Max Verstappen has a great chance in his 150th Grand Prix on Sunday to further advance in the battle for the world title. There are a few threats from pole position, but normally the World Cup leader is the outspoken favourite.
Verstappen’s biggest competitor Charles Leclerc starts after a total of fifty grid penalties at the back. Teammate and number two in the World Cup standings Sergio Pérez crashed in qualifying and starts in thirteenth place. In that respect, the Limburger has the empire alone.
It is also not that simple. Fernando Alonso starts from second place and is determined to strike on the opening lap. The Spaniard is realistic enough to know that winning is not in it, but that moment in the lead should be possible.
“Maximum attack”, predicted the forty-year-old Alpine driver. Verstappen has been warned, but can let him go if necessary, even though the Dutchman said with a laugh that he did not wish his good friend that either.
Is Sainz a realistic threat?
Carlos Sainz starts in third, and is really the only serious challenger. That is mainly based on fast lap times that the Spaniard clocked during the race simulations on Friday. “It’s close together,” said Verstappen. But Sainz has had a difficult season at the same time, is usually neither the fastest nor the most determined Ferrari driver and has never won a race. The question is therefore justified how great that threat actually is.
Unreliability of the car is another risk factor, although it is mainly Ferrari that is currently plagued by it. “But we also had our moments,” emphasized Verstappen. And while the Red Bull is currently operating fairly smoothly, it is arguably a more realistic threat than Sainz.
Carlos Sainz will leave from third place on Sunday
Carlos Sainz will leave from third place on Sunday Photo: Getty Images
Chaos is always lurking in Canada
The same goes for chaos, which is always lurking in Canada. Leclerc is already dreaming of a festival of safety cars, so that he can come forward nicely. Verstappen knows that it then depends on the right choices. Pérez can tell him that even with a virtual safety car you can drive in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Mexican had just passed the pit entrance in Baku last week when the field slowed down. Missed a chance.
But regardless of these factors, the only conclusion after two days in Montreal is that Verstappen is back in old-fashioned blood shape. In the wet and difficult qualifying he held his ground easily and made no mistakes. With great strides, the Limburger always put himself at the top of the battle order, while the competition broke down at his times.
If the reigning world champion comes out of his place on Sunday, there is a good chance that the competition will only see him leave with the northern sun. Another step on the way to that second world title.
The Canadian Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 8 p.m. Dutch time.