Jenson Button, former Formula 1 World Champion, has voiced his belief that George Russell will find it difficult to put the Canadian Grand Prix crash behind him. The incident, which resulted in severe damage to Russell’s Mercedes and ultimately led to his retirement from the race, cost both the driver and the team valuable points in the championship standings.
Russell was running in an impressive fourth place when he encountered trouble after going over the kerb at Turn 9, causing him to collide with the wall. Despite managing to continue with a damaged front wing and a severely compromised rear right wheel, the extent of the damage only became apparent later in the race. Suspected brake duct damage eventually forced Russell to retire from the event.
Button, speaking to Sky Sports F1, acknowledged that the incident would undoubtedly frustrate Russell, who bore responsibility for the costly mishap. The former champion expressed his belief that Russell would find it difficult to shake off the disappointment of the crash and emphasized the importance of learning from such errors.
“Most corners around the world, he’d be fine, he’s just run wide,” Button commented, referring to the specific challenges posed by the Montreal circuit. “But you’ve got the walls up against the kerb here on the track’s edge. So it’s tricky, but we all know that.”
The veteran driver, however, emphasized that such mistakes were uncharacteristic of Russell, suggesting that he would be critical of himself and potentially lose sleep over the incident. Despite the disappointment, Button reminded Russell that the next race in Austria was just around the corner, providing an opportunity to regroup and make amends.
The crash not only impacted Russell personally but also had significant repercussions for the Mercedes team. Button noted that the incident resulted in a substantial loss of points, which is an unusual situation for a team that is accustomed to leading the pack and not typically reliant on salvaging points.
As the Formula 1 season progresses, Russell will need to put the incident behind him and focus on future opportunities to contribute to the team’s success. The Canadian Grand Prix serves as a reminder that even the most talented drivers can make mistakes, and it is through overcoming these challenges that true growth and resilience are fostered in the pursuit of championship glory.
