Max Verstappen continued his dominant streak by winning the Canadian Grand Prix for the third consecutive year on Sunday, marking his 60th Formula 1 victory. The Red Bull star also celebrated his sixth win in nine races this season, solidifying his position at the top of the championship standings.
Starting from second place alongside pole-sitter George Russell, the 26-year-old Dutchman showcased exceptional skill on the rain-affected Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre-Dame. Verstappen demonstrated his prowess by maintaining a commanding lead, finishing 3.879 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris in the 70-lap race on the 4.36-kilometer road course.
The race began under wet conditions, with rain showers intermittently affecting the track. Verstappen's ability to navigate the challenging weather once again proved his expertise, as he dominated the latter stages of the race. \"It's a lot of fun to drive these kinds of races now and then,\" Verstappen commented. \"You don't want it all the time because that's too stressful. But I had a lot of fun out there today.\"
Norris faced setbacks when Logan Sargeant's actions brought out the safety car on Lap 26, causing him to lose a 10-second lead. Expressing his frustration, Norris stated, \"We should have won the race today and we didn't so, frustrating. We had the pace. We should have won today. It's as simple as that.\"
Mercedes secured the third and fourth positions, with George Russell finishing third and seven-time Montreal winner Lewis Hamilton in fourth. Oscar Piastri took fifth place for McLaren, followed by Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, the sole Canadian in the race. Stroll remarked, \"It was a tough track with the condition, so I'm really satisfied to score points. Lots of points, the sixth and seventh positions are really good for the team.\"
With this victory, Verstappen extended his season lead to 56 points over Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Reflecting on the team's performance, Verstappen added, \"As a team, we made the right calls today. It's great to have three wins in a row here. I hope I can add more in the future.\"
Reference(s):
Verstappen wins 3rd straight Canadian Grand Prix for 60th F1 victory
cgtn.com
