Introducing the winner of the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, in first place. Lando Norris from McLaren finished in second place, and George Russell from Mercedes secured third place.
Q: Max, it was a challenging and exciting race, but you emerged as the champion. How do you feel about your victory?
Max VERSTAPPEN: Yes, it was a pretty crazy race. A lot of things were happening and we had to make quick decisions. As a team, we did really well today. We kept our cool and made the right calls. The Safety Car worked in our favor and we managed the gaps effectively. It was a lot of fun, and races like these are necessary from time to time.
Q: You always express your love for intense racing. McLaren and Mercedes really challenged you today.
MV: Yes, they did, at different points in the race. It was a lot of fun out there.
Q: Were there any scary moments? You mentioned a suspension issue.
MV: It wasn’t a serious issue. We know what it is and we’ll work on it. But overall, we won, which is the most important thing. There’s still room for improvement.
Q: Lando, it was a wild and hectic race for you. How do you feel about it?
Lando NORRIS: It was chaotic and hectic. I think I had a good race from start to finish. The first two stints were strong, and I had a good pace. The Safety Car affected my position, just like in Miami. But I think I did well. The conditions were stressful inside the car, but also fun at the same time.
Q: You stayed out longer on the intermediate tires. Are you satisfied with that decision?
LN: Yes, I am. The first stint was going really well and I was leading by a significant margin. Staying out longer was the right decision. However, the Safety Car made me lose some time in the pits. Overall, it was a good race for us and I’m happy with second place and the points for the team.
P: George, you showed tenacity and persistence. How do you feel about your podium finish?
George RUSSELL: It feels like a missed opportunity. We were fast at the beginning of the race on the intermediate tires, but Lando overtook me. When we switched to slicks, I made some mistakes and lost positions. Despite that, it was a fun race and we had a fast car this weekend. Being back in the mix and fighting for the win was great.
P: Did you think you had a chance to catch Max before slipping at Turn 8?
GR: I believe so. We had the pace, especially when we switched to medium tires. The mistake with Oscar and losing position to Lewis cost us the chance to stay in second place and potentially challenge Max later in the race. But overall, it was a positive weekend with our first podium and pole position of the year.
P: Max, this victory must be gratifying for you. How do you feel about it?
MV: Yes, it’s very gratifying. It was a challenging race and it’s easy to make mistakes, especially with the intermediates almost turning into slicks. It was a lot of fun, but also very tough. These kinds of races are enjoyable, but you don’t want them all the time.
P: How calm were you inside the cockpit despite the intense race?
MV: We tried to stay as calm as possible. Communication with the pit wall is crucial to assess the conditions. As a team, we made the right calls today and that’s important.
P: The timing of the Safety Car worked in your favor. Do you see this as payback for Miami?
MV: Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it works against you. This time, it worked for us, so I think it’s 1-1 now this year. It’s part of racing.
P: Do you expect the car to perform better in Barcelona?
MV: I hope so. The last few races have been tough, with many issues throughout the weekends. We need to have cleaner weekends and improve the car.
P: George, despite feeling like a missed opportunity, there are still positive aspects to take from this weekend. How do you see the battle for the Constructors’ Championship shaping up?
GR: We have made significant progress and our performance step is real. We can be in the fight with McLaren and I hope to challenge Max as well. Barcelona will be interesting, but I am confident we can be in contention.
P: Lando, McLaren scored the most points today. How competitive do you think the battle for the Constructors’ Championship will be?
LN: Ferrari and McLaren are the teams we have to focus on. We have been consistent and having two drivers performing well is an advantage. The competition will get tougher with Mercedes joining the fight. We need to keep pushing and bring more updates.
P: Max, you had a moment with a groundhog on lap 32. Any memories of that?
MV: Yes, I swerved to avoid it. Luckily, it ran away. It could have caused problems if it had hit the car.
P: Max, your name is now among the greats with three consecutive wins in Montreal. How do you feel?
MV: It’s great to have three consecutive wins here. I enjoy driving on this track and it’s always a lot of fun.
P: Max, you mentioned the issue with riding the curbs. Do you think it can be resolved without affecting other aspects of the car?
MV: We are working to solve the issue without compromising other parts of the car. It’s a performance limitation for us and we are determined to fix it.
P: Max, with the increased competition, is Formula 1 becoming more exciting for you?
MV: Definitely. The competition is more challenging and every little detail now matters. It keeps us on our toes.
P: Max, McLaren scored more points today. How do you see the battle for the Constructors’ Championship unfolding?
MV: Checo’s starting position affected our points today. As long as we keep winning, we can maintain our lead. We need both cars to perform well and I am confident we will get there.
P: Max, despite the challenges, Red Bull’s execution was perfect today. How encouraging is that?
MV: It’s definitely encouraging. We are still performing well as a team, but we need cleaner weekends. We will analyze everything and work to improve the car.
P: George, how track-specific is your strong performance this weekend? Can we expect Mercedes to fight for poles and victories going forward?
GR: Red Bull has had some difficulties recently, but we need to see how they perform on more conventional circuits. Our performance step is real and we can be in the fight. Barcelona will be interesting, but I believe we can challenge.
P: Lando, McLaren scored the most points today. How competitive do you think the battle for the Constructors’ Championship will be in the second half of the season?
LN: The battle will be between Ferrari and us. We need to keep pushing and bring more upgrades. Having two consistent drivers gives us an advantage. Mercedes entering the fight will make it harder to score many points, but we are ready for the challenge.
P: Max, Lando mentioned the moment with the Safety Car and staying too long on the intermediate tires. What do you think about that?
MV: Staying on the intermediate tires was the right decision. The track was drying up and it gave us the opportunity to overtake George. The moment with the Safety Car did not negatively affect us. It was our mistake as a team.
P: Lando, you had a moment coming out of the pits with slick tires. Did you think you had a chance to maintain the lead?
LN: It takes one or two laps to warm up the slick tires. The little slip didn’t gain or lose me anything. Staying on the intermediate tires was the right decision and it gave me a chance against George. We were too far behind Max to challenge for the lead.
P: Max, what do you like most about coming to Montreal? Any special plans to celebrate tonight?
MV: I like the relaxed atmosphere and the people who love motorsports here. It’s a great place with a great track. I will fly home tonight, so no special plans.
P: Max, your name is now among Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher with three consecutive wins in Montreal. How do you feel?
MV: It’s an honor to be mentioned alongside these great drivers. Montreal has been a good track for us and I always enjoy racing here.
P: Max, there has been a lot of discussion about the issue of riding the curbs. Do you think it can be resolved without affecting other aspects of the car?
MV: We are working to solve the issue without compromising other parts of the car. We know it’s a weakness and we are actively working on it.
P: Max, with the increase in competition, is Formula 1 becoming more exciting for you?
MV: It’s definitely more challenging and races like today’s are thrilling. We need to stay focused and avoid mistakes. Now, every detail matters.
P: Max, McLaren scored more points today. How do you see the battle for the Constructors’ Championship shaping up?
MV: The damage was done with Checo starting from behind. As long as we keep winning, we can maintain our lead. We need both cars to perform well and I am confident we will get there.
P: George, how track-specific is your strong performance this weekend? Can we expect Mercedes to fight for poles and wins going forward?
GR: Red Bull has faced some difficulties recently, but we need to see how they perform on more conventional circuits. Our performance step is real and we can be in the mix. Barcelona will be interesting, but I believe we can challenge.
P: Lando, McLaren scored the most points today. How competitive do you think the battle for the Constructors’ Championship will be in the second half of the season?
LN: The battle will be between Ferrari and us. We need to keep pushing and bring more updates. Having two consistent drivers gives us an advantage. Mercedes entering the fight will make it harder to score many points, but we are ready for the challenge.
P: Max, Lando mentioned the timing of the Safety Car and staying out too long on the intermediate tires. What are your thoughts on that?
MV: Staying out on the intermediate tires was the right decision. The track was drying up and it gave us the opportunity to pass George. The timing of the Safety Car did not negatively affect us. It was a mistake on our part as a team.
P: Lando, you had a moment coming out of the pits on slick tires. Did you think you had a chance to maintain the lead?
LN: It takes one or two laps to warm up the slick tires. The slight slip didn’t gain or lose me anything. Staying on the intermediate tires was the right decision and gave me a chance against George. We were too far behind Max to challenge for the lead.
© 2024
Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton secured an impressive victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday. With a dominant display, Hamilton led from start to finish to secure the top spot on the podium. This was the fourth consecutive win for the Mercedes driver this season, further increasing his lead in the championship.
Hamilton started on pole position and did not give his opponents any chances. He showed incredible pace throughout the race, maintaining a comfortable lead over the other competitors. His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, finished in second place, securing a one-two finish for Mercedes.
The race had some exciting moments, with several battles for positions throughout the 66 laps. Max Verstappen from Red Bull had a great start and even threatened Hamilton at times, but couldn’t surpass the speed of the British driver. He finished in third place, completing the podium.
Another highlight of the race was Charles Leclerc’s recovery from Ferrari. After starting in eighth position, the Monegasque driver had an excellent recovery race and finished in fourth place. Carlos Sainz Jr., also from Ferrari, completed the top 5.
With this victory, Hamilton extended his lead in the drivers’ championship. He now has 94 points, 29 more than Verstappen, who is in second place. Bottas is in third, followed by Leclerc and Sainz Jr.
The next Formula 1 race will be the Monaco Grand Prix, which will take place on May 30th. It will be a challenging race for the drivers, as the street circuit of Monte Carlo is known for its difficulty and lack of space for overtaking. It will be interesting to see if Hamilton can maintain his winning streak and continue to dominate the season.
