For most of its tenure on the Formula 1 calendar the Canadian grand prix has had a way of upping the entertainment ante. It was no different in 2024 as challenging weather conditions amplified the challenge of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The world literally is often incorrectly used. But, in Saturday qualifying George Russell and Max Verstappen, literally, could not have been any close on the timing sheets. Remarkably, both drivers set a 1:12:000 in the final Q3 session but because Russell set the time first it was the British driver who took pole position. In third Lando Norris was just 0.021 off, making it one of the closest qualifying sessions in some time. What’s more the pace in free practice of the respective cars made the race, and eventual winner, a complete mystery. The weather conditions too played its part as the drivers started the 70-lap race on intermediate tyres.
It was Russell that led cleanly from pole position with Verstappen and Norris following closely. Elsewhere, the two Haas drivers, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg opted to start on the full wet tyre. It seemed to work too as the pair scythed through the field. But it was a gamble and as the track dried out so too their ability to maintain position diminished. Still, though the promise of rain lurked ominously on the periphery the circuit was drying out and drivers were desperately trying to cool overheating tyres as the water dissipated. Both McLarens, Norris in third and Piastri in fourth, came alive the more the track dried out. By lap 20 Norris was all over the back of Verstappen and passed the Red Bull, with the aid of DRS, into the final chicane. He repeated this move one lap later Russell to take the lead of the race. A mistake from Russell on lap later saw he cut the final chicane and lose second place to Verstappen. At this point Norris was lapping significantly faster than his pursuers but it all came to nought as the Safety Car was called upon to enable to recovery of Logan Sargeant’s crashed Williams.
Norris had built a gap of over ten seconds in only a handful of laps but missed the pit entry. Verstappen and Russell took full advantage and stopped for new inters. Still, it wasn’t enough for Norris who emerged from a slippery pitlane and rejoined in third place. Just as the Safety Car had benefitted him in Miami it has now evened the score in Canada. Despite admitting some struggles over team radio, Verstappen was able to maintain the lead of the race over Russell and Norris. But the McLaren’s pace wasn’t a flash in the pan as Norris again lapped more than a second faster than those in front of him. All the while the track continued to dry and fitting slick tyres seemed the only option. However, as Verstappen and Russell took to the pitlane Norris stayed out. The decisions to stay out for a few more laps nearly worked for Norris. However, a wet pit exit and dry tyres do not mix and his slippery rejoinder to the circuit left him behind Verstappen.
On the dry tyres the Mercedes seemed to have more pace, and this enabled Russell to take second place back from Norris on lap 47. But a mistake from the Mercedes dropped Russell behind Norris once again. There was to be another Safety Car period this time to recover the smashed-up Williams of Alex Albon. A spinning Carlos Sainz collected the unlucky Albon which, eventually, brought an end to both their races. Both Russell and Hamilton decided to pit for new dry tyres. The restart however saw Verstappen and Norris scamper off while Piastri, Hamilton, and Russell squabbled over the final podium place. On lap 64 Piastri and Russell banged wheels going into the final chicane and both lost out to Hamilton. Russell recovered from this though to set off after Hamilton who he finally overtook on lap 69 to take the final spot on the podium.
As it were Hamilton finished fourth ahead of Piastri in fifth. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were sixth and seventh for Aston Martin while Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth for VCARB. Alpine scored a rare double point finish with Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon in ninth and tenth. What of Ferrari? It went from the highs of Monaco to the lows of Montreal for the Scuderia. After failing to make it into the top ten of qualifying the weekend never recovered. Charles Leclerc was forced to retire with a suspected ERS problem and Sainz too joined him in retirement towards the end of the race.
It may be the familiar site of Verstappen on the top step of the podium, but he had to work quite hard for this victory. In spite of the problems that have beset the Red Bull and despite the McLaren’s pace Verstappen still found a way to win. That is worthy of praise.
