After nearly two weeks of rest, Max Verstappen is ready for the next Grand Prix in Canada. The Dutchman was pleased with the brief respite following the disappointing race in Barcelona, and is now looking forward to the ‘greater challenge’ at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda is also excited for the Grand Prix weekend, due to a personal milestone. It will be the Japanese driver’s hundredth race in Formula 1.
Max Verstappen had a clear view of a third-place finish for a long time during the last GP in Spain. However, a restart and subsequent battles with Charles Leclerc and George Russell spoiled his chances. The fight for fourth place with the Briton ended particularly badly for Verstappen, who had to settle for tenth place partly due to a time penalty. Unsurprisingly, the four-time world champion labels the race in Barcelona as ‘disappointing’.
“Although we gave it our all, it was not the way we wanted the race to go,” Verstappen reflects one last time in his preview of Canada. Fortunately, the driver had some time off from his Formula 1 duties after the Spanish race. “We had a bit of rest after the triple header.”
Will History Repeat Itself?
Refreshed and recharged, Verstappen is now looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix. “The circuit there is quite unique, with some old kerbs and plenty of overtaking opportunities. The car setup will be crucial, and it’s always a bigger challenge with the large braking zones,” he said.
Last year, Verstappen triumphed at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, finishing nearly four seconds ahead of his closest rival, Lando Norris. The Dutchman managed to stay on top amidst the chaos of the rainy conditions. “Last year’s race was exciting, and we were able to take the victory home. Hopefully, we can perform positively again this week. The weather conditions look a bit better than last year, so we’ll see what happens,” he added.
Tsunoda’s Hundredth Race
The upcoming race weekend in Montreal is extra special for Yuki Tsunoda: the Japanese driver is set to start his hundredth Grand Prix. “I would like to mark my hundredth race with a result that fits the occasion,” Tsunoda anticipates. The driver has certainly prepared well for the Canadian race. “After the Spanish Grand Prix, I had two full test days in Barcelona and spent time on the simulator in Milton Keynes. I’ve now clocked up many more miles in a Red Bull Racing car,” he said.
