Max Verstappen denies Mercedes to claim F1 win in Canada
- Damian Hall
- Jun 10, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 20, 2024
10th June 2024
Chaos and drama as Great Briton Hamilton secures fastest lap
The Canadian Grand Prix delivered an unforgettable spectacle, as Max Verstappen claimed his 60th victory in Formula one with a 3.879-second lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris, reports Damian Hall from Montreal.
Mercedes’ George Russell secured third place ahead of teammate, Sir Lewis Hamilton, who clocked the fastest lap of the race.
The race was filled with dramatic moments and unexpected turns. There were three different leaders from three different teams and five retirements, including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, whose car suffered from engine issues and an unfortunate tire gamble that ultimately led to his retirement on lap 43.
Winner Verstappen said: “It was a pretty crazy race, a lot of things were happening. We really had to be on top of our calls and as a team we did really well today.”
Norris, who finished second, described the race as “chaos” and “eventful”. He added: “These conditions are very stressful inside the car but very enjoyable at the same time.”
Russell, who had a stellar weekend with his first pole and podium of the year, said: “We’ll take all the positives from this weekend, first podium, first pole for the year, and excited to be moving forward.”
Despite what fans would consider a good comeback, Hamilton said it “wasn’t a positive race for me”. He added: “It felt like one of the worst drives that I’ve had. Bits of good speed at some points but ultimately, a really poor weekend for myself.”
The race saw several key moments that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
On lap 44, Hamilton was the first of the front runners to switch to slick tyres; a strategic move that almost paid off. In the closing stages of the race, on lap 64, Russell attempted to overtake McLaren’s Oscar Piastri but ran off the track, allowing Hamilton to capitalise and take fourth place. Hamilton then hunted down Piastri, making a crucial pass on lap 65 to secure third position.
However, the battle for third was far from over. On lap 68, Russell overtook Hamilton with just two laps to go, reclaiming third place and leaving Hamilton to finish fourth but with the consolation of the fastest lap, a time of 1:14.856 recorded on the final lap.
Williams’ Alex Albon made an impressive double overtake, passing RB F1 Team’s Daniel Ricciardo and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in an amazing display of talent, bravery, and trust in his more than capable rivals. Unfortunately, Albon’s race ended prematurely on lap 54 after Carlos Sainz lost control of his Ferrari, resulting in a collision with Albon and bringing out the safety car, adding yet another twist to the race.
The Haas team had a rollercoaster race, with Kevin Magnussen climbing from 14th to 4th on extreme wet tires in the early laps. However, a slow pit stop on lap 8 undid much of his hard work, dropping him back to 14th. Teammate Nico Hulkenberg also made gains on similar tires but eventually fell back and pitted as the track dried out.
As the F1 circus moves to Spain for the next race, fans of the sport will be eager to see if Hamilton can utilise the new pace Mercedes has potentially unlocked.
The unpredictable weather and the strategic nuances of the Canadian Grand Prix have set the bar high for the level of racing fans expect Formula One to deliver.
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