In Canada, Verstappen exhibits visible concern.
Max Verstappen is the current leader in Formula 1, but his invincible status is starting to crumble. Just before the Canadian Grand Prix, his opponents are filled with confidence. Red Bull, however, worries that things may only get worse in the coming weeks.
Max Verstappen felt a sense of impending doom during his flight across the Atlantic. "This won't be our best weekend," the Formula 1 world champion said as he looked forward to the race in Montreal. Another city circuit, more bumps, and more kerbs - would this bring more problems?
"We're aware that we need to improve the car in these areas and that it's a little bit touchy there," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner ahead of the ninth season race on Sunday evening (8 pm CEST/Sky and live ticker at ntv.de): "But we've won five races and two sprints this year. It's not like a good car suddenly became a bad one." But with a car that is no longer clearly the best in the field, tension has returned to Formula 1, which Verstappen and Red Bull had dominated in recent years.
The most recent winners were Charles Leclerc in Ferrari and Lando Norris in McLaren. Verstappen, on the other hand, had to admit that his massive lead had evaporated. For a fourth title in a row, the world champion will have to work hard. "There are more opportunities to overtake in Montreal," he said. However, to do that, the car must be perfectly set for the challenging track with its high-speed sections, chicanes, and braking zones.
Recently, Ferrari and McLaren have managed to improve their cars. They are enthusiastic about their chances. "We're coming to Canada with full enthusiasm and everyone is ready to give their all," announced Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur: "Small details can make all the difference, but we won't change our approach, because we're on the right track."
The form curve of Ferrari and McLaren is rising sharply. Ferrari's Leclerc is second in the championship, just 31 points behind Verstappen, while Norris has collected 56 fewer points as third. These numbers are not yet alarming for Verstappen, but a clear trend is visible. The competition is not only closing the gap due to some unique Red Bull weaknesses but has also found ways to improve their cars.
"We were very competitive on three very different tracks, and we can now go to any race confidently," said McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, looking back at the recent Formula 1 races in Miami, Imola, and Monaco: "These are exciting times."
Exciting times that Ferrari and McLaren are happy about - and that cause Red Bull concern. But team boss Horner tried to stay positive. "After Montreal, there are three races in a row in Barcelona, the Red Bull Ring, and Silverstone. And these tracks should suit our car better," he promised, a brief period of weakness would be quickly forgotten.
