Imagine the world of F1 without Max Verstappen in it right now. Calmer? Sure. Fewer penalties? Almost certainly. Boring? Absolutely. The fact is that F1 is sleepwalking (or running) into a crisis. Long gone are the days of 2021 with Max and Lewis going wheel-to-wheel – neither giving up an inch – with the title on a knife edge.

George Russell won his first race of the Formula 1 season as the Mercedes driver held off defending race winner Max Verstappen at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Top competitors for the World Drivers Championship and McLaren teammates, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, crashed with three laps remaining in the Canadian Grand Prix. George Russell wins behind a safety car for his first win of the season ahead of Max Verstappen.