Max Verstappen wins Formula One’s Canadian Grand Prix for the third year in a row

MONTREAL – Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen completed a Canadian Grand Prix hat-trick of victories on a wet, wild and “crazy race” on June 9 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

He said: “That was a pretty crazy race and a lot of things were happening. 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.

“I love it, that was a lot of fun. These kind of races you need them once in a while.”

Verstappen, who started on the front row alongside Mercedes pole-sitter George Russell, stayed clear of trouble on a day of constantly changing conditions, snatching the lead from McLaren's Lando Norris on the final pit stops.

“It feels like a missed opportunity, to be honest,” said Russell of his efforts. “We were really quick at the beginning of the race on the inters, and then obviously Lando came through really fast.

“Then we got back on the slicks, made a couple of mistakes out there just pushing the limits and paid the price for it.”

Norris, meanwhile, shrugged off his disappointment, having built a solid lead before the first safety car intervention, when a delayed pit stop cost him the race lead.

“It was wild. It was chaotic. It was eventful,” he said. “I felt I drove a good race. I had amazing pace and then the safety car had me over, just like it helped me in Miami. But it was good fun overall.

“Things were going beautifully, but it’s Montreal, so there’s something that comes into play – and fair play to Max, he drove a good race. It’s what it is.”

The win was Verstappen’s sixth victory from nine races this season and the 60th of his Formula One career.

It was another brilliant drive from the 26-year-old, who dealt with a track switching back and forth from wet to dry, pit-stop battles and challenges from McLaren and Mercedes, while wrestling with his Red Bull’s suspension.

After Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Williams’ Alex Albon came together, bringing out the safety car for a second time, Verstappen pulled away on the restart and finished 3.879 seconds ahead of Norris while Russell won a nail-biting duel with teammate Lewis Hamilton to complete the podium.

Said Hamilton: “Over the weekend, it’s a poor performance from myself... It’s one of the worst races I’ve driven. Lots of mistakes.”

The win will provide a confidence boost at Red Bull, who have recently seen challenges to their dominance.

In the three races before Canada, Red Bull had managed one win as the battle for the drivers’ and constructors’ titles tightened.

But the team are back in control of both, with Verstappen opening up a 56-point advantage over Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the top of the drivers’ standings, while Red Bull moved 49 clear of Ferrari for the constructors’ crown.

Both Ferraris failed to finish on June 9, with Sainz losing control of his car on the wet track and hitting the barrier while Leclerc retired after struggling with an engine issue.

Said Leclerc: “Honestly, there’s not much more to say apart from the engine issue cost us everything.” REUTERS, AFP