McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has defended a failed tyre gamble at the Canadian Grand Prix that left driver Oscar Piastri claiming the team looked “like idiots” after failing to score any points.
Both Piastri and team-mate Lando Norris started Sunday’s race in Montreal on intermediate tyres amid light rain and cold conditions.
The McLaren duo were the only drivers in the top 10 to gamble on the wet-weather compound.
However, a delayed start caused by a mechanical issue for Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad allowed the track to dry significantly.
The seven-minute delay meant the intermediate rubber quickly overheated, forcing both drivers to pit for slick tyres by the end of the second lap.
Fine margins in Montreal
Norris had briefly surged into the lead from third on the grid before the bold strategy rapidly unravelled.
The miscalculation ultimately ruined the afternoon for the Woking-based outfit, with neither driver managing to secure a point.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, the Australian driver admitted the changing weather made the initial grid walk challenging.
“Getting to the grid on slicks was not easy, getting to full throttle was tough,” Piastri explained.
“Unfortunately for us, it stopped raining. If it rained a little bit more we would have looked like heroes. It didn’t, so we looked like idiots.”
Stella points to hindsight
Despite the brutal assessment from his young star, the McLaren team boss stood by the original call.
Stella argued that the double extra formation lap unfairly penalised those who had already committed to the intermediate compound.
“At the time that you had to make a decision as to what tyres to fit, and with not necessarily a clear idea as to when the rain would stop, the track was greasy and the right tyre at that time was the intermediate tyre,” the Italian insisted.
The former Ferrari engineer added that the pit lane visibly dried during the unexpected delay before lights out.
“I think we always have to be a bit careful in judging decisions simply from the outcome. I think you have to judge decisions at the time that they need to be made.”
The scoreless weekend is a bitter blow for a squad that had confidently locked out the second row during qualifying behind a resurgent Mercedes team.
American driver Ed Carpenter angrily confronted Takuma Sato on the track after crashing out of the Indianapolis 500 following a collision with the two-time winner.
The team owner’s race ended abruptly on lap 27 when he became the third driver to be eliminated from the prestigious oval event.
Replays showed the former Formula 1 driver drifting down the banking and squeezing into his rival’s racing line, which caused a heavy spin into the outside wall.
Trackside confrontation
Despite climbing out of his stricken vehicle unharmed, the 43-year-old refused to immediately follow safety marshals off the circuit.
He instead stood his ground near the racing line to wait for the field to cycle back around under caution conditions.
When the Japanese racer’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing machine approached, the furious driver visibly swore and gestured aggressively at his competitor.
‘Unwise’ move from a veteran
After receiving medical clearance from the infield care centre, the veteran driver bluntly expressed his frustration to reporters.
“I was in the middle of a gaggle of cars, following Marcus Armstrong into turn one on the outside, and Takuma tried to make it three-wide into turn one on the restart, which was unwise,” he explained.
“Not only did he do that, he tried to squeeze me down like I was not going to be there, so that’s really disappointing, so early in the race.”
“For a veteran like that, a two-time champion, I would expect way more out of him.”
The race had already seen early drama with the eliminations of 2014 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay and British driver Katherine Legge.
Legge was unfortunate to strike the barrier after taking evasive action to avoid Hunter-Reay’s spinning car.
Max Verstappen has threatened to walk away from Formula 1 at the end of the current season if proposed changes to next year’s engine regulations are blocked by rival manufacturers.
The governing body, the FIA, recently reached an agreement in principle to alter technical rules and reduce the heavy reliance on energy management.
However, opposition regarding the finer details of the plan has emerged in subsequent discussions.
Currently, there is insufficient support under the sport’s governance protocols to push the vital modifications through.
“If it stays like this, it’s going to be a long year next year, which I don’t want,” said Verstappen.
“It’s just mentally not doable for me to stay like this. It’s really not.”
The reigning world champion confirmed that any decision to stop racing would be permanent, adding there are many other enjoyable pursuits outside of the paddock.
Energy starvation frustrations
Drivers have consistently complained this campaign about the complex power units and how they handle energy deployment.
The nominal 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power has severely hampered their ability to drive on the absolute limit.
Because the systems are fundamentally energy-starved, competitors are forced to employ extreme recovery techniques even during crucial qualifying laps.
A proposed adjustment aims to shift the energy bias to a 60-40 split in favour of the internal combustion engine.
This critical adjustment would significantly decrease the demanding management requirements that have heavily frustrated the grid.
Manufacturer divide stalls progress
While Mercedes and Red Bull strongly advocate for the revised regulations, several other major constructors remain staunchly opposed.
Audi has cited cost concerns, whereas Ferrari reportedly fears losing out on extra development opportunities granted under current rules.
Intense negotiations continued throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend to persuade dissenting manufacturers to change their stance.
The Dutch driver had previously hinted at a long-term stay if the racing returned to normal, expressing happiness with his current squad’s progress.
Following qualifying in Montreal, the Red Bull star remained cautiously optimistic that a swift solution could still be found.
“Of course some people at the moment that maybe have a bit of an advantage will try to be difficult about it, but if the FIA is strong, and also from the F1 side, they just need to do it.”
Former Formula 1 driver Mika Salo has been hospitalised with a deep leg wound after suffering a suspected knife attack by a passing moped rider while on holiday in Thailand.
The Finnish ex-racer was crossing a pedestrian intersection in the Thai capital on Tuesday when he felt a sudden impact from a passing scooter.
Unaware of the severity of the strike, the 109-race motorsport veteran only realised he had been injured when a bystander pointed out his heavy bleeding.
“I looked down and saw that my shoe was completely covered in blood.”
Mika Salo
Deep gash requires hospital treatment
A local taxi driver rushed the Scandinavian to a nearby hospital after he discovered a severe gash on his calf.
Medical professionals treating the wound concluded that the clean, straight cut was highly likely to have been inflicted by a sharp blade.
Staff at the medical facility subsequently informed the former Ferrari stand-in that several other individuals had been admitted that evening with similar injuries.
The unidentified moped rider is believed to have embarked on a random stabbing rampage across the city.
Recovery and ruined holiday plans
Salo famously stepped up to drive for Ferrari during the 1999 season when he replaced Michael Schumacher following the German’s leg-breaking crash at Silverstone.
Now dealing with his own serious leg trauma, the 57-year-old has been placed on a strict course of antibiotics but currently requires no pain medication.
Medical advice dictates that the wound must remain completely dry to prevent infection in the heavily humid Asian climate.
“It’s a shame. You can’t swim or really do anything. You spend quite a lot of time in the hotel room.”
Mika Salo
Refusing to live in fear
Despite the distressing nature of the random assault, the racing veteran insists he will not let the incident ruin his perspective on the city.
He considers himself fortunate that the attacker only targeted his lower body rather than striking a more vulnerable area.
“If they had wanted to do more damage, of course they would have tried to hit someone’s upper body. Then maybe I wouldn’t say much here.”
Mika Salo
Four-time Formula One world champion Alain Prost has suffered a head injury after being physically assaulted during an armed robbery at his home in Switzerland on Tuesday.
Violent confrontation in Nyon
Masked intruders forced their way into the family residence in Nyon on the shores of Lake Geneva at approximately 08:30 local time.
Swiss newspaper Blick reports that the armed men threatened the household before forcing one of his sons to open a safe.
The assailants completely emptied the safe’s contents before fleeing the scene, leaving the racing icon with reported head injuries.
While the exact value of the stolen goods remains unconfirmed, the French former driver is known to maintain close ties with luxury watch manufacturers.
A growing regional security issue
Neither the family nor any associated brands have publicly commented on the terrifying ordeal while the suspects remain at large.
The incident raises serious questions regarding security around the Lake Geneva area, a luxury landmark that has already recorded 18 robberies in 2025.
Authorities reportedly suspect that highly organised, cross-border criminal networks are specifically targeting wealthy residents in one of Switzerland’s most exclusive neighbourhoods for high-value items.
An iconic motorsport legacy
The 71-year-old remains one of the most decorated figures in motorsport history, having dominated the sport for 13 years between 1980 and 1993.
Known affectionately as ‘The Professor’, he secured 51 race victories and 106 podium finishes during stints with Williams, McLaren and Ferrari.
He is perhaps best remembered for his fierce and historic rivalry with the late Brazilian great Ayrton Senna throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Despite retiring over three decades ago, the four-time champion remains deeply invested in the sport and actively supports the next generation of driving talent.
Richard Childress Racing is temporarily retiring Kyle Busch’s number eight car following the driver’s sudden death on Thursday, preserving the seat until his 11-year-old son Brexton is ready to race.
The NASCAR Cup Series team will instead field the number 33 car for the foreseeable future, beginning at Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600.
Austin Hill has been drafted in to replace the two-time champion at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the longest race of the season.
The cause of the 41-year-old’s unexpected passing earlier this week has not yet been disclosed.
A future in the family name
The late driver played a crucial role in designing his vehicle’s stylised livery, which became universally recognised by motorsport fans.
A statement from the organisation explained that nobody else could carry the famous brand forward to the same elite level.
“The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.”
Brexton is already forging his own successful path in the sport, securing 48 victories across various racing disciplines in 2024 alone.
The third-generation prodigy also claimed his first Golden Driller trophy last year by winning the prestigious Tulsa Shootout Junior Sprint Championship.
Historical precedent at RCR
This poignant decision mirrors the team’s actions following the tragic death of Dale Earnhardt at the 2001 Daytona 500.
On that occasion, the famous black number three was immediately replaced by a white number 29 car.
It took 13 years for the original number to return to the track, finally being revived in 2014 for team owner Richard Childress’ grandson, Austin Dillon.
Lewis Hamilton plans to stop using Ferrari’s simulator after enjoying his strongest qualifying session of the year at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Hamilton qualified fifth for Saturday’s shortened Sprint race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The seven-time world champion appeared to be the closest challenger to rivals Mercedes before making a small mistake on his final flying lap.
Despite the error, the effort was enough to outpace team-mate Charles Leclerc in a competitive session for the first time since the Chinese Grand Prix.
‘The best I’ve felt all year’
The British driver had been noticeably outperformed by Leclerc at the preceding rounds in Japan and Miami.
In response, he opted to skip simulator duties ahead of the Montreal weekend to focus purely on physical training and data analysis.
“That’s probably the best qualifying session we’ve had for some time,” Hamilton said.
“I was having so much fun out there. The fact that I didn’t do the sim, and it was the best I’ve felt all year, so I think that’s the way forward for me.”
A transformed machine
Ferrari arrived in North America expecting a difficult weekend, lacking the significant upgrades introduced by Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes.
However, the veteran racer used the three-week break between events to deeply analyse the mechanical balance of his car.
By implementing an entirely new setup, the 103-time race winner felt reinvigorated on a track where he secured his maiden Formula 1 victory back in 2007.
“I chose a setup that we’ve never used before and it’s transformed the car for me, so I hope that bodes well for the rest of the weekend,” he added.
Meanwhile, Leclerc endured a difficult Friday session, revealing he had been severely struggling to understand his brakes.
Kimi Antonelli led George Russell in a Mercedes one-two during a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix practice session that was heavily disrupted when Alex Albon collided with a groundhog.
The Williams driver suffered a severe crash after being unable to avoid the animal on the exit of Turn Seven.
The British-born Thai racer slid down the barriers along the following straight, resulting in extensive damage to his vehicle.
Multiple red flags disrupt running
Albon’s incident triggered the second of three red flags during a chaotic opening session in Montreal.
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson caused the initial stoppage when his car halted on track with a complete loss of steering.
A final interruption occurred late on when Esteban Ocon spun his Haas exiting Turn Four and made heavy contact with the wall.
Despite the disjointed running, the early championship leader remained entirely unphased to set the benchmark time.
Upgraded Mercedes shows formidable pace
The young Italian phenomenon, who already boasts three victories this season, edged his more experienced team-mate by 0.142 seconds.
Russell required multiple attempts to close the gap before harmlessly tapping the wall at the start of a third flying lap.
A substantial upgrade package brought by the Silver Arrows appears to have delivered an immediate and devastating performance advantage.
Lewis Hamilton emerged as the closest challenger in the Ferrari, yet the seven-time world champion remained a distant 0.774 seconds adrift.
The former Mercedes stalwart managed to outpace his current team-mate Charles Leclerc by just under two-tenths of a second.
Norris trails as sprint weekend begins
Max Verstappen secured fifth place for Red Bull, finishing nearly a full second behind the blistering pace of the leading duo.
The Dutchman finished just ahead of the McLaren pairing, with reigning world champion Lando Norris leading Oscar Piastri in sixth.
The Woking-based squad are debuting the second half of a major development package that previously helped their British star secure a sprint victory in Miami.
Teams will have limited time to refine their setups ahead of Friday evening’s sprint qualifying session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Elsewhere, Arvid Lindblad impressed to take eighth for Racing Bulls, finishing ahead of Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.