Verstappen Defends Second Place in Canadian Grand Prix Amid Aggressive Strategy
Montreal, Canada – Max Verstappen executed a defensive driving performance to secure second place in a challenging Canadian Grand Prix, thwarting a potential Mercedes one-two finish.
George Russell, starting from pole, led the early laps but faced significant pressure from Verstappen. However, the Dutch driver dropped back and needed to fend off challenges from Kimi Antonelli during his pit stops. Remarkably, Verstappen retained his position after a crucial second pit stop, ultimately finishing just behind Russell.
"It was quite a good race despite struggling on the tires," Verstappen stated. "We were on an aggressive strategy, and in the final stint, we managed to improve our pace."
He described the race as a combination of "attacking with strategy and defending against cars behind." He noted that tire degradation impacted his performance, prompting a defensive approach throughout. "Kimi was frequently on the verge of overtaking. Our pit stops turned out to be beneficial," he added.
Verstappen expressed some concern about the car’s competitiveness, especially toward the end of the race, remarking, "I was worried if I was going to finish on pace." He acknowledged the need for improvements as Red Bull moves forward, particularly to consistently outperform strong competitors like McLaren, who finished fourth with Oscar Piastri while Lando Norris retired.
"We need more performance to contend with them across the remaining races," Verstappen concluded. His results at the Canadian Grand Prix allowed him to gain ground in the championship standings, a small yet significant victory amid ongoing challenges for the Red Bull team.
