Global Courant
Max Verstappen tied the late Ayrton Senna for career victories and Red Bull won its 100th Formula 1 race as the Dutchman extended his season-long Sunday dominance at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Verstappen won for the sixth time this season – fourth in a row – and Red Bull continued a perfect 8 for 8 on the year. The win for the two-time reigning world champion was the 41st of his career, putting the 25-year-old level with Senna for fifth overall.
“I hate comparing different generations,” Verstappen said dismissively. “For my part, I can only say that when I was a little kid driving cars and karting, I dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 driver. I never thought I would win 41.
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Max Verstappen of the Netherlands of Red Bull Racing waves to the crowd after winning the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday 18 July 2023 in Montreal. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press via AP)
“And of course I’m proud of that. But of course I hope it doesn’t stop here. I hope we can keep winning races.”
Lewis Hamilton holds the all-time record with 103 wins, but the seven-time champion said in Canada he expected Verstappen to top the bar eventually. Verstappen was quick to note that while Red Bull celebrated its 100th win, it was only responsible for 41 wins.
“We may therefore be talking about a new contract,” Verstappen said with a laugh.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner thanked over the radio when Verstappen crossed the finish line.
“A century for the team,” Horner told Verstappen. “Fantastic. And thanks for getting that race win.”
Hamilton and the rest of the field had hoped to give Verstappen a challenge at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where rain shook up the competition all weekend and created optimism that Red Bull would be legitimately challenged.
Fernando Alonso thought he had a chance, and it was improved when Nico Hulkenberg got a qualifying penalty that brought Alonso to the front row alongside Verstappen for the start.
But Hamilton, who started on the second row of the grid alongside Mercedes teammate George Russell, got a surprise jump on Alonso to take second on the start. Verstappen still easily pulled away from both, and on the first dry day of the weekend in Montreal, he rolled to another easy win.
The one bright spot for anyone chasing Verstappen was that his margin of victory over Alonso was just 9.5 seconds.
Only?
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Red Bull Racing’s winner Max Verstappen, of the Netherlands, is showered with champagne by third-place Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of the United Kingdom, during victory ceremonies following the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix car race, Sunday, July 18, 2023, in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Yes. It was the closest race of the season because Verstappen has been so dominant that he usually wins by more than 20 seconds per race. Alonso himself commented after qualifying on Saturday that the only way to even put pressure on Verstappen was to be “two seconds behind them. Not 20 seconds behind them.”
“Probably not our best race, but still winning nine seconds I think shows we have a great car,” said Verstappen of the profit margin.
It wasn’t an overwhelming Red Bull route; Sergio Perez, who had hoped to “reset” his season in Canada, was a distant sixth. Perez has been so disappointing lately that Alonso replied a simple “yes” when asked if he can pass Perez in the championship.
Perez is second in the standings just nine points ahead of Alonso. Verstappen has a lead of 69 points over Red Bull teammate Perez.
Hamilton finished third for his second consecutive podium, followed by Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Alex Albon of Williams was seventh followed by Esteban Ocon of Alpine.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who received a five-second penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct earlier in the race, put up a frantic last-lap battle that thrilled fans who had witnessed an otherwise predictable Verstappen parade. Norris complained on his radio that the Alpine’s rear wing was flapping and posing a danger to him as a car following.
Dutch Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing celebrates his victory in the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday, July 18, 2023 in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Norris chased Ocon for the final lap and the two had a wheel-to-wheel battle at the final chicane, where Norris had to jump on the play of chicken. Norris dropped from ninth to thirteenth.
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Lance Stroll was ninth for Aston Martin, a disappointment for the lone Canadian in the field. His father owns Aston Martin and Lawrence Stroll expected both of his cars to make the podium.
