Max Verstappen relieved some pressure by achieving a hat-trick of victories at the Canadian Grand Prix, solidifying his lead in the drivers’ championship.
Verstappen, who had been beaten in two of the previous three races, returned to his best form with the help of strategic decisions from his team. He won the race by 3.879 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Mercedes’ George Russell, who began from pole position, secured third place, followed by his fast but frustrated teammate, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen’s triumph at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve marked his third consecutive win at this venue and the 60th victory of his career. Starting second on the grid, he benefited from a dramatic race featuring two Safety Car interventions.
“That was a pretty crazy race and a lot of things were happening,”said Verstappen. “We had to keep on top of our calls and as a team we did really well today. We remained calm and we pitted at the right time.”
With both Ferraris failing to finish – just two weeks after Charles Leclerc claimed an emotional win in his home Monaco Grand Prix – Verstappen’s success lifted him 56 points clear of the Monegasque driver in the title race.
“The safety cars worked out nicely for us this time,” he added, referring to the Miami Grand Prix where he lost his advantage, allowing Norris to claim his maiden win. “But even after that we were managing the gaps quite well.
“I loved it. It was a lot of fun. These kind of races you need to have once in a while. The most important thing is that we won. The suspension problem is not particularly an issue.”
“We know what it is, so we just need to work on it. We still have room to improve,” said Max Verstappen after his victory at the Canadian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, self-critical after the race, was overtaken by teammate George Russell in the closing laps but managed to finish ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who secured fifth place. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin finished sixth.
Local favorite Lance Stroll took seventh place in the second Aston Martin, followed by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in eighth. The two Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, rounded out the top ten. Reflecting on the race, Hamilton remarked, “It was wild. It was chaotic,” capturing the intense and unpredictable nature of the contest.
“A lot of fun,” said Norris, who, with Piastri, brought McLaren their first points in Canada since 2014 on the 56th anniversary of the team’s first win, with Bruce McLaren, at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix.
“It was wild. It was chaotic. It was eventful. To be honest, I felt like I drove a good race, the whole time, from start to finish. These conditions are so stressful inside the car, but very enjoyable at the same time.”
George Russell expressed disappointment after the race, saying, “That was an ugly race on my behalf and I am sorry for that. It feels like a big missed opportunity to be honest. We had a fast car this weekend.”
The Canadian Grand Prix saw varying weather conditions with showers and sunshine affecting the race. Five cars, including Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, both Ferraris, and both Williams, failed to finish. The enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the changing conditions and fluctuating race positions.
Max Verstappen’s victory boosted his lead in the drivers’ championship to 194 points, ahead of Charles Leclerc on 138 and Lando Norris on 131. In the constructors’ championship, Red Bull, despite having a challenging season by their standards, moved to 301 points, ahead of Ferrari with 252 points.
