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F1 live: Piastri strategy disaster as race start is aborted
SEN • May 25th, 2026 8:11 am
A McLaren strategy disaster has marred the start of the Canadian Grand Prix. Follow live below.
Chaos at the Canadian Grand Prix where the race start was aborted with drivers off their line and other stalling.
As the grid waited for the traditional five lights to go out, they didn't after Ivan Lindblad was seen waving his arms signalling an issue with his car.
It was rapidly decided the 19 other cars would complete another formation lap.
The delay only caused more issues for McLaren who sent both drivers out on intermediate tyres as a result of earlier rain fall.
By the time the race started, the track was bone dry.
Oscar Piastri was unimpressed urging his team to call him in at the earliest opportunity.
"It feels like I'm floating around on these tyres quite a bit already," the Australian said, "The rain has stopped. We need slicks. If we pit now we will have warm tyres. This is a mistake now,
He was told is rivals were on soft tyres and would have temperature issues.
"It's an unusual decisions," Martin Brundle said. "Let's see if it pays dividends in the first few laps but I don't think I would want them on. What they need now is an early Safety Car. Piastri is right and this is the last thing they need."
__LAP 1: __
In scenes nobody saw coming, Lando Norris flew into the lead off the race start. It was only a one lap lead as he and Piastri went straight into the pits for soft tyres. How disappointing. Imagine what that could have meant for McLaren. Antonelli leads.
How they started:
1st row George Russell (GBR/Mercedes), Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes)
2nd row Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes), Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)
3rd row Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari), Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)
4th row Isack Hadjar (FRA/Red Bull), Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)
5th row Arvid Lindblad (GBR/Racing Bulls-Red Bull), Franco Colapinto (ARG/Alpine-Mercedes)
6th row Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Audi), Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)
7th row Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Audi), Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Mercedes)
8th row Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Williams-Mercedes), Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas-Ferrari)
9th row Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas-Ferrari), Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)
10th row Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Honda), Sergio Pérez (MEX/Cadillac-Ferrari)
11th row Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Cadillac-Ferrari)
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Honda) starts from the pitlane.
