell needs to think, o, I've got the car underneath me. He's F three champion, he's F two champion He knows how to fight, he knows how to win, he just has to keep plugging away and remember that he's got the car to do it. Yeah and it was a good weekend from Russell, wasn't it? takeake that aside, which was nothing to do with him, the technical failure. He was a solid weekend and he put it on poll, won the sprints, you know, this is a good weekend for George Russell. If you think back last year, Lando Norris, remember in the Karon version of this title fight, remember the engine failure that he had? where was it Zanvor? Yeah. And it was a similar, wasn't it? youreinking, Oh my God, this is his chance to win a world title. He's just lost out to his teammate by a huge chunk became world champions. so You get moments like this in a long season. If it's happening to George, it could easily happen to Kim on another day. You're right. George needs to get his head down and he will, you know he's an experienced guy now. He knows he's got the car, he knows he's got the ability. He just needs to keep going. and things will settle down over a long season. There is a very long way to go Four wins on the trot though for Kimmy Aonelli. Let's hear from him. Kimmy, congratulations. fourourth win on the bounce and thirty laps. You gave us some of the best races we've se in the years. How satisfying is it to come out with that victory I mean, you know not really the way I want it to win, if I have to be honest because It was It was a tough fight with George and it was very intense fun, but I think it would have been cool to see how it would have ended up because we were like going at each other like we were we were pushing. And I think yeah, we both did a lot of mistakes. I think also my side did the mistake kind of like It wasn a little bit a crucial moment when I went back in front and started to pull away. that was a mistake that if it was if I could have avid it would have been better, but For sure, you know was a tough battle was intense and of course I felt sorry for him But of course, we'll take the win and now we move forward. How proud are you of your personal performance, not just today, but the weekend and the last four races on the belts because you're nailing it and your second season so far. Yeah, I mean the season start has been super strong and I feel like this weekend I haven't performed as well as Miami I didn't feel that great in the car. so I need to understand why. but for sure still a very positive weekend in a track where George has always been very quick. We were up there. so Also I think a good positive was where the start this weekend Finally some distance starts. So for sure, a lot of positives, a lot of lessons, especially with yesterdaysprint So yeah now moving forward and yeah, of course Massive thanks to the team for the incredible job they're doing, my family and everyone who is following me Four wins on the trot for Kimmy Antonelli. Nobody has ever done that in Formula One history when it comes to their first four Grand Prix scored in their career, all being victories. I mean He just continues to set Record after record extends the championship forty three points now ahead of George Russell and continues that one being the youngest ever to lead the world championship. Is it Kimmy Antonelli's championship to lose now? Is it too early to say that? Absolutely. yees. M on. I mean mathatically of course, mathematically yes, but you only have to look back to last year Oscar Piastri at one point had a hundred and four point lead over Max Verstappen and finished behind him in the championship. So please let's not get ahead of ourselves. And I think you know, Mark touched on it, this wasn't George Russell's fault. You know if he didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck. And I think that kind of defines his season so far. You only have to look back at China and Miami cameanly absolutely won on merit. He has been so unlucky changes and he's just going to ride it and he will come out the other side, keep his head down And so yes, Harry, I think you're talking rubbish. Not for the first time. Thank you for pointing it out. But you have to say, George Russell was having an excellent weekend, Mark. The momentum was very much swinging back towards him in the sprint and again, lining up on Ple for the Grand Prix as well and out of no fault of his own, it seems The card is conking out. What do the team do around him? Do they sort of try and gather him up? We've got a week off until Monaco? I don't think they need to worry too much. I think George has got his head screwed on. There were a lot of people talking after Miami about, you know, is this Kimmy's Championship? They were talking rubbish like you You know, they were saying Hang on. They were saying that, you know momentum swinging and he had this great run and it looked like after the early you know performances of George Russell that it was swinging in the opposite direction. But I don't think George ever thought that. You know, he said that a number of times this weeke. and doesney that there was a lot of noise around the outside, but internally he knows that Miami just isn't one of his great tracks We know that Montreal is and he's delivered great you a great set of performances this weekend. So I don't think anyone needs be worried. I don't think Mercedes do anything with him. The thing they will be concerned about is the fact that one of their cars didn't finish a grand Prix today. and I think We don't know the full reasons. Power unit is all we've been told at this point, but it was a fairly brutal grinding to a halt halfway through. and That will be a concern because while they got the performance to win many races this season There's also a fragility around,n't it? Mark, can I ask very quickly because you obviously worked with Fernando Alonzo Lis Hamilton How much does it get inside the driver's head? Because I feel like on one point there's a part of the media side where we hear what they want us to hear. And I understand that they can only say certain things. But how reliability between the twoight between two drivers. There's two sides of the garage, how much they're keeping from themselves, you holding back in the debriefs, getting into each other's head, the tactics we heard about it, you know you mentioned twenty sixteen already turning up late to debriefs just to wind Hamilton up. And it was all part of the mental game and it massively comes into it, doesn't it? It's huge. And you know, you're absolutely right. the media facing performance you give to the media, to the interviews You know that's all very carefully constructed by the team. You're told what to say and your briefings and all the rest of it. But internally, it's completely different. And you know I've referred to a thinking commentary of a little bit like that Rossberg Hamilton. In the early days, they were battling wheel to wheel. No matter who won they get out the car, hug each other. It was all big smiles and lovely doy. But very quickly you realize there's a championship at stake And then your teammate becomes your enemy and you're no longer friends, your' arch rivals and it becomes bitter. And yeah, internally, there can be all sorts of games going on. and the reality is for both of them, they've dreamt of becoming world Champions since they were this tall, tiny little kids And the opportunity comes around very still that tall. Yeah, that's true. yeah. It's still a little kid. But the opportunity comes around very rarely in your sometimes never in a Formula One career. This could be it, this could be the one and only for them. and so you're not going to let the guy on the other side of the garage have an easy time of it. So you will start holding back information, you will start playing little games, mind games and you know Lewis Hamilton Feranoel Alonso were perhaps the masters of it, know back in two thousand seven, it didn't end well for any of them, but it was a real lesson learned by all, I think Let's hear from George Russell. George, given the way that you've driven in that race up until that point, just how did it feel when obviously the power unit had its problems and you were just left there disbelief Its like somebody doesn't want me to fight or compete for this championship just every three out of the last five races, there's just been something really going against us just a bit ls of words right now. Can you take heart from the way you have driven this weekend, that battle that you had with Kimmy as well, you were on top? Yeah, I loved the battle. I was happy with how I handled it, how I drove. U And I'm just pleased with the weekend in terms of my own personal performance, you know There's a lot of doubters maybe after Miami and a a lot of chap, but I know what I can do and poll in the sprint win the sprint poll in qually leading the race Hard battles Um You know, I really loveved the vassle. And I wanted to continue for thirty more laps and I would have loved to see how it would have hand out but H we are So Kimmy picks up twenty five points, George picks up nothing and just to come back to the mind game situation. I mean, that is going to have to start playing a factor. From what you've just said, surely George, does George have a bit of an advantage because he's obviously got had more time in Formula One. Kimmy is young nineteen, is there a sense that naivety might come into play? And then where does Toto Wolf People like Pete Bonington, Kimy's engineers sit within this ecosystem. Well, that I think is one of the most interesting aspects of this year because I think both have strengths and weaknesses. So George has the experience, you know a number of years in this sport now. He's learned to go through the bit of disappointment, the ups and downs, he's learnnted how to control things like tyres and all of the other aspect, the technical aspects of being an F one driver, that will be a strength But for Kimmy, he has got this raw, excitable, feisty nature to him where he's willing to take maybe more risks. He's at that point of his career That can also be a strength. There'll be days when that wins him races and there'll be others where it costs him and it costs the team. and that's difficulty that Toto finds himself with. I would say that when you' got a young kid like Kimy Who is this fight inexcitable I can't think of anyone better than Pete Bonington and Toto Wolf to be managing that situation because they've got so much experience. As we said, they've been through all of this with Rossberg and Hamilton. They will have learnt a lot through that. so I think he's in good hands Well, we'll see how it plays out, won't we? A a week off until we go to Monaco. So that's the sort of Mercedes battling. Behind them Then was well, everybody else and they have taken an advantage ten seconds, nearly eleven seconds at the flag. Lewis Hamilton was behind finished second. But let's talk about the Ferrari driver because Beck actually really good weekend, probablyably his best in a long while. Yeah. and he will be walking away a very, very happy man second I can't even remember off my head when L last finish second. I'm sure he can't either. But it was a great result. And actually it was a really strong weekend for him in general. And I thought what was interesting from him was the radio messages afterwards saying thanks so much for the car. Obviously during the race he complains all the time that it's just Louis Hamilson through and through his whole career. I want more power, mate. I want more power.' like, you know if they could give it to you, they wouldd, obviously while he's trailing behind Max Verstappen. But it was a classic Lewis Hamilson move around the outside of Max Verstppen They were racing and fighting. I thought it was absolutely brilliant the respect that they were showing each other with the racing. It was clean, it was brilliant. was you know it was kind of the old battles that we loved seeing between them And for Louis Hamsel came on the radio and said Thank you so much. This was great. This is for you guys who was practicing his Italian, which I think you know it probably sounds a bit silly, but actually it does go a long way within the team that he does that. And he's obviously got his mom with him this season. He's spoken about it quite a lot. He's really wanted his mom to go on the road with him. She's now doing that. You know that seems to have given him a bit of a boost as well. He seems really comfortable with this car. He seems really content. It's all moving in the right direction. You know you have that shot when lead the winner comes out of the car and they run at their mechanics And they launched themselves into the crowd, at Lewis Hamilton's you forty one now, so probably not quite so springy. But you know he walked over and he shook hands with everyone. Big hugs for his team and all his mechanics and engineers. And that's brilliant because last year in his debut year with Ferrari, it didn't feel like he had connected somehow. there was something missing. Now it feels like it's settling down You know, he's got a race engineer. He didn't obviously like last year. he's changing it. feeleels like it's starting to click for him and we're starting to see that result on the track Have we said that before though at any point? Yes. we know lo he loves Montreal does love Montreala and he can be quite track specific. You know You wouldn't be surprised if we went to Silsston and won again. you know he has the ability when he goes to these places where he's absolutely adored. and oh my goodness, he is utterly adored in Canada. You only had to hear, you could hear the cheers When he A took for steen for a second. He does. pulls out the bag but there's just it's more about his attitude, his body language, you know what he's saying. It does feel like there's been a shift. No, I agree. That shift comes, you know what we do know about Lewis is his emotional state is so linked to results and what else is going on around him And I think this year I think as much as things are clicking this year, which I think they are second year at Ferrari new team, it's going to click better. But I think even bigger than that, this new generation of cars moves away from that ground effect that he hated. He never got on with that. He came off a run of you know, the form of anyone in fora one, no one's had form like Lewis Hamilton in that era before this He got into the ground effect area, never really worked for him. We've now ditched that and he's finding a way to get back, you know as one with these cars. So I think there's a little bit of it being Montreal. He does love the place. But The fact that he dominated his teammate and convincingly this weekend will just boost that positivity he's got. And that's the first weekend he's really done that Totally Charl L Clc finishing fourth was actually was quite a good result for Leclerc in the end.. Let's hear from Lewis Hamilton, finished second. Congratulations, L. You've been on it absolutely all weekend long. Just how satisfying is it for you to get the job done and sw off at the end? Oh man, its Happiest day of my Today' is at Ferrari so far. so It feel wass great to be able to put the Ferfari on the podium and to get my first second place with the team as well in the main race and it's my second podium as well. I'm just elated So proud of the team for for working so hard. I'm I finally have the engineering team that I've been working towards I think our car is great. The guys did a fantastic job over winter to get the car where it is and I think I understand it a lot better and much more comfortable with it And whilst we're not exactly where we want to be to get a result like this, we capitalize, we've got great reliability This is Awesome and a big thanks to the team And personally, is it really satisfying for you because you've always known you've still got it in you, right? We have managed to knit it together really well this weekend. Yeah, no, it's honestly it's It best feel, I feel very light right now. I feel great my body physically I'm very, very strong clely mentally in a good place and I arrived this weekend with Mega energy and I want to take the spards Big transfer news today. Wh's moment? me? W to the couch with Domino's best deal ever since they just added stuffed crrust. Any pizza any toppings now with stuffed crrust for nine doll ninety nine c. It's a long term contract with no release clause. Only nine dollars ninety nine c That sounds like the move. I'm heading straight to Dom Pr price is higher for some locations, excludes Xl and specialty pizzas and select this offer from six fifteenth to seven hundred twenty six. Online own. Size availability varies byust he type max seven topics six for hand in New York style creust., minimal purchase required for delivery, prrices, participation, delivery area, and charges may vary Take the leash off your lap with the processor that gives you long battery life Work on the go Between back to back calls, stay locked in from brewing morning coffee to burning the midnight oil G get maximum performance, even when unplugged Finally, The freedom to move across the room or across the world is here Snapdragon. That's how. Formula One is all about precision, tiny margins, massive ambition, flat out performance And that's exactly why it's exciting to see Cadillac entering Formula O, bringing an American luxury brand with performance pedigree onto the biggest stage in motorsport. But this isn't just about the grid That same racing mindset, the obsession with engineering, the pursuit of perfection, lives in the Cadillac V sereries lineup, giving you the chance to experience the precision and performance of the grid on the open road Cadlac V series, Distinctive Luxury Performance, Engineered to Thrill Discover the V series lineup at cadillac. com Lewis Hamilton then finishing second actually gave us that bit of entertainment we needed though, because once Russell retired take a little bit of the life out of the grand Prix At that point wouldd be nice for a sprinkle of rain. We didn't get it. We could got a bit of Argibargi further back in the field, but nothing massive Beck. but it was Hamilton versus Verstappen for a fair few laps and we've not seen that in a fair while B bothoth showing that, well, they can certainly race it out fairly cleanly. Yeah, you need to work on your rain dance, Harry. This is what the problem is. He needs to work on all of his dancec and I've seen him. It is big size six in peak. But moving on. talk called for have fun. Lewis us Matt L rather than Beck versus Harry Yeah Come on, that's every weekend. Every weekend U yes What we talk about L it was firstus next that one. Yeah, that one. So If you I'll move on, shall I. It was classic. It was brilliant racing. It was such a shame as we said about Russell not finishing the race because it became a bit of a dance squib and know Fairl to you guys in the commentary box for keeping it alive. I loved it. I actually thought it was really good. But it wasn't the same it did lack a bit of energy during but you always get a llderuringing a you? It was know sixty eight races sixty eight laps, sorry as was in the end You do get it. And then we had the fight between Verappen and Hamilson. and it's like, yes, please, more of that. And actually it wasn't as yoyo as I was expecting. There was a pass here, a pass there. But actually once Lewis Hamilson got through, he made it stiff. And it was really interesting listening to them in the cooldown room and they were talking about it. and Verstappen was saying, Oh you were great out of turn six, but I was catching you here and Lis was saying Well your straight line speed's amazing were like how they were talking to each other about and what they were saying, you werere thinking, this is brilliant. This is such an interesting insight into their minds. And actually, let's not talk about twenty twenty one if we don't have to, but obviously, whenever those who are involved, you can't not mention it It was a different life ago, it almost feels like They have moved on. Verstappen has matured. I I think you mentioned it in commentary, you know five years ago, maybe he would have taken a line or a gap that didn't exist. But actually it was really respectful racing. Quite frankly, it was brilliant. It was, wasn't it? I loved it. It was a bit like twenty twenty one the controversial bit but that season where they were just going at it neck and neck, you know, one week it was one in front, the next it was the other. It was a little bit of a glimmer of that. So I loved it. I thought it was really, really good. I think actually it was really You know we've seen how upset and disappointed Max Verstappen is in the twenty twenty six version of Formula One. I think today, he sort of forgot that for a few laps, didnidn't he? Because he was able to race, found himself on the podium And I think for him and Lewis, they're both in a very, very happy position today Let's hear from Max Verstappen finished third. Hey, Max, considering how the cars felt for much this weekend, how satisfied you to get your first padium of the year I would say a little bit of a surprise, but at the same time you have to look at it. I mean two McLaren cars made a mess of the strategy, right? startarting on the inter. so that helps And then of course, George's car gave up. so that also helps to be on the podium. but for us, of course, it's still you know, a great a great result. you know we're battling with the Ferrari, not too far off the Mercedes. It's just that I think on the second stint on the medium we were just lacking a bit of grip on that medium compound. It was just not really working for us. So that's something that we need to understand Yeah Nevertheless on the podium is positive. And does it feel generally that the team is making that positive step forward? It feels like the gap the front is shut in slowly and you're making that kind of progress I mean, I think now the last few weekends of course we have been a lot closer, you know before we' fighting with the midfield. now we're fighting close to the front. So in that sense for sure, we made some really positive steps forward, but I also know that we can do better and that's what we'll focus on Third for Max Ver Stafford, first podium of the year. hadad to do a double take of that. Yeah. Even though amidst everything that's going on with the engine regulations week's plan for twenty twenty seven, but not over the line. I think Max Vappen hearing that and actually ting putting into the ether once again that if something doesn't happen, we might not have a max just happen next year Yeah, which you know is a worry, I think for the sport generally because he is a great champion. The sport will continue without him if he does if he does decide to go and do something else, it's not like this sport needs him to hold the thing together But I do think there's a huge amount of fans that love him. I think he's a It's been a really positive thing for this sport, even if you don't like him. he's brought conversation. He's generated discussion, hasn't he? So you don't really want to lose that from a sport that's growing But you know we'll see. He's not leaving though, is he? to be honest I don' think. one hundred million dollars year. of course's not le. He loves endurance racing so much. whichich funnily enough falls on weekends that if farm races aren't on. callall me a cynic. He's not leaving. No. And I think know Mark's touching on it, one of the brutal truths about being a racing driver is that the second you step away, you think Formula one is going to end and it will never carry on and drew up The well keeps spinning We keep racing, and then eventually they all come back as media pundits because they can't stand not being in a pado. work careful. they'll be in the studio before. R right. Well Charlac Cler was fourth. Eac had our good result for the Red Bull, despite having a few penalties in the other. Cart finished fifth, No McLarennce in sight in that top five Mark, it was a nightmare scenario that started before the lights even went out in a wacky decision to put on the intermediate tyres But it wasn't. Lando took the leader to turn one. Well, it was because getting off the line is one thing, but that doesn't win you a grand Prix if you have to box three laps later, which is basically what happened. They took the decision, which was a strange one. It was the start of the race brilliantly weird because it was Not wet enough for intermediates, clearly, but it was also not completely dry. It was very, very cold. I think they were worried about not being able to warm the tyres up, right? So you need the tyre temperature to get off the line The intermediates are much easier to warm up. So that was the basis of their decision kind of worked in that they did get off the line quickly. Certainly in the hands of Lando Norris, he was able to put that to good use, got into the lead at turn one They don't last five minutes when it's not wet. so Unsurprisingly, after a lap or two Oscar Piastri got rid of his, Lando Norris followed him and got rid of his put them way back into the pack immediately you're heavily compromised. So it's a disastrous strategic decision I'm not even sure that was the worst thing that happened to them today because Lando then went to a point where he He had a complete car failure, didn't finish the race. Oscar Piastro ended up with a penalty. and finished out. So the point so It was a complete disaster from Mare. I don't think there's any better way to describe it. What I don't understand is we heard on the two formation laps that we ended up having, Piastri come on the radio and say Pit me, pit me, bring me in. we're not good for the interters. you're telling me that everyone's tyre is going to be cold. So get me some nice tyres out of their blankets which are lovely and warm because they've been sitting in their tyre blankets. I'll end up with the warmest tyres. They became so reliant on both of their drivers being on interters. It made no sense. And I'm listening to this radio message thinking This makes loads of sense. It's really cold in Montreal These guys are doing two laps now formation laps. they're trying everything they can to get heat into these tres. and Piasri is saying bring me my tyres are like lovely and warm and there. like just put them on. let's go race. It made sense.. They didn't listen to it. No. and that is curious. And I wonder if Led to some buildup of frustration because that move on Alex Albon because at this point Piastri' back in the pack slides down the inside. he's he's four car lengths back on on Alex Albon who doesn't see him coming completely tears into the side of Albon sidepod. outut goes Albon and Piastri' race is done from that point, which is very uncharacteristic. It was uncharacteristic. Yeah, I think there was frustration I think what you're talking about there, splitting the strategies made so much sense, made sense to I think all of us But how many times have McLaren done this where they could have had a better team result by splitting strategies? But they all seem so paranoid to not give one driver an advantage over another and keep them on the same strategy, even if it's the wrong one. and it felt a little bit like that's what happened today Yeah, a day to forget, I think for for the McLaren guys who pick up Absolutely nothing from the Grand Prix, but that allowed actually for some B results for those in the midfield. So the top six is actually rounded out by Franco Colapinto Beck. I mean, we've been talking a lot about Colapinto, good and bad, but the last couple of races, has he suddenly found his form or what else is it Well, six here Seventh in Miami the race before I think it was only China or Japan, we were talking about the fact that actually he could be the first driver to lose his seat this year. He's under the most amount of pressure. Yes, the Argentinian driver comes with a lot of money and a lot of support. There's even chter about the Argentinian grand Prix coming back onto the calendar because there's so much support for him. W. Just as all of this noise is starting to build and it's all growing and getting louder and louder He pulls out this great result in Miami and then bets it in Montreal and you just think you knows know what fair play because It is his first season with them in the sense of Wh is it?'s not first season. It's his first full season. It' first full season, isn't it? I my brain is I know. It feels like he's been around for ages but then I'm absolutely wear it's. It's so busy. ye. before this season, he didn't actually get a full He didn't No at all. And so it feels a little bit like it's taken him a while to find his rhythm, but he's found it now. and actually he's been really impressive Somebody has obviously put their arm around him and said, lookook don't listen to them They don't know what they're talking about. We know you're capable. We brought you in because we know you're capable. You know He was not with Alp initially and then they brought him across and then you just say, actually, he's doing a great job Carry on, keepeep your head down, keep doing what you're doing. It has been an incredibly challenging start to the season, we have to say. You know we're at the end of May now and we've only had five races, which is very unusual. It has been difficult to keep all sense of time. Oh, it' absolutely. I know Left right center,'re going into another gap again. there's no continuity, there's no momentum. The drivers are struggling with keeping fit because it's like they're here there and they're everywhere. They still have all of the demands from the partners and the sponsors and doing all of that side of it And actually it feels like Colopin's got his head down G Ging with that F fair place to him. I think he'll continue down this. I mean, this is what we've been told about him, that he is this good and he's showing it And he just beat well actually by Fb Liam Nawson, both those drivers didn't get any running on Friday really. So that kind of underlines how well they've done. So a good points for those in the midfield. and these kind of races might well, that's what the midfield runners really kind of thrive off Yeah, because

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