Verstappen wins Canadian GP and ends World Cup after exciting duel with Sainz

Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix for the first time in his career in Montreal on Sunday. The Dutch faced a lot of resistance from Carlos Sainz, but kept the Ferrari driver behind and increased their lead in the World Cup standings.

A late safety car brought Sainz closer to Verstappen, after which the Limburger had to drive with slightly older tires until the end. The reigning world champion of Red Bull Racing has succeeded.

Verstappen increased the Monegask World Cup lead to 49 points as Charles Leclerc failed to finish fifth from the back. Sergio Pérez, the number two in the standings, left the game. The Mexican is now 46 points behind Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton finished third in Canada ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell. He took second place on the podium of the season for the seven-time world champion. Fernando Alonso, who started second, crossed the finish line seventh. After the race, the Spaniard was given a five-second penalty for drifting from his line in a friction with Valtteri Bottas, which left him in ninth place.

Canada’s top ten

  • 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  • 2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
  • 3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 4. George Russell (Mercedes)
  • 5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
  • 6. Esteban Ocon (Alps)
  • 7. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
  • 8. Guanyu Zhou (Alpha Romeo)
  • 9. Fernando Alonso (Alps)
  • 10. The Lance Walk (Aston Martin)

Alonso doesn’t care about Verstappen

Verstappen was not hindered at the start by Alonso, who started the race with him in second. Limburger was in much better shape and was able to extend his lead immediately. Sainz started third on lap three, passed his compatriot and went after Verstappen.

The race deteriorated when Pérez retired on lap eight. A virtual safety car was set up to tow the Mexican’s stalled car. Verstappen went straight into the pits and took advantage of this advantage, Sainz pushed on and took the lead.

Verstappen was in a two-stop strategy with sixty laps to go and had to reappear behind Sainz, past Alonso. The plan then was to overtake the Ferrari driver on the track or wait for the Spaniard to make a pit stop.

Schumacher introduces a second virtual security tool

Sainz was lucky. Just when it should have stopped, Mick Schumacher stopped his car. It was a blow to the German as he appeared on his way to his first World Cup points. This gave Ferrari the chance to take Sainz during another virtual safety car.

He also had to pass Alonso first. Then Sainz was nine seconds behind Verstappen on the newer 11-lap tyres.

Slowly but surely, as Ferrari concluded the race, Verstappen started to complain more and more about the loss of his grip. until lap 44. Six seconds after the end, Red Bull brought in the Dutchman. Verstappen was just behind Hamilton as he entered the pits, but the reigning world champion quickly knocked out his former rival. Sainz was hunting. The difference was ten seconds.

Crash Tsunoda brings a new twist

This catch-up race was interrupted by Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver crashed out of the pits, after which the safety car came onto the track. Sainz was given a second timeout but had to go back to hard tires as he ran out of mids. Verstappen retook the lead and approached the Spanish World Cup leader.

From the moment Verstappen got back on the field, Sainz went on the attack, but never enough to really bother the leader. The Ferrari driver came close on a few occasions, but Verstappen held on to take his 26th win in his 150th race.

The next Grand Prix is ​​in Great Britain in two weeks.

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Source: NU

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