Reigning world champion Max Verstappen returned to winning ways in Canada last weekend to extend Red Bull’s advantage in the Formula 1 table, although their lead in the constructors’ standings would’ve been bigger if it weren’t for some bad luck.
Sergio Perez had a rough outing in the Canadian Grand Prix, but his spirits remain high for the Milton Keynes outfit to fully regain their bearings.
Elsewhere, Ferrari were on the losing end, so this time they are under pressure to catch up in the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, while Mercedes did fairly well on Sunday because of their improved machine.
Just in case you missed it, fret not, as SBOTOP is here to bring you the latest Formula 1 2024 updates.
Verstappen bounced back, but Checo couldn’t
The Red Bull pairing of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez had contrasting fortunes at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, as the Dutchman won his sixth race of the year while the latter suffered a DNF for the second straight time.
Verstappen looked like he was in for another chaotic weekend, as the RB20 was not at its best. However, he still got the win because of the team’s exceptional strategy calls amid changing weather conditions and multiple Safety Car periods.
The Dutchman was behind George Russell in the early stages of the race until Lando Norris overtook them both as the weather improved. However, a Logan Sargeant crash prompted the appearance of the Safety Car.
Max Verstappen took advantage of the restart and managed the wet conditions to get the lead. And when the second Safety Car was triggered by the collision of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr., Red Bull did a great job of managing Verstappen’s tyres for him to eventually take the chequered flag for his 60th career victory.
Meanwhile, it was another forgettable weekend for Sergio Perez, who signed an extension before the race.
Checo was eliminated in Q1 of Saturday’s qualifying session, so he started P16 on the grid. Perez collided with Pierre Gasly on the opening lap, so he struggled to catch up with the cars in front of him.
Things only got worse for the Mexican, as his RB20 spun off on Lap 53 because of a damaged rear wing, and he eventually had to retire. Not only did he suffer another DNF, he was also hit with a three-place grid drop for the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix.
Disastrous weekend for Ferrari
Fred Vasseur is not a happy camper after he saw his two Ferrari drivers recording DNFs in Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday because of the damage sustained by their SF-24s.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr. started the race on the back foot, as they didn’t make it to Q3 in Saturday’s qualifying session. Leclerc had to retire in Lap 43 of the actual race after his car had an engine issue, despite making the early switch to the slick tyres, while Sainz limped back to the pits after bumping into Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon on separate occasions.
Because of their poor results, they were unable to move up to the drivers and constructors’ standings, and it didn’t help that their rivals fared way better than them in Canada.
The hope for the Prancing Horse is that this is merely a blip on their radar, and they will regain their previously sky-high confidence, starting at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Russell gets on board for Mercedes this season
George Russell caught everyone by surprise when he took pole position for only the second time in his career on Saturday. The Silver Arrows youngster defied the Formula 1 2024 odds when he finished third in the actual race to score Mercedes’ first podium in 2024.
Russell couldn’t help but feel like he missed his opportunity to win in Canada. But as the dust settled, the 26-year-old is now looking forward to doing better in the next few races and continuing to outperform his teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
The W15’s improved pace was the main reason why Russell got the results he wanted at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, as they installed a new front wing as part of Toto Wolff’s plans to put “more and more downforce in the right places.”
Mercedes will reportedly look to upgrade the W15’s floor in the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix, and if they can tighten up their race strategy, don’t be surprised if the Silver Arrows make a push at the top of both the drivers and constructors’ standings to give Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren a run for their money.
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