Chaos in Canada: The 6 Winners and 5 Losers from the Montreal Grand Prix
The Canadian Grand Prix delivered on its promise of high-octane drama and breathtaking moments. As the pieces of the race puzzle fell into place, some drivers capitalized on the chaos to rise to the occasion, while others were left licking their wounds. Here’s a rundown of who emerged victorious and who found themselves on the losing end of this exhilarating race weekend.
Winner: Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen solidified his reputation as a master of comebacks this weekend. Despite a rocky start with an electrical issue that limited his track time on Friday, Verstappen fought his way through the challenges, including the bumpy Montreal circuit. Matching George Russell in qualifying and benefiting from a timely Safety Car intervention, he took the win. This marks Verstappen's 60th career victory and his third consecutive win in Canada, propelling him to a commanding 56-point lead in the drivers’ standings.
Loser: Sergio Perez
It was a weekend to forget for Sergio Perez. After a dismal qualifying session saw him exit in Q1 for the second consecutive race, his troubles compounded during the race. An early collision with Pierre Gasly damaged his car, and a subsequent spin forced him to retire. To make matters worse, Perez received a three-place grid penalty for the next race in Spain for driving back to the pits with significant damage.
Winner: Lando Norris
Lando Norris turned a bittersweet weekend into a remarkable finish. Securing the third spot in qualifications, the McLaren driver showed exceptional pace on the intermediate tyres, leading the race for a while before a Safety Car neutralized his gap. He clawed back to finish second, marking the fourth time in five races he has shared the top two spots with Verstappen.
Loser: Yuki Tsunoda
Yuki Tsunoda's run of consistent points finishes came to an abrupt halt in Canada. Despite making it to Q3, a rare mistake saw him spin and drop out of points contention. Announced to continue with Red Bull for 2025, Tsunoda will be eager to turn the tide in the upcoming races.
Winner: George Russell
George Russell exemplified resilience, finishing third in Canada despite rigorous competition. His performance marked Mercedes’ first podium this season, a significant milestone amidst strong internal competition with teammate Lewis Hamilton. Russell's stellar display is a sign of Mercedes' evolving strength.
Losers: Williams
Williams had a promising start to the weekend but failed to deliver on race day. Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant showed potential in qualifying but encountered disasters on race day. Sargeant crashed out, and Albon was taken out by Carlos Sainz’s spinning Ferrari, leaving Williams without points.
Winners: Aston Martin
Aston Martin had a weekend to celebrate, outperforming Ferrari with both cars making it to Q3. Fernando Alonso finished sixth, ending his two-race pointless streak, while Lance Stroll secured a seventh-place finish, scoring points at his home race for the fifth time.
Losers: Ferrari
Ferrari faltered significantly in Canada. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggled with tyre issues during qualifying and encountered further problems during the race. Leclerc retired due to a power unit issue, and Sainz’s spin led to a collision with Albon, resulting in a double DNF for Ferrari.
Winners: Alpine
Despite internal team tensions, Alpine had a successful race, with both cars finishing in the points for the first time this season. Pierre Gasly earned the team's best result of the year with a ninth-place finish while Esteban Ocon secured the final point by recovering eight places from his starting position.
Losers: Haas
Haas faced a mix of progress and disappointment. Kevin Magnussen made significant early gains but was set back by a slow pit stop. Nico Hulkenberg, while performing admirably early on, also dropped out of the points after an early pit stop for intermediate tyres.
Winner: Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo answered his critics with a strong performance, securing his best qualifying of the year and finishing eighth despite a five-second penalty for a jump start. The Australian's performance in Canada shows he's still a force to be reckoned with in Formula 1.