Canadian Grand Prix – Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley has been given the all-clear after he was taken to hospital for checks following his Lap 1 collision.
Hartley was involved in a big accident at Turn 4 on the opening lap of the race in Montreal. Battling with Williams’ Lance Stroll, Hartley tried to go around the outside of the Canadian but, when the rear of the Williams got loose, Hartley was left with nowhere to go. The Toro Rosso made heavy contact with the outer wall, and this took Stroll off with him. Both skittered off into the escape area at Turn 5 with heavy damage.
Replays showed the impact had been quite hard for Hartley, hitting his head off the Halo cockpit surround as his car was crushed between the wall and the Williams. As a result, he was taken off to the medical centre for checks, later taken away from the circuit for further checks.
These checks included an ECG, which he passed without issue. Being taken back to the circuit by helicopter, he explained the crash from his viewpoint: “I got a good run on Lance out of Turn 4 on the outside, but he lost the car which put us both into the wall. It’s very disappointing as there was room to make the overtake, and I was looking forward to a strong race.
“It’s a frustrating way to end the Canadian Grand Prix as I’ve been really happy with my performance all weekend. I was delayed getting back to the circuit because I was flown to the hospital for precautionary checks. However, I’m definitely fit, healthy, and ready for the next race.” Brendon Hartley
Home town hero Lance Stroll only made it to the fourth corner of his race before the collision, and he was disappointed to have lost out on the potential for a strong race in front of his fans: “I had a good start, I gained a few positions. I got both McLarens I was up to 13th. Going into Turn 5 I was side by side with Brendon, the car got loose from me.
“I corrected it but there wasn’t… it was too late by the time I corrected. We were side by side and I touched him and there’s wasn’t enough room for both of us so we went into the wall.
“Yeah, it’s racing, things like that happen. First lap, you’re close, side by side, you know. That’s how it goes sometimes.”
