Canadian Grand Prix: The Top/Flop of the editorial staff

The TOP

Top 1. Always one step ahead for Max Verstappen

After experiencing some difficulties with the Red Bull car at the start of the weekend, the balance issue was resolved just in time to ensure the race this Sunday. Starting second on the grid just behind George Russell’s Mercedes, Max Verstappen had a bit of a tough start to the race. After going off track at turn 2, which benefited Lando Norris, the Dutchman quickly regained the lead and perfectly managed the first Safety Car period, leaving his competitors behind at the first restart. The three-time world champion did the same at the second restart and pulled away in the final laps, crossing the finish line first in the Canadian Grand Prix, further solidifying his lead in the overall standings. He secures his 54th victory in Formula 1.

« Today, the key was to be as consistent as possible. We made very few mistakes as a team, we made the right choice at the right time. Of course, we were lucky with the safety car but it’s part of the race. Sometimes a safety car plays in your favor and at other times, it plays against you. Once we switched to dry tires, we had a good pace and I was able to manage my gap with the others », said the Red Bull driver to Canal+.

Top 2. Lando Norris shines until the last lap but considers himself unlucky

Lando Norris, starting third on the grid, was quickly overtaken by the leading duo, George Russell and Max Verstappen, as he had to focus primarily on managing his tires on a wet track. But that was without counting on the pressure that the Briton loves to put on his competitors race after race. After easily overtaking George Russell, he tried the overcut when switching to slick tires. Unfortunately, it was not enough to take the lead of the race, but he managed to maintain his second place until the checkered flag and secure another podium finish.

« It was a very good race, I gave everything. I had a very good race and everything went very well in the first part, the pace was incredible at the end of the first relay. I think I was leading by 15 seconds and then I wasn’t lucky with the Safety Car. It’s tough. I think I had the pace to win in these conditions, maybe not in the end on dry, I think we were missing a bit compared to the Red Bull and the Mercedes. Luck was not on my side today, it wasn’t Miami but I’m not going to complain, I think sometimes we are lucky, sometimes not. It’s more frustrating when things don’t go our way. You lose a victory because of it but I accept it. I’m happy with this second place, it was a crazy race, said Lando Norris at the end of the race in an interview with Canal +.

Top 3. An inevitable podium for George Russell

A nearly perfect weekend for George Russell. Starting from pole position this Sunday at the Canadian Grand Prix, he didn’t manage to hold onto the lead but still secured a nice podium finish. The Mercedes driver led the race from the beginning but made some mistakes, notably missing turns 8 and 9 after changing tires. Fourth just a few laps from the end of the race, he perfectly overtook his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, to secure his first podium of the season.

« It was Oscar’s overtaking that cost me three seconds. After that, I had to pass both Oscar (Piastri) and Lewis (Hamilton) again. Of course, we lost the second place, I don’t know if I could have overtaken Max (Verstappen). But it was so difficult, Max (Verstappen) and I had a 10-second lead, Lando (Norris) was gaining 2 seconds per lap. He was unlucky with the safety car. I don’t know, for now, I am disappointed, I think Lando is disappointed too. That’s racing, you have to take the positives », George Russell confessed at the end of the race.

The FLOP

Flop 1. Very bad weekend for Sergio Perez

While his contract was extended for two more years earlier in the week, Sergio Perez completely missed his Canadian weekend after a Monaco weekend that was already more than mediocre. The Red Bull driver started his weekend with major difficulties, to the point of being out of the running in qualifying. Starting from the back of the grid on Sunday at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, he was unable to outperform his teammates. The rain did not help the situation, and the Mexican ended his Sunday in the wall after driving on a track that was too wet for his tires. He will have the opportunity to bounce back on June 25th during the Spanish Grand Prix.

Flop 2. The Ferraris in hell

However heroes in Monaco, this time both Ferrari completely missed the Canadian appointment. A double retirement that hadn’t happened since Baku 2022. Truth be told, the extreme conditions of this Sunday and an engine problem on Charles Leclerc’s side, nothing was set up to make the Scuderia drivers victorious. The weekend didn’t start very well since Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc didn’t manage to go to Q3 and respectively finished 11th and 12th. During the race, the Monegasque was warned of a mechanical problem that would lead to his retirement, having fallen a lap behind. As for Carlos Sainz, who is close to signing with Williams, he lost control of his car and hit the car of Alex Albon. The Canadian weekend is therefore one to forget for the two drivers.

Top 3. Logan Sargeant a little too ambitious

Everything had started well for Logan Sargeant. The American got off to a great start at the beginning of the weekend, by making his way out of Q1 for the first time this season. His car also seemed to be in top form, as evidenced by the fact that the Williams driver managed to qualify just ahead of Sergio Perez twice in a row. Starting 13th on the grid, he took advantage of his good tires to gain nine positions during the race. Unfortunately for him, his romance quickly ended after he destroyed his right rear suspension at turn 5… Another missed opportunity for Logan Sargeant.