Canadian F1 GP: Verstappen hat-trick as Piastri and Ricciardo snare crucial points in wild weather
Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen has completed a Canadian Grand Prix hat-trick of victories and Australia’s drivers have landed in the points on a wet, wild and tricky afternoon at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Verstappen, who started on the front row on Sunday alongside Mercedes pole-sitter George Russell, stayed clear of trouble on a day of changing conditions, snatching the lead from McLaren’s Lando Norris on the final pit stops.
The Dutchman then grimly hung on to claim his sixth victory from nine races this season and the 60th of his Formula One career.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It was another brilliant drive from the 26-year-old who dealt with constantly changing weather, pit stop battles and challenges from McLaren and Mercedes while wrestling with his Red Bull’s suspension.
Norris’s Australian teammate Oscar Piastri had a collision with Russell in the later stages as he went on to finish fifth.
Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, who qualified fifth fastest, ended up finishing eighth and secured some much-needed points to climb to 12th on the standings list as he continues to ward off suggestions his career may be faltering.
After Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Williams’s Alex Albon had come together, bringing out the safety car for a second time, Verstappen pulled away on the restart and finished 3.879 seconds ahead of Norris.
Russell briefly dropped back behind teammate Hamilton, but the younger Mercedes driver roared back to win a nail-biting last-laps duel and complete the podium in third place.
