The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada set the stage for intense battles, unpredictable weather, and remarkable performances. So, who aced the race and who needs a second chance to redeem themselves? Join us as we dive into the winners and losers of this action-packed event.
Top of the class:
Alexander Albon – Qualifying: 10th (started 9th) | Race: 7th
The man of the moment at the Canadian Grand Prix! With promising upgrades to his car, Albon showed us what he’s made of. But let’s be honest, a sprinkle of good fortune from the weather gods didn’t hurt either.
Qualifying was a wet and wild affair, and Albon thrived in the challenging conditions. Taking a gutsy gamble with slick tires in Q2, he proved that sometimes you have to take risks to achieve greatness. After getting through to Q3 in such a spectacular way, expectations were maybe set a little too high, as p10 in the end almost felt a little disappointing.
Sunday was Albon’s time to shine, and he certainly managed to make it stick. Putting his head down and going full throttle, he showcased his racecraft. Despite being trailed by the relentless DRS train for most of the race, Alexander stayed composed and fought his way to the finish line.
His secret weapon? A long final stint and an impressive straightline speed. As he crossed the chequered flag, the Williams driver not only secured a fantastic seventh-place finish but also propelled the team ahead of AlphaTauri in the constructor’s championship.
It’s safe to say that Albon was the undisputed driver of the day. His remarkable performance was not only a personal triumph but also a monumental leap forward for the team. With just a single point separating them from Haas, Williams is now on the verge of something great.
Fernando Alonso – Qualifying: 3rd (started 2nd) | Race: 2nd
Starting from second on the grid, Alonso was initially overtaken by Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard wasn’t going to let that happen, however, as he swiftly reclaimed his position and set his sights on the top spot.
Throughout the race, he had to manage a technical issue with his AMR23, so he never got the chance to actually close in on Verstappen, but he and his team remained optimistic about their potential to challenge the Dutchman in future races. While we need to see it to believe it, the prospect of Alonso going head-to-head with Verstappen is tantalizing. Fans have started to voice their weariness of Verstappen’s seemingly unstoppable winning streak. But let’s give credit where it’s due —Verstappen’s success is not just about the car, as his teammate Perez struggles to keep up, so the current World Champ simply remains the man to beat.
Valtteri Bottas – Qualifying: 15th (started 14th) | Race: 10th
Bottas showed promise throughout the weekend, topping the timesheets in the heavily shortened FP1. Whilst starting 14th, he fought his way into the top 10, even briefly managing to move up into 9th place before it was snatched by Lance Stroll on the final lap.
It was quite the achievement for Valtteri, as it marked his first top-10 finish since the season opener. Bottas will undoubtedly be looking to build on this result and keep momentum going.
Then for a honourable mention…
The honourable mention of the day goes to Nico Hulkenberg for his exceptional performance during qualifying. He managed to secure the second spot on the grid (before being served a 3-place grid penalty for a red flag procedure infringement), and that in a Haas! It was an incredible feat!
It was anticipated that holding onto that position during the race would be a challenge. The Haas car’s notorious tyr-e-chewing tendencies forced Hulkenberg into an early pit stop, causing him to lose valuable time while most other drivers made their stops under the subsequent safety car period. Nevertheless, Hulkenberg’s display during qualifying was nothing short of remarkable! We can only hope to see more of it in races to come.
Struggle Bus:
Logan Sargeant – Qualifying: 19th (Started 18th) | Race: DNF
It was a tough weekend at the office for the American driver. Racing on a track he had never tackled before, with limited track time due to the pesky CCTV issues on Friday, he faced an uphill battle right from the start. And to make matters worse (for him), the qualifying session was wet, and Logan only has limited experience driving in such conditions in F1.
Sunday arrived, and the misfortune persisted as an unfortunate oil leak prematurely ended his race, resulting in a disappointing DNF. As a result, Logan finds himself firmly rooted at the bottom of the drivers’ championship, yet to score a single point. It’s far from an ideal situation, especially with whispers circulating that Williams might already be scouting for a potential replacement.
But let’s not forget that Logan is a rookie, and expectations should be tempered accordingly. He made the most of what he had and didn’t let himself down; it was the car which caused the early end to the weekend. So, chin up, Logan! There are plenty of race weekends ahead, and each one offers a fresh opportunity to shine.
George Russell – Qualifying: 5th (started 4th) | Race: DNF
While George initially showed promise with an impressive qualifying performance, things quickly took a turn for the worse on Sunday.
In his pursuit of Alonso, Russell made a rather out-of-character error, colliding with the wall and causing (what looked like irreparable) damage to his Mercedes. He then only just managed to limp back to the pits, where the team managed to get him back on track, setting the stage for a potential recovery race.
It seemed like a point or two could be within reach for George, but unfortunately, his hopes were dashed by an issue with the brakes which forced him to retire. With Hamilton on the podium, this one was probably extra sour, but perhaps that’s the motivation he needs to get on top next time around.
Then for a Dishonourable mention…
While Sergio Perez managed to secure a sixth-place finish and even set the fastest lap on Sunday, his performance falls short when compared to the stellar achievements of his teammate. It begs the question: why can’t Perez make the car work for him like Verstappen does? If Perez wants a shot at keeping his championship dream alive for 2023, he shall need to pick himself up rather quickly, as Verstappen is quickly disappearing on the horizon.
Next up: The picturesque Styrian Mountains provide a stunning backdrop for the next race on the calendar, as on the 2nd of July lights will be going out on the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix. Will Max Verstappen continue his winning streak? Or will Fernando Alonso make due on his promise and be victorious.
