Untouchable and unchallenged, there is now a distinct sense of deja vu to Max Verstappen’s victorious performances this season, exemplified once more by a flawless win at the Canadian Grand Prix.
It was another consummate run to mark an immense achievement by his Red Bull team in notching up a century of wins in style in Montreal. The debate over whether the Dutchman can be caught this season is over but he and Red Bull are surely set to clock up even bigger numbers.
Behind him Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso enjoyed a decent scrap at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with the Spaniard coming out on top in second for Aston and Hamilton third for Mercedes. It was something of a return to form for Aston Martin while Mercedes will once more be buoyed that their car was in the mix, as they had been at the last round in Spain.
Mercedes had thought they may struggle in the slow corners in Canada, that they were up there will be hugely heartening for them in that their new upgrades have genuinely delivered an improvement across a range of tracks.
They were very much in a battle of their own however, at the business end Verstappen was in a class of one. With his teammate Sergio Pérez managing only sixth the Dutchman now leads the world championship by 69 points after eight rounds.
Indeed that Red Bull remains unbeaten this season is largely down to Verstappen who has taken six wins from eight. Mercedes and Aston Martin do appear to be moving closer but equally it must be considered that Verstappen is opening a comfortable gap – nine seconds from Alonso at the flag – and then merely maintaining it, not needing to flog his ride unnecessarily.
It is impossible to ignore that he is now winning with absolutely disarming ease. Mad Max, the tempestuous, over-eager, charging youngster that roared up to F1 eight years ago is long gone. Now he is rather a diligent pupil, calmly, methodically delivering straight A’s, week-in, week-out without seemingly having to try while behind him unruly, infuriated classmates hoot and holler of their dog and its homework munching predilection to no effect.
Such was his dominance his interactions with other drivers were few and far between, only the local wildlife giving him any cause for concern as he reported he had been hit by a bird early in the race. So in control was he, the unlucky avian may have delivered a frisson of excitement to an otherwise uneventful day in the office. His radio messages to the team punctuations as much to express how much he was enjoying himself as anything else, riding kerbs and giggling about it to the team an ominous indication of the ease of his domination.
There was a personal achievement of merit too for the world champion in matching Ayrton Senna’s 41 race wins but the more striking accomplishment to be acknowledged was that of his team.
The victory is Red Bull’s 100th; a remarkable milestone for the team which only joined F1 in 2005, taking over an ailing Jaguar team. In the relatively short time since they have developed into one of the biggest and most successful players in the sport.
They took their first victory in China in 2009 and now only Williams, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari have more, while they have also taken six drivers’ titles and five constructors’, a tally that will certainly be added to this season.
To have achieved so much, developing in size to compete at the very top and with aggressive scale to include now building their own engines, is a feat that should not be understated. Team principal Christian Horner was the youngest in the sport, aged 31, when he took on the role but has never shied away from grand ambition, not least in going after and securing designer Adrian Newey whose cars have been key to the success and who joined Verstappen on the podium in Canada.
Derided in the past as a mere “energy drink manufacturer” the team have laughed off such insults, instead playing up to their maverick image, racing hard and partying harder and stressing their irreverent and unconventional approach.
It is a PR line that fits the brand, but a simplistic and erroneous summation of their prowess. As demonstrated again in Montreal, their abilities as a racing team have been exceptional, well-honed operationally with a professionalism that belies the public image. They are delivering in the factory and on track at a level older manufacturers recognise as the very top of the game and would dearly like to emulate.
The race itself, as was the last in Spain, was decided at the first corner as Verstappen held his lead from pole. Hamilton had burst out of the blocks to pass Alonso for second place but while Alonso stayed with him, in front Verstappen was gone within a short six laps, two seconds clear with insouciant ease. Alonso passed back on lap 22 and in clean air the Aston had an advantage, opening a gap he held to the flag albeit way off a serene Verstappen.
It was decent fare for Mercedes and Aston but they remain understudies this season however, as more victories are sure to follow for Red Bull and Verstappen and a clean sweep of wins remains within their remit. It is a feat no other team has ever accomplished to sit alongside what has been a meteoric ascent over the past 18 years.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were in fourth and fifth for Ferrari, Alex Albon an excellent seventh for Williams, Esteban Ocon eighth for Alpine, Lance Stroll in ninth for Aston Martin and Valtteri Bottas in 10th for Alfa Romeo.
