Verstappen needs to stay out of trouble in Canada
FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - June 1, 2025 Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda in action during the race REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo
Verstappen needs to stay out of trouble in Canada
MONTREAL - Max Verstappen will have to keep out of trouble as he chases an unprecedented fourth Canadian Grand Prix win in a row this weekend, with only a penalty point between the Formula One champion and a race ban.
The Red Bull driver has won for the last three years in Montreal, the last time after starting alongside Mercedes' pole-sitter George Russell -- the same rival he clashed with two weekends ago -- in a qualifying draw.
How Verstappen will respond is an open question but others are sure to want to take whatever advantage they can of the situation at a track famed also for changeable weather.
"He mustn't do anything wrong over the next two race weekends, and of course he will be told not to do anything rash," Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko wrote in a column for post-Spain.
"It would be a catastrophe if he couldn't start in Austria (the race after Canada)."
While McLaren, with Oscar Piastri leading Lando Norris by 10 points after nine of 24 races, will be the team to beat again, Mercedes will fancy their chances in the season's second race in North America.
"It's a track where we've tended to find our feet relatively well in the past," said Mercedes technical director James Allison. "So I'm looking forward to it.
"We've got one or two new bits to take with us and we'll see how we get on."
Mercedes have not won since Las Vegas last November, with Russell's second place in Bahrain in April the best they have managed so far.
McLaren have won seven of nine but last triumphed in Canada with Lewis Hamilton in 2012, although historically they have won more times (13) than any team there. The battle between Piastri and Norris could be about to heat up.
Ferrari, now up to second in the constructors' standings, last won with Sebastian Vettel in 2018 at a track named after their late local great Gilles Villeneuve.
"McLaren is still ahead, but we're closing the gap step-by-step," said team boss Fred Vasseur.
The circuit holds fond memories for Ferrari's seven-times world champion Hamilton, who took his first career F1 victory there in 2007 and shares with Michael Schumacher the record of seven wins in Canada.
Hamilton was down after Spain, where he finished only sixth and was overtaken by Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, and needs a morale booster.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll is the only Canadian driver but missed the race in Spain due to hand and wrist pain. The team have yet to confirm his fitness but expect him to be back for the home crowd.
U.S.-owned Haas will be celebrating their 200th start with a retro grey livery similar to the one they started out with in 2016.
"From nothing to 200 races is significant because not many new teams survive more than two seasons, and they disappear without scoring a single point," said principal Ayao Komatsu.
"Our aim is high, we want to be at the front of the midfield, and there's so much going on at this team right now. For our 200th race, I really hope we can celebrate with points." REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Jos is the boss not Max, says George Russell of Verstappen clash
Mercedes' George Russell (right) made light on June 12 of his collision in Spain two weeks ago with Red Bull's Max Verstappen. PHOTO: REUTERS Jos is the boss not Max, says George Russell of Verstappen clash MONTREAL, Canada - George Russell said Max Verstappen tried to show who was the boss when they collided in Spain two weeks ago, but the scare tactics backfired. The Mercedes Formula One driver told British reporters ahead of the 10th round of the season in Montreal that he did not think Red Bull's four-times world champion had tried to deliberately ram him. 'He was just trying to get his elbows out and show who's boss. He got it wrong. Jos is the boss,' said the Briton, jokingly referring to Verstappen's father who enjoyed that nickname while racing. Verstappen collected three penalty points and was also demoted from fifth to 10th in the race. He now stands one point from a mandatory race ban. The incident remained a talking point at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where the pair lined up together on the front row in 2024 and could be going wheel-to-wheel again on June 15. Verstappen recognised after Spain that the move was 'not right and shouldn't have happened' but Russell, who finished fourth in Spain, said he was not looking for an apology. 'I don't think he needs to apologise to me for my side,' he said. 'His actions cost him and they benefited me. So I should be almost thanking him. 'But it's good to see that he took accountability, which I was a bit surprised (about).' 'I think he wanted to just sort of scare me a bit but he just misjudged it. It wasn't going to scare me, it was just all a bit surprising.' Russell recognised he might also be able to turn the situation to his advantage if Verstappen had to be mindful of suspension. 'This weekend if I see him on track, I'm racing the same. I want to win. I'm not going to give him any more space or anything,' he said. Russell said he had spoken briefly with his Dutch rival after they 'bumped into each other' at the airport when the Briton was flying to Paris to attend the French Open tennis final. 'He was there with his newborn (daughter) and we were at the security machine,' he said. 'We just had a quick chat and then he was busy folding the pram down to put it through the machine.' Russell spoke in Spain of his concern about the effect on young racers of Verstappen's driving, prompting the Dutchman to tell reporters he would 'bring some tissues' next time. 'That was quite funny, to be fair,' said the Briton, grinning. 'I did have a giggle there.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Hamilton backs Vasseur, Briton in for the long haul at Ferrari
MONTREAL - Lewis Hamilton launched a passionate defence of Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur on Thursday and said that the Frenchman was key to his move to Maranello and his hopes for future Formula One success. Ferrari are second overall but have yet to win in nine races so far this season and there has been media speculation in Italy that Vasseur could be replaced, a suggestion the team has dismissed. "It's definitely not nice to hear that there are stories like that out there," seven-times world champion Hamilton said ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. "Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, which I'm forever grateful for. And we're in this together. "Things aren't perfect but for me, I'm here to work with the team but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top." Hamilton said he did not think any change was on the cards, the speculation was "nonsense" and he would be against it anyway because it took time to embed new people and to adjust. "I'm here to win with Fred and he has my full support," he added. The Briton said he would also be racing for Ferrari for "several years", addressing separate speculation that he might be considering retirement. "I'm here for the long haul," he added. "There is no question where my head's at and what I'm working towards achieving for this team. So there's zero doubts." Ferrari have not won a championship since the 2008 constructors' title and Hamilton is seeking a record eighth after missing out controversially to Max Verstappen in the final race of 2021. He joined from Mercedes in January and has yet to stand on the podium in the red overalls, although he did win a sprint race in Shanghai in March -- a highlight of Ferrari's season so far. In Spain two weeks ago the 40-year-old finished only sixth and was overtaken by Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, who was a surprise fifth. Hamilton said after that race that his Ferrari was the worst it had ever been but it emerged afterwards both he and teammate Charles Leclerc's cars had undisclosed issues that were affecting handling. "It was a bit of a relief to hear that," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Hamilton backs Vasseur, Briton in for the long haul at Ferrari
MONTREAL :Lewis Hamilton launched a passionate defence of Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur on Thursday and said that the Frenchman was key to his move to Maranello and his hopes for future Formula One success. Ferrari are second overall but have yet to win in nine races so far this season and there has been media speculation in Italy that Vasseur could be replaced, a suggestion the team has dismissed. "It's definitely not nice to hear that there are stories like that out there," seven-times world champion Hamilton said ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. "Firstly, I love working with Fred. Fred's the main reason I'm in this team and I got the opportunity to be here, which I'm forever grateful for. And we're in this together. "Things aren't perfect but for me, I'm here to work with the team but also with Fred. I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top." Hamilton said he did not think any change was on the cards, the speculation was "nonsense" and he would be against it anyway because it took time to embed new people and to adjust. "I'm here to win with Fred and he has my full support," he added. The Briton said he would also be racing for Ferrari for "several years", addressing separate speculation that he might be considering retirement. "I'm here for the long haul," he added. "There is no question where my head's at and what I'm working towards achieving for this team. So there's zero doubts." Ferrari have not won a championship since the 2008 constructors' title and Hamilton is seeking a record eighth after missing out controversially to Max Verstappen in the final race of 2021. He joined from Mercedes in January and has yet to stand on the podium in the red overalls, although he did win a sprint race in Shanghai in March - a highlight of Ferrari's season so far. In Spain two weeks ago the 40-year-old finished only sixth and was overtaken by Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, who was a surprise fifth. Hamilton said after that race that his Ferrari was the worst it had ever been but it emerged afterwards both he and teammate Charles Leclerc's cars had undisclosed issues that were affecting handling. "It was a bit of a relief to hear that," he said.
