From second place, Max Verstappen has a good chance on Sunday to win the Canadian Grand Prix for the fourth time in a row. It mainly depends on the temperature and how his duel with George Russell goes towards the first corner.
First, the temperature: Russell’s Mercedes is a peculiar car. In cool temperatures, it can be used to win or take pole position. Russell did that on Saturday in Montreal.
On Sunday, he mainly hopes it doesn’t get too hot. “That can differ by two tenths per lap. If there’s cloud cover, we’re really competitive. If the temperature rises, our tires get too hot.”
It remains to be seen whether that desired cloud cover will come. During the race, a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius is expected, but also a chance of clouds. Those 24 degrees are not the temperatures in which Verstappen’s Red Bull has a hard time.
Warmer weather is needed for that, the weather in which the McLaren thrives so well. It is one of the reasons why World Cup leaders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are having such a hard time at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Verstappen is in a pretty good position
Verstappen mainly grumbled on Saturday after qualifying about the questions he (again) received about the situation with his penalty points. On Thursday, the Limburger had already made it clear that he will not race differently, that he will not back down, even though he faces a race suspension. He was asked that question again on Saturday, which was quickly cut off. “I’m really getting pissed off here,” Verstappen made clear.
That outburst does not alter the fact that Verstappen is in a pretty good position. “My race simulation on Friday was fine. We got the car setting right straight away. So I’m happy with this second place,” he said.
He did warn about graining, the problem with the tires that pieces of rubber tear off and stick to the tread of the tire. “We’re going to try to keep that under control.” It’s something all drivers suffer from in Canada.
The eyes are mainly focused on the first corner combination. The track in Montreal offers the opportunity to duel well, something that Verstappen and Russell will undoubtedly do towards turn 1.
“I have a few more penalty points to play with,” Russell looked ahead with a wink. He does know that Verstappen also has a weapon up his sleeve. The Red Bull is significantly faster than the Mercedes on the straights.
Norris and Leclerc want to fight back
Behind the two fighters are a number of drivers who also want to get involved in the fight at the front. Piastri of course: “Our strength is usually in the race. So I think we will definitely get involved in the battle for the win.”
Kimi Antonelli starts with the second Mercedes in fourth. The Italian relies on a strong pace, but also looks at the weather: “The weather was very good for me on Friday, but it got a little warmer yesterday. There is a chance that this will happen again on Sunday.”
Good duels are also expected behind that, with veterans Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) on the third row of the grid. Lando Norris (McLaren) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) start in seventh and eighth respectively and want to make up for a poorly run qualifying.
How will that go strategically? With the softest selection of tires, there is a good chance that two pit stops will be the fastest way to the finish. Mario Isola from Pirelli: “The medium and hard tires are used for this. The soft tires can be used by drivers who still have two sets of hard tires. With that you can drive a short but fast opening phase and then hope for an early safety car.”
The Canadian Grand Prix starts at 8:00 PM Dutch time.