Lloyd declares podium hat-trick ‘the most we could get’ in Montreal

Ella Lloyd admitted that she didn’t think a win wasn’t on the cards in Montreal, the McLaren driver adding that she wasn't considering a title bid despite her triple podium finishes.

Starting seventh for Race 1, Lloyd mitigated the damage from her carryover penalty from Miami, capitalising on chaos ahead to finish second behind Doriane Pin.

Qualifying fourth set her up nicely in the leading pack for both Races 2 and 3, but the Briton was unable to find her way past Rodin Motorsport teammate Emma Felbermayr and Chloe Chambers in each of the races, rounding out her Montreal weekend with a hat-trick of P2 finishes.

Conceding that the win was unattainable, Lloyd is refusing put herself into the title fight prematurely, despite sitting only five points adrift of third-place Maya Weug.

“It’s hard to tell,” she remarked when asked whether a win was possible in Race 2. “I think I was under quite a lot of pressure throughout the whole race. I was running P3 for quite a lot (of it) and then the Safety Car came out. I managed to get up to P2, but I think P2 was probably the most we could get.”

“I think the first two races have obviously given me a lot of points. I just want more points really for the next race and not really looking at the Standings. If it (the title) comes to me, it comes to me. At the end of the day, it’s pointless chasing something, you’ll end up making mistakes.”

Lloyd added on Sunday, referring again to her title prospects: “I don’t really think about it to be honest — it is what it is. I think all three have been pretty good, I moved up in every race. (Race 3) That one was probably the easiest one.

“I didn’t really have to do much, just get my head down and push forward. I couldn’t really overtake Chloe. I think I did have more pace than her but struggled to overtake.”

With four Safety Car restarts across the three races, Lloyd had ample chances to perfect her approach. Although she believed the restarts reduced her ability to pressurise the race leader into an error, the McLaren driver was satisfied not to have lost out because of them.

READ MORE: Chambers insists title fight is on after perseverance paid off with Race 3 win

“I think because there were so many Safety Cars, we broke the race up a bit and then I didn’t really have the opportunity,” said Lloyd. “Before the season started, the team brought a car to the track and we practised it.

“This weekend, I’ve had plenty of practice. The last one was pretty good, stuck with it so I’ve just got to keep improving everything.”

She added: “It’s always hard to gauge because if you’re in a chicane and the car in front is literally pointing out and powers out, it’s a lot easier for them. But if you’re in the middle of turning, the power is a lot harder. So, if you can catch them out like then they’re going to gap you.”