Online Reporter
MAX VERSTAPPEN will be seeking a record fourth consecutive Canadian Grand Prix triumph this weekend and a trouble-free race that helps him banish the threat of a suspension following his “rash” moment in Spain.
The four-time world champion goes into Sunday’s race knowing that, if he collects one more penalty point on his racing license, he will automatically miss the Austrian Grand Prix later this month.
That, according to his great mentor, Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko, “would be a catastrophe”.
“He mustn’t do anything wrong over the next two weekends and, of course, he will be told not to do anything rash,” the Austrian told speedweek.com.
The 27-year-old, who lies third in the drivers’ championship with 137 points, behind leader Oscar Piastri on 186 and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris on 176, was penalised at the Spanish Grand Prix for ramming into George Russell’s Mercedes. “He admitted it was a deliberate action that “should not have happened” following the race, won with supreme self-control by Piastri, but now must survive two Grands Prix without incident before the points total on his license is reduced.
“Barcelona was disappointing for us,” admitted Verstappen. “Although we gave it everything, it was not the way we would have liked the race to turn out.
“We are looking forward to Canada — the track is unique, has some old school kerbs and plenty of opportunities for overtaking.” For Verstappen, the return to a high-speed circuit where brakes are tested to the limit may be welcome as he and Red Bull seek to slow runaway leaders McLaren in the title race.
Mercedes and Ferrari will also hope for encouragement at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where a big crowd is likely to give home hope Lance Stroll support as he returns after a medical procedure to reduce wrist and hand pain.
Mercedes technical boss James Allison said: “It’s a track where we’ve tended to go well in the past and I’m looking forward to it. We have a few new bits to take and we’ll see how we get on.”
The Silver Arrows are win-less since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year while McLaren, remarkably given their cur-rent supremacy, have not won in Canada since 2012 when seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton claimed one of his seven wins at the venue, a record that he shares with Michael Schumacher. — AFP Sport/Sports Reporter.
