Formula 1 News: Verstappen Takes Victory in Dramatic Canadian Grand Prix
In a thrilling Canadian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen emerged victorious, securing his second win in four Grands Prix. The defending champion bounced back from a challenging weekend, overcoming an electrical issue on Friday and frustration with the car’s performance over bumps and kerbs.
Winner: Max Verstappen
Verstappen’s win marked his 60th career victory and 50th in the last 75 races. He also claimed his third straight win in Canada, almost doubling his lead in the drivers’ standings to 56 points. The Dutchman’s ability to minimize mistakes on Sunday proved crucial in his victory.
Loser: Sergio Perez
On the other hand, Sergio Perez suffered a disastrous weekend. After signing a new contract, he struggled in qualifying, getting bumped out in Q1 for the second race weekend in a row. His afternoon took a turn for the worse when he collided with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly at the start, picking up damage and eventually spinning and damaging his rear wing, forcing his retirement. To add insult to injury, he received a three-place grid penalty for the next race in Spain.
Winner: Lando Norris
Lando Norris had a bittersweet weekend, narrowly missing out on pole position by 0.021s. However, he delivered a sublime performance on the intermediate tyre, lapping up to two seconds quicker than the pack to take P1 and build a sizeable lead. Although the Safety Car eradicated his lead, he fought back to take second, making it the fourth time in five races he has finished 1-2 with Verstappen.
Loser: Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda, who had been on a streak of four points finishes in five races, had a disappointing weekend. He made a mistake late on, pitching him into a spin and out of the points.
Winner: George Russell
George Russell was hard on himself after finishing third in Canada, having started on pole for only the second time in his career. However, he can look back with pride at a weekend that yielded his and Mercedes’ first podium finish of the season. The Briton continued to outperform his teammate Lewis Hamilton, and Mercedes’ improved package has given them confidence they are on the right path to consistently make it a four-way fight at the sharp end in upcoming races.
Formula 1 Standings: Verstappen Extends Lead
With his victory in Canada, Verstappen has almost doubled his lead in the drivers’ standings to 56 points. The Dutchman’s win marks his third straight win in Canada, and he is now 56 points ahead of his nearest rival, Charles Leclerc, who failed to score in Canada.
Formula 1 News: Other Winners and Losers
Aston Martin shone in Canada, with Fernando Alonso outqualifying teammate Lance Stroll for the first time in four races. Both drivers judged the conditions well, with Alonso ending a two-race pointless streak with a solid sixth and Stroll battling up to seventh to score points in Canada for the fifth time in his career.
On the other hand, Ferrari faded into the shadows with an uncharacteristically poor weekend. Charles Leclerc struggled with a power unit issue and ultimately retired the car, while Carlos Sainz spun and made contact with Alex Albon, forcing his DNF. It was the first time Ferrari have failed to score with either car since Australia last year.
Daniel Ricciardo silenced his critics with his most complete weekend of the year, mastering tricky conditions to take fifth in qualifying and eventually finishing eighth for his first points score in a Grand Prix in 2024.
The Canadian Grand Prix proved to be an eventful race, with multiple Safety Car periods and numerous driver errors. As the Formula 1 season continues, drivers will be looking to bounce back from disappointing results and capitalize on their strengths in upcoming races.
Formula 1 Calendar: Next Stop, Spanish Grand Prix
The Formula 1 circus heads to Spain next, with the Spanish Grand Prix taking place on June 4. Will Verstappen continue his winning streak, or will others capitalize on their strengths to challenge the defending champion? Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news and updates.
🔗 Source