OSCAR PIASTRI DELIVERS DAMNING MCLAREN F1 CANADIAN GP VERDICT: 'WE LOOK LIKE IDIOTS'

Oscar PIastri has slammed McLaren's decision to start the F1 Canadian GP on hard tyres

Oscar Piastri has lambasted McLaren’s decision to start the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix on intermediate tyres, resulting in a miserable afternoon.

McLaren attempted a radical strategy at the start of the F1 Canadian GP, opting to put Piastri and teammate Lando Norris on intermediate tyres.

The track, while not dry, also did not warrant intermediates, forcing both drivers to pit for dry tyres in the opening two laps.

Now back in the midfield, Piastri suffered a disastrous afternoon and finished outside the points after incurring a ten-second time penalty for crashing into Alex Albon.

Speaking after the race. Piastri revealed how the decision quickly unravelled as the formation lap began.

“There was definitely no standing water, but you could clearly tell where it was wet and where it was dry, and getting to the grid was not easy on slicks; getting to full throttle was pretty tough.

“Unfortunately for us, it stopped raining as the formation lap started, basically. Just one of those things where if it had rained a little bit more, we would have looked like heroes, but it didn’t, so we looked like idiots. So just one of those things.”

Oscar Piastri apologises for Alex Albon crash

Apologising for his crash with Albon, Piastri admitted to driver error, describing the incident as “not my finest moment”.

“It was just so, so difficult out there.

“I felt like I was going into the corner pretty carefully, but locked the front, and that was it. It was not my finest moment.

“Apologies to Alex and Williams, because it was unnecessary damage for both of us, especially for them. So just one of those things.”

McLaren and Piastri will need to deep dive urgently as to how a front row and top six start led to no points.

- James Phillips

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ALONSO REVEALS ASTON MARTIN'S TRUE PROBLEM AFTER COSTLY CANADA CRASH

Photo: Race Pictures

Fernando Alonso crashed during SQ1 at the Canadian GP. This meant he was through to the second session, but will start from P16. Afterwards, 

The 2026 season has been a difficult start for Aston Martin. It was not until the Miami Grand Prix that they managed to have both drivers finish a race. With no upgrades planned until the summer break, Alonso and Lance Stroll are working with what they have.

Alonso was 'too much on the limit' 

During the sprint qualifying session, it seemed as if Alonso had enough pace to get into SQ2. The Spaniard was in P14 with only two minutes to go. Unfortunately, he crashed soon after. This triggered a red flag, and due to the damage, a barrier repair. Speaking after the incident, Alonso explained, “I locked up the front, and you're a passenger after that. There is no room to avoid anything here in Canada, too much on the limit.”

Alonso’s incident marked the fourth red flag of the day after Liam Lawson, Alex Albon, and Esteban Ocon each caused one during FP1. Both Albon's and Ocon’s red flags were caused by them colliding with the wall and debris on the track.

The two-time world champion continued, “We are a little bit behind, and we don't have the pace. So we are P14, I guess. So we were pushing seven or eight places more than what we should have."

Alonso made it through to SQ2 with his qualifying time, as those below him could not improve. This is partially due to the limited time left on the clock and the drivers being unable to cross the line in time to put in another lap. One of those drivers was his teammate, Stroll. The Canadian GP is Stroll’s home race, where the crowd watched him qualify P18.

Despite making it into SQ2, Alonso could not participate in the session because his car was damaged. Thus, he starts the sprint race two positions above Stroll in P16. These are the best qualifying results for Alonso and Stroll this year.

This is Stroll’s second time qualifying 18th (Miami GP) and Alonso’s first time qualifying P16. Alonso’s highest qualifying position before this was P17 (Australian GP and Miami GP). The Canadian GP sprint qualifying marks the first time either Aston Martin driver has made it into Q2.

Despite not bringing upgrades like several other teams, Aston Martin showed some improvement in Canada. The next set of upgrades for Aston Martin is expected to be after the summer break. Speaking after the Miami GP, Alonso said he understood why this was. He said, “I’m at peace because I understand the situation. The team explained to me that if we bring one or two tenths every race, it doesn’t change our position; we are P20 or P19, and the next car is one second in front.”

"So, even if we bring two tenths every race, it doesn’t change our position, and it’s a huge stress in the system, in the budget cap and things like that. Until we don’t have a one-and-a-half or two-second improvement, it’s better not to press the button in production because we waste money.

During FP1, Lawson experienced two technical issues and was unable to continue the practice session. His car stopped on the track due to a loss of power steering and a gear shift issue. As Racing Bulls were unable to resolve the issues before the start of sprint qualifying, Lawson was unable to participate.

Albon is another driver who was unable to participate in sprint qualifying. The British-Thai driver had an unfortunate collision with a groundhog on the track, causing him to hit the wall. His car sustained severe damage which could not be repaired in time.

Both drivers were permitted to start the race from the back of the grid. The Stewards have placed Albon and Lawson at 21 and 22, respectively.

- Savannah Lenz

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CANADIAN GRAND PRIX: PREVIEW, PREDICTIONS, SESSIONS TIMES, AND MORE

 

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll (R) with son Lance. Clive Mason/Getty Images

Formula One has reached round nine of the season: the Canadian Grand Prix, and the home race of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll and his father, Lawrence, who owns the team.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is popular with fans and drivers alike. The circuit is made up of roads on the man-made island of Notre Dame in the middle of the St Lawrence River. The island was created in 1967 for Expo 67, a world fair, and later used for the 1976 summer Olympics before it morphed into an F1 circuit.

The circuit is fast with two long straights, but unforgiving with walls close to the track, few run off areas and tight hairpins, which mean cars must ride the kerbs, particularly before the first and last chicanes.

The changeable Montreal weather and the circuit layout often produces a classic race, like Jenson Button's famous 2011 win in the rain.

Look out for the final corner -- the Wall of Champions -- known for the amount of big names who have crashed into it over the years.

Latest news

Since last time out at Monaco, Sergio Pérez has signed a contract extension at Red Bull through to 2026, ending speculation over the Mexican's future and the available seat at the current top team.

Also, following his crash with his teammate Pierre Gasly at Monaco, Alpine confirmed Esteban Ocon will leave the French team at the end of the year, and he has been replaced for Canada's first practice session with reserve driver Jack Doohan.

Can Ferrari leave Canada top the constructors standings? Plus Canadian GP preview -- listen to the podcast.

Gilles Villeneuve takes the checkered flag in his Ferrari 312T3 at the end of the Canadian Grand Prix, Ile Notre-Dame, Montreal on Oct. 8 1978. It was the first race on the new circuit and his home grand prix. Klemantaski Collection/Getty Images

Circuit stats

Canada has hosted grands prix since 1967, but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal was first held in 1978 and has been on the calendar nearly every year since. National hero Gilles Villeneuve won the inaugural race, and four years after his death the circuit would take his name.

Laps: 70 laps of 4.361km

Lap record: 1:13.078, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes (2019)

Most wins: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton with seven wins each. Elsewhere from the current grid, Verstappen has two wins here in 2022, 2023, and Daniel Ricciardo in 2014.

Most poles: Schumacher and Hamilton are tied on six poles each. Elsewhere from the current grid, Verstappen has two in 2022, 2023, and Fernando Alonso has one in 2006.

Max Verstappen won the race in 2023, with Fernando Alonso finishing second and Lewis Hamilton in third. Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images

What happened last year

In the 2023 edition, Max Verstappen claimed the fourth of what went on to be a record 10-straight wins. The Dutchman won from pole in utterly dominant fashion and he also secured Red Bull's 100th race win since their debut in 2005.

Fellow world champions Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton were engaged in a thrilling battle for second and rounded off the podium.

Who's going to win?

This is a huge opportunity for Ferrari. We saw how good the Italian team were in Monaco on a street circuit, so Charles Leclerc will likely feel good about going back to back.

Meanwhile, Monaco exposed Red Bull's weakness, as Verstappen put it, with their issues riding kerbs; that will be a factor again at this circuit.

The forecast in Montreal is set for peak temperatures between 19-22°C and showers throughout the weekend. So far in 2024, there hasn't been a wet race, so rain and tyre choice could throw the cat among the pigeons.

Max Verstappen leads the drivers' championship by 31 points going into the Canadian Grand Prix. Peter J Fox/Getty Images

How to watch the GP

Watch on ESPNEWS and ESPN+ (U.S. only).

Live broadcast coverage in the U.K. is on Sky Sports F1, and BBC Radio 5 Live, with Sunday's highlights on Channel 4.

For news, analysis and updates, follow the coverage with ESPN's F1 team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Montreal.

Friday, June 7

Free practice one - 18:30-19:30 BST / 13:30-14:30 EDT

Free practice two - 22:00-23:00 BST / 17:00-18:00 EDT

Saturday, June 8

Free practice three - 17:30-18:30 BST / 12:30-13:30 EDT

Qualifying - 21:00-22:00 BST / 16:00-17:00 EDT

Sunday, June 9

Race starts - 19:00 BST / 14:00 EDT

The grand prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a total distance of 305.27km over 70 laps. Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher hold the win record with seven each. Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

How the championships look

Verstappen leads the drivers' championship with 169 points, 31 points clear of Leclerc. McLaren's Lando Norris is currently third, just 25 points, or one race win, from second.

Red Bull lead the constructors' championship, but Ferrari's recent race wins and podiums have cut the deficit to just 24 points.

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