Mercedes’ star British driver George Russell has apologised to the marshals and the FIA for ‘making their job harder than it needed to be’, after he threw his headrest away for not being able to finish his race at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell, who began from pole position, was involved in a thrilling battle for the lead with teammate and eventual winner Kimi Antonelli, as the pair traded positions lap after lap with a win and valuable World Championship points at stake.
But the contest came to an abrupt end on Lap 30 when Russell, who was leading the race at the time, suffered a power unit failure that forced his Silver Arrow to stop on track.
As Antonelli went on to claim the win, Russell was left frustrated and disappointed while climbing
out of the car. With the Virtual Safety Car deployed, Russell threw the headrest from his W17 onto the track in frustration.
“Apologies to the marshals & FIA for making their job harder than it needed to be. Lots of emotions in the moment,” Russell tweeted on Monday afternoon.
Apologies to the marshals & FIA for making their job harder than it needed to be. Lots of emotions in the moment. https://t.co/h7Zejcja9x
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) May 25, 2026
Before Russell’s retirement, fans at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve were captivated by the intense fight for a win between the two Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team drivers, continuing a rivalry that had also unfolded during Saturday’s Sprint.
But Antonelli’s fourth successive Grand Prix win leaves Russell trailing his championship rival by 43 points heading into the next round in Monaco. The Monaco GP is scheduled for Sunday, June 7.
Despite the disappointment of how his Canadian Grand Prix weekend ended, Russell drew encouragement from his performances, his battle with teenage teammate Antonelli and the way he responded to his ‘doubters’.
