Verstappen, who started the race on the front row next to the pole winner of Mercedes, George Russellstayed out of trouble on a day of changing conditions, snatching the lead from Lando Norris of McLaren in the last pit stops.
The Dutchman then held on to claim his sixth victory in nine races this season and the 60th of his Formula 1 career.
It was another brilliant day for the 26-year-old, who faced a track changing from wet to dry, pit stop battles and the challenge of McLaren and Mercedes while struggling with the suspension of his Red Bull.
After what Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Alex Albon of Williams touched each other, bringing out the safety car for the second time, Verstappen He pulled away on the race restart and finished 3.879 seconds ahead of Norris, while Russell won a late lap duel with teammate Lewis Hamilton to complete the podium.
“It wasn’t easy, but we did it,” Verstappen said over the team radio.
The victory will certainly provide a boost of confidence in Red Bullwhich has recently seen challenges to the team’s once unquestionable dominance.
In the three races prior to Canada, Red Bull had achieved a victory as the battle for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles intensified.
But Red Bull returns to Europe with Verstappen commanding the positions and a 56-point lead over Charles Leclerc of Ferrari at the top of the Drivers’ classification, in addition to 49 points ahead of Ferrari for the Constructors’ crown.
Max Verstappen chose his rival
Max Verstappen said on Thursday that Lando Norris is a growing threat in his bid to win a new title.after the streak of the pilot of McLaren of one victory and two second places in the last three races.
Verstappen He has won five of seven races so far this season, with a record streak of seven pole positions, but the three-time world champion acknowledged before Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix that Norris was closing the gap.
When asked about Norris’ recent comments that he does not rule out becoming a title contender, Verstappen He said that “everyone should think like that.”
“After their last races, they (McLaren) are really in the fight”, the Dutchman told reporters. “Of course they are quite a few points behind at the moment, but if they suddenly start winning, that can change quite quickly.”
McLaren He has made impressive progress since Austria in July last year, with Norris taking six second places in the remainder of the season, and has continued to make stellar progress.
Norris He took his first F1 victory in Miami this month, after finishing second in Shanghai. He was also second at the Italian Imola circuit last weekend and third in Australia in March.
The Briton has been on the podium in four of the last five races and has not finished lower than eighth place.
With Carlos Sainz, of Ferrari, is one of only two drivers to have won since 2022, apart from Verstappen and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
Lando Norris @F1.jpeg
Threat. The British Lando Norris was chosen by the Dutch Max Verstappen as his greatest threat to snatch the championship title in Formula 1.
Norris, fourth overall, still 60 points behind Verstappen with 17 races left. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc is currently the champion’s closest rival, 48 points behind.
Verstappen won 19 of 22 races last year in the most dominant season on record, but Ferrari and McLaren have won one race each this season.
Source: Ambito
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