Verstappen claims victory at Canadian GP; Alonso, Hamilton secure podium
Max Verstappen hands Red Bull its 100th Formula 1 victory, leading Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. A tactical one-stop strategy lands Ferrari fourth and fifth places, while Red Bull's Sergio Perez snatches the fastest lap.
Max Verstappen once again asserted his championship ambitions with a faultless drive at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver won by nearly ten seconds, controlling the race from start to finish.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton completed the podium, securing second and third place, respectively.
Hamilton initially jumped ahead of Alonso but was eventually overtaken after a tenacious push from the Spanish veteran.
Midfield battle and early Safety Car
The top 11 starters all began the race on medium tyres. After a clean start, George Russell and Esteban Ocon held their fourth and fifth places.
A brief Virtual Safety Car period was triggered on lap eight when Logan Sargeant's car faced issues, but the race resumed without significant changes to the order.
Following an error by Russell on lap 12 that led to a Safety Car deployment, the leading trio pitted for hard tyres.
A potential pit release issue between Hamilton and Alonso was investigated but ultimately dismissed by the stewards.
Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, and Sergio Perez strategically stayed out to gain places.
Alonso vs Hamilton
Post-restart, Alonso made a bold move on Hamilton to secure second place. In the subsequent laps, the leading trio made their second pit stops with different tyre choices.
Verstappen and Hamilton opted for mediums, while Alonso selected hards.
Russell's unfortunate retirement due to a brake problem, and an ongoing battle between Hamilton and Alonso marked the race's final laps.
The standout performance was Verstappen's composed drive as he gradually increased his lead.
The Dutchman secured his sixth win of the season, further extending his lead in the championship.
The Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz finished fourth and fifth, followed by Perez in sixth.
Alexander Albon had a notable drive to seventh, his best result for Williams. Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, and Valtteri Bottas rounded off the top ten.
Lando Norris, after a penalty, was demoted out of the points.
Driver Standings
Team Standings
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