Everything about the Canadian Grand Prix

For its long history the Canadian Grand Prix has been often regarded as one of the most compelling races of the season. It’s legendary the race of 2011, won here by Jenson Button, as it is considered to be the longest and craziest race ever because of the weather conditions. Even this year the Montreal Grand Prix has given us a variety of emotions: starting in wet conditions and then ending in the dry. About halfway into the race, there were five surprising cars that could have fought for the highest step of the podium. But then again the winner was always him: Max Verstappen who, with a phenomenal car but not that dominating like last year, showed the world the reason why he still owns the number 1 on his vehicle.

Carlos Sainz during fP1 by FormulaPassion

A single prior case

Saturday’s happenings had already given us a taste of what could’ve been of the next day, with a rather tight battle both for pole position and for the group that, supposedly, was to end in the middle. George Russell was the successful one on Saturday. In doing so he obtained the second pole position of his career, after the one in 2022, during the Hungarian Grand Prix, and set the same exact numbers as Max Verstappen, driving in a RedBull that seemed to be struggling more than anticipated. Although that same car, thanks to the Dutch driver’s abilities, managed to conquer the front row. A pole position with an identical time set has occurred only once in the history of Formula One.

It happened in Jerez, 1997, where three drivers stopped the timer at the same exact time: Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Crucially missing from Q3 were the Ferraris of both Charles Leclerc, winner of the last Grand Prix in Monaco and Carlos Sainz, who eventually ended in the eleventh and twelfth starting positions. The two Ferrari drivers then complained specifically about the weak feeling with the car, due to lack of grip that didn’t give the Italian Scuderia the chance to fight for the highest positions.

Russell after getting the pole by Sky Sport

An insane race

After the first lap the positions at the top stayed unaltered. However, in the middle, the two Haas of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg, the only drivers who chose the full wets as their starting tyres, managed to gain several positions. Until the track dried off and the two drivers were forced to pit for intermediates. A few laps before the safety car was deployed, in lap 26 because of Sargeant’s retirement from the race, Lando Norris managed to overtake Max Verstappen and George Russell, taking the lead with a margin of almost 10 seconds. The safety car then unfortunately put at a disadvantage the McLaren driver, who had to stay behind it for an entire lap, going back in after Verstappen and Russell. Yet these drivers, along with Piastri, had had the chance to stop one lap early and consequently to restore the gap previously created by the British driver. In the meantime Leclerc and Sainz’s Ferraris were struggling more than expected because of certain technical problems.

From the very start, the monégasque driver had reported a concern about the engine that eventually cost him a loss of 40 hp equal to about one second per lap. As for the Spanish driver, he didn’t seem to disclose any type of malfunctions. However, after the race, team principal Fred Vasseur informed him that, because of a contact with Bottas, he actually suffered some damage to the front wing and also to the bottom of his car. Both Ferrari drivers didn’t get the chance to see the checkered flag with Leclerc who laid it all on the line, putting hard tyres on and hoping for the sun to appear. A choice that eventually didn’t pay off. And Sainz who had to retire from the race after losing control of his car and causing a collision with Alex Albon, creator of an extraordinary race up until that moment. As for the starting positions, after about 10 laps from the re-start, the drivers at the top decided to box to change tyres and pit for slicks. From that moment on Verstappen was able to set a larger gap from his rivals and at the same time, giving us a thrilling battle for second place, fought between Norris and Russell.

Verstappen after the win by Sky Sport

Now the race seemed to have settled but it’s only a matter of seconds because as mentioned, the safety car was deployed again on lap 55. Perez was in the wall but more serious was the contact between Sainz and Albon who saw the first driver forced to go back into his garage and retire early from the race. While the safety car was on track, the Mercedes cars decided to box as well and change their set of tyres; mediums for Russell and hards for Hamilton. The race resumed again with a wonderful battle between the McLarens and the Mercedes, reaching the most stressful level on lap 63, when Piastri and Russell lightly touched. The race ended with Verstappen in front of Norris and Russell, who by the end of the race, when only three laps were missing, managed to overtake Hamilton. Russell’s teammate finished fourth with Piastri in fifth, in front of Alonso, Stroll, Ricciardo, Gasly and Ocon.

And so it ended in the worst way possible for Scuderia Ferrari. A double DNF that didn’t happen since 2022, during the Baku Grand Prix, that surely left a bitter feeling after the highs of the Monaco Grand Prix. But now it is time to roll up our sleeves and go back to our cynical selves because this World Championship, especially the Constructors’, may not be that obvious.

A disappointing weekend for the Scuderia; artwork by Ferrari