Max Verstappen responds to a challenging weekend with Ferrari.
Weather mayhem and mistakes: Red Bull's Max Verstappen triumphs in the F1 Grand Prix in Canada, defending his title, while the opposition falls short. The Dutch driver capitalizes on misfortunes, sealing his sixth win of the season, as both Ferraris collide.
Max Verstappen prevailed amidst chaotic weather conditions at the Canadian Grand Prix, further extending his lead in the Formula 1 World Championship. The reigning champion took the checkered flag at the Montreal circuit ahead of countryman Max Verstappen and British racer George Russell, bouncing back from his disappointing performance at Monaco.
Verstappen excelled under difficult circumstances, maintain virtually unblemished throughout his sixth season victory. Moreover, he acquired a significant advantage, as his rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari suffered a crash, securing no points.
The gap between Leclerc and Verstappen widened to 56 points. Norris holds third position in the standings with 63 points, trailing the Dutch driver. Nico Hulkenberg (Emmerich/Haas) performed remarkably, emerging triumphant over teammate Kevin Magnussen in their internal battle. Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez (Mexico) concluded an unremarkable weekend with a crash due to a blunder.
Russell predicted his own victory
"The biggest battle will be the weather," Russell stated on Sky prior to the race commencement. "But I'll definitely win this one." Although Russell commandingly defended his position against Verstappen and Norris, the field approached cautiously due to low visibility on the wet track. Haas duo, Hulkenberg and Magnussen opted for rain tires while the rest of the field relied on intermediates.
This strategy initially seemed fruitful, as Magnussen advanced to fourth place within the first few laps, through a myriad of overtaking actions. Nevertheless, as the rain dissipated, both Haas drivers had to return to the pits for alternative tires, potentially hampering their progress.
While Norris overtook Verstappen in the 21st round with two impressive moves, the Dutchman recaptured the lead after Russell spun out. However, the race wasn't over, as the safety car intervened due to an incident involving Logan Sargeant (Williams) crashing into the barricades. The pit stop followed for most drivers, shifting the rankings; Norris found himself in third place again.
Safety Car prompts a tense finish
Verstappen remained firm and managed his lead comfortably until another tire change was necessary. Norris seized the advantage during this phase, but Verstappen swiftly regained his position after yet another stop carried out by the Briton. A later collision between Carlos Sainz (Spain/Ferrari) and Alexander Albon (Thailand/Williams) trigged a safety car period, heightening the intensity.
