Hartley released from hospital after precautionary checks

Brendon Hartley has been released from hospital after undergoing precautionary scans following his massive accident at the start of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The Toro Rosso was going around the outside of Lance Stroll's Williams through turn 5 when they made contact. Hartley ended up in the wall where he was further impacted by Stroll who now had no control of his FW41.

The STR13 was briefly lifted into the air, before the two cars skidded down into the run-off at turn 6. Fortunately they did not collect any other cars along the way.

Stroll was quickly out of his cockpit. But Hartely took more time to gather himself before climbing out of his car under his own steam.

Both men were taken to the Formula 1 medical centre, and Stroll was quickly released. But the doctors felt that more checks on Hartley were in order, and sent him to a local hospital for precautionary scans.

"The driver was taken to hospital for further investigations following his examination at the track medical centre," an FIA spokesperson said.

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"All of the tests have been completed, two ECGs are normal, and Hartley will come back to the circuit by helicopter."

"I was delayed getting back to the circuit because I was flown to the hospital for precautionary checks," Hartley confirmed. "However, I’m definitely fit, healthy, and ready for the next race."

The race stewards investigated the incident, but decided that no further action was required on their part. It was duly deemed a racing incident with no single driver at fault.

"I had a good start," recalled Hartley. "Similar to the drivers around me. But I got left a bit on the outside of Turn 2 which lost me a position.

"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."

Stroll talked to the media after being released from the medical centre, and gave his version of the events.

"I am really disappointed for the fans," he said. "I wanted to put on a good show for them.

"I had a good start, gained a few positions and got both McLarens, but I had some contact when I overtook them," he reported.

"Then I was side by side with Brendon going into turn five. The car got loose on me, I corrected it but there was not much room for both of us.

"By the time I had corrected it we had touched.

"It is not ideal, but that is racing, things like that happen on the first lap as we are close and side by side, so that is how it goes sometimes."

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