Max Verstappen of Red Bull clinched victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, the ninth race of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship, in a race filled with unpredictable weather and drama.
From the start, the race was action-packed with George Russell, the polesitter, taking the lead in wet conditions. Verstappen followed closely behind, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in their McLarens hot on their heels. Daniel Ricciardo, who had qualified well, found himself slipping back after being overtaken by Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Adding to his woes, Ricciardo received a 5-second penalty for a false start.
Kevin Magnussen made a bold move by starting on full wets, which saw him move up from 14th to 8th on the first lap. He continued his charge, passing several cars to reach fifth place before the track dried up, favoring those on intermediate tires. An ill-timed pit stop saw Magnussen drop back down the order as his team wasn’t ready with the intermediates, costing him precious seconds.
As the track dried, Verstappen pressured Russell, but a mistake from the Red Bull driver allowed Norris to close in. Norris eventually passed both Verstappen and Russell to take the lead. However, a safety car was deployed after Logan Sargeant spun his Williams, causing a brief reshuffle in the order.
The race resumed with Verstappen in the lead, followed by Russell, Norris, and Piastri. Yuki Tsunoda made an impressive jump to seventh, capitalizing on the chaotic conditions. The rain returned, and Verstappen extended his lead, but not before narrowly avoiding a groundhog on the track.
As the race progressed, the drying track saw a flurry of pit stops for slick tires. Verstappen, Russell, and Norris all pitted, with Verstappen maintaining his lead but Norris struggling with cold tires. A mistake from Norris allowed Russell to briefly regain second place. However, the Mercedes driver made an error, handing the position back to Norris.
The last part of the race was no less dramatic. Carlos Sainz spun his Ferrari and was collected by Alex Albon’s Williams, bringing out another safety car. Upon the restart, Verstappen surged ahead once more, with Norris, Russell, and Hamilton in pursuit. Hamilton and Russell battled with Piastri for positions, ultimately securing third and fourth respectively.
In the end, Verstappen crossed the finish line 3.8 seconds ahead of Norris. Russell took third after overtaking Hamilton in the final laps. Piastri finished fifth, followed by Alonso, and Stroll. Ricciardo, Gasly, and Ocon rounded out the top ten after a fierce scrap in the closing stages. Ferrari had a disappointing race, with both Sainz and Charles Leclerc retiring due to incidents and technical issues.
Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest lap in the race, followed closely by his teammate George Russell. Norris, despite his ups and downs, managed to set the third fastest lap. Verstappen’s consistent pace ensured his victory in yet another thrilling race at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The Canadian Grand Prix showcased the unpredictability and excitement of Formula 1, with Verstappen emerging victorious in a race that had fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Source: Motorsport
