The Canada Grand Prix is over after plenty of slips and slides. Despite the slippery track, drivers continued to slide back and forth throughout the challenging day. However, it was a ‘regular day at the office’ for Max Verstappen, who clinched his sixth win of the season. Furthermore, Verstappen faced relentless pressure from Lando Norris and George Russell, making his victory even more remarkable.
Despite the victory, the Austrian squad’s hope for the Constructors title might take a hit. The reason is Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver was hit with a three-place grid penalty while he failed to finish the race. Consequently, Checo’s consecutive DNF and RB20’s on-track issues pester Christian Horner.
Christian Horner Reflects On RB20’s Challenges and Progress
The Monaco slump left the Red Bull team with ample questions. Thus, the squad was waiting to bounce back. As a result, Verstappen paved the way for RBR’s comeback in an action-packed thriller on Sunday. The clouds were hovering over the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and after a wet start, the safety cars were deployed a couple of times. At the beginning of the weekend, the Milton Keynes-based outfit was lagging as the FP sessions were horrible. Moreover, George Russell bagged the pole position, and the safety car was deployed after the Logan Sargeant crash. Later, after the restart, Verstappen showcased his masterclass as he ran through the showers to maintain the lead. Further, the second safety car was called out after the collision of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. The reigning world champion kept calm until the penultimate lap and surged to the chequered flag.
However, Christin Horner discussed the struggles as the RB20 looked vulnerable for the fourth consecutive race. Moreover, Lando Norris might have clinched the title, but the Sargeant crash obstructed his path. Christian Horner highlighted the potential impact of circuits later in the year, such as Singapore, and emphasized the need to stay competitive against Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes, who have shown they can challenge at every track. Despite winning six out of nine races, Horner believes the team must be at the top of their game to maintain their lead. He found it encouraging that their performance in sector three was competitive, even with the car’s stiffness over the last chicane, indicating genuine performance. If the team can unlock this potential, they will gain valuable lap time.
Safety Car Payback: Verstappen Settles Score In A Stop-Start Race
On a lighter note, Max Verstappen said the safety car has now leveled the score. Earlier during the Miami GP, Lando Norris benefited from the safety car and clinched the title. However, the fortune favored Verstappen this time as he maintained the lead, eventually winning the race.
Conjointly, it was his 60th F1 win, and he is on the way to the fourth world title. Moreover, the safety car’s timing helped him endure rivals’ pressure. As a result, he won his third consecutive Canada GP. After the race, the Dutchman jokingly said, ‘The scores are now leveled by the safety car.’