Big points for Verstappen, Schumacher still unlucky: In Formula 1 everything stays the same.
With the success at the Canadian Grand Prix, world champion Max Verstappen has extended the almost uncanny series of his Red Bull racing team to six victories and is leading the driver’s world championship more and more clearly – because his teammate Sergio Perez retired and Ferrari star Charles Leclerc himself could only improve from 19th place on the grid to fifth place.
“unpleasant feeling”
Mick Schumacher, who had achieved by far his best qualifying result with sixth place on Saturday in the wet, put up a strong fight – until the Ferrari engine in his Haas let him down after 20 laps – at that point Schumacher was seventh.
“It’s an awkward feeling”Schumacher said shortly after his end: “But I’m taking a lot of positive things with me. Qualifying in the rain was great. I also think that today I would have gotten the first points.”
Mick Schumacher retires from the Canadian GP
Also Vettel without points
For Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) only twelfth place was possible after a failed qualifying. The only 24-year-old Verstappen relegated Leclerc’s teammates Carlos Sainz (Spain) and Lewis Hamilton (England / Mercedes) to their 150th Formula 1 race.
Hamilton’s performance was particularly noteworthy: the record world champion was still writhing with back pain in Baku a week ago, in Friday training in Montreal he complained about his slow cars, on Sunday he got his second podium after the start of the season in Bahrain. After the race he exulted: “We did a great job – I feel young again.”
Difficult weekend for Leclerc
Verstappen already has 175 points in his account. Perez, who had to capitulate early with a drive defect, is still at 129 points, Leclerc has 126 points on the credit side after nine races. After two engine failures in the last three races, the Monegasque was again not lucky: Because of engine penalties, he had to follow the field. At the start, pole setter Verstappen easily pulled away.
Old champion Fernando Alonso next to him, who had reached the front row again for the first time in almost ten years, was unable to carry out his threat to attack the Dutchman in turn one. Leclerc stayed on his first set of tires for a long time, working his way up from 19th on the grid bit by bit Forward. In the battle for fifth place against Alonso’s Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon, however, he couldn’t get past. After 42 laps out of 70, Leclerc finally changed his tires but now found himself outside the points. His toil began again.
Tsunoda triggers safety car period
The race rippled along until Yuki Tsunoda (Japan/AlphaTauri) drove into the barrier after 49 laps and triggered a safety car phase. Verstappen now had Sainz right behind him and had to defend himself to the checkered flag – but he did it with flying colours.
“The safety car at the end didn’t help. It was really exciting until the end.”summed up Verstappen relieved at the end.