Formula 1
Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?
As Red Bull looks to bounce back, Ferrari and McLaren aim to continue their impressive form at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren have each claimed a victory in the past three races, leading to a captivating championship battle. Despite Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s early-season lead, Charles Leclerc’s win at his home race in Monaco has narrowed the gap, making every race a must-watch for fans.
Know The Circuit
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a 4.361 km motor racing track situated on Notre Dame Island in Montreal. Known for its fast and low-downforce layout, the circuit is a favourite among drivers, despite the close barriers that have ensnared even the most experienced racers. The track features a series of heavy-braking chicanes and the renowned hairpin, challenging the brakes extensively. However, once out of the corners, the track transitions into a quick and flowing course.
One of the most iconic segments of the circuit is the Wall of Champions, located at the exit of the final chicane before the start/finish straight. Turns one and two, collectively forming an ‘S’ shape when viewed from above, are referred to as the Senna ‘S’. Another notable feature is the high-speed Pont de la Concorde corner (Turn 8), a ‘quick kink’ following the bridge underpass, leading into Turn 9 and the subsequent dash to the Hairpin curve.
The stop-start nature, with its heavy-braking chicanes and hairpin, would test the braking systems rigorously. Drivers would need to skillfully manage their brakes to avoid overheating while maintaining speed through the flowing sections. The quick kinks and fast corners demand impeccable aerodynamic balance and control.
Struggle for RedBull and Championship Battle
A true Red Bull weakness was brought to light 2 weeks ago during the Monaco GP where the car severely suffered from kerbs and uneven surfaces resulting in a P6 for Verstappen in both qualifying and race. As if this wasn’t enough setback, Checo was involved in a crash during the first lap of the race followed by a DNF and a red flag.
This was the second DNF for RedBull this season, earlier Verstappen also suffered one in Australia. Combined, this has truly threatened the position of team and driver in the constructors and driver championship tables respectively.
After the previous race weekend, Charles Leclerc has narrowed the gap down to 31 points which is still more than one race win but also not an unrealistic difference. Whereas the things are constructors are even more confined where Ferrari is behind RedBull by a mere gap of 24 points which could easily be overtaken this weekend.
The crash at Monaco has not only affected the positions but also would take away a big chunk from their development budget that would be required to cover the damage cost. Adding to this RedBull has already confirmed a grid penalty as they potentially had to replace the gearbox and PU.
Helmut Marko wrote on Speedweek that mid-season development at Milton Keynes will be compromised:
“Sergio Pérez had a costly crash on the first lap, which cost us between two and three million euros.
“This is of course a serious disadvantage due to the budget cap, as this kind of damage affects the development budget.”
The RB20 struggles with riding kerbs, a weakness that has become evident in a more competitive field. Canada’s circuit features numerous kerbs, and this combined with Red Bull’s significant damage expenses puts the Milton Keynes team at a disadvantage.
Speaking to the media, Verstappen has admitted it will not be an easy weekend:
“We have to wait and see, [there is a] new surface as well. I think that might always give you some surprises,” racingnews365 quotes him as saying.
“But it’s probably also not going to be our strongest weekend because of that. But probably a little bit better than here [in Monaco].”
Upgrades for Ferrari and Mclaren
“Let’s not draw too many conclusions from this weekend,” were the words of Fred Vasseur last race weekend. Canada is more of a “normal” circuit in contrast with Monaco but what the previous race highlighted was that Ferrari’s work in 676 projects is finally bearing fruit. The next round in Canada, therefore, is crucial to see more definitively if the SF-24 has improved aerodynamic load and efficiency.
Recently, Frédéric Vasseur spoke about a different approach his team had this season, focusing more on the race.
“This was the result of analysis from last season. In Qualifying, we were competitive. But then, on Sunday, we lost too many points. And that’s why we decided on this different approach this year. ”
It’s not just the setup that matters, but the team’s preparation for the entire weekend. They have slightly reduced the SF-24’s qualifying pace, but the results have justified the team’s strategy. At the same time, the team won’t be introducing any new upgrades this weekend followed by a rear wing configuration used at the start of the year.
McLaren brought their upgrades 3 race weekends ago and since then has performed in all three weekends which included a win in Miami and a podium in Monaco and Imola. According to team principal Andrea Stella, this consistency is beyond what the engineers at Woking anticipated. Even though the car now feels more rounded off the weakness of the team still lies in slow turns.
“It seems that the picture of our competitiveness is finally starting to change, where slow speed no longer appears as a clear weakness.
“A situation that we have been able to change thanks to developments. I think it’s positive news.” – Andrea Stella
Are Mercedes Going in the Right Direction?
This is going to be an interesting weekend for the German team which has finally understood the car. Although Monte Carlo was a bittersweet weekend for the team they came close with McLaren and Ferrari in qualifying pace and also out-qualified Verstappen.
Despite this mixed bag of conclusions, Toto Wolff left the eighth round of the season with a positive outlook:
“Overall, we’ve had a positive weekend. We were much closer than we have been in Qualifying so far this year and showed good pace throughout the race,” he explained.“The trajectory is going in the right direction. We’ve understood where we need to improve the balance car, and we’re bringing updates to enhance that.
Last time out in Monte Carlo, Lewis Hamilton said that teammate George Russell had an upgrade that was not yet available to him.
Toto Wolff has made clear that both drivers will have the latest version of the W15 in Canada:
“Both drivers will have the new front wing, and there will be some other development items for this event.
“The new front wing offered a small lap-time gain around the tight streets of the principality and should offer greater benefit on upcoming circuits.
Aston Martin Chaos
Dan Fallows, Aston Martin’s technical director since 2021, is undeniably under immense pressure due to the concerning development of the team since 2023. The highly anticipated Imola upgrades showed promising results in the wind tunnel, but the actual on-track improvements were minimal. The car became unstable, occasionally undrivable, with a much narrower operating window than expected.
This situation has led Aston Martin to extend an offer to Ferrari’s current Technical Director, Enrico Cardile. Additionally, Lawrence Stroll remains determined to secure Adrian Newey’s expertise. Despite their initial contract in Saudi Arabia, Aston Martin’s efforts to recruit Newey have intensified, aiming to bring him on board after his tenure at Red Bull ends in 2025.
Drivers Market Turmoil
Ocon’s recent decision to leave Alpine by the end of this year has certainly created multiple shifts in the driver’s market. The incident which occurred during Ocon and Gasly during last race weekend certainly will be a highlight for the team thinking of bringing him on board. Sources say one of the top contends for that Alpine seat would be Jack Doohan who is said to be driving the car in FP1 of Canadian weekend.
Along with this the announcement of Checo renewing this contract for 2 more seasons has occurred as terrible news for Sainz as he was hoping to get that RedBull seat. This leaves him with Willaims, Sauber and Audi as potential options.
Yuki Tsunoda, a standout performer in F1 this year with notable speed and consistency, is drawing significant interest in the driver market. However, his chances of a promotion at Red Bull are slim, as team principal Christian Horner doesn’t consider him Red Bull material, a view that has gained more weight this year due to Horner’s increased influence over driver choices compared to Helmut Marko.
While Alpine is struggling, Haas lacks the resources, and Williams, despite its long-term potential, isn’t currently performing well, Tsunoda still has alternative opportunities. Other drivers like Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon are also available. Only time will reveal how the market evolves.
Weather Conditions
FRIDAY, JUNE 7 – FP1 AND FP2
Maximum temperature expected: 23 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 16 Celsius
SATURDAY, JUNE 8 – FP3 AND QUALIFYING
Maximum temperature expected: 19 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 17 Celsius
SUNDAY, MARCH 24 – RACE WEATHER
Maximum temperature expected: 20 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 15 Celsius
Weekend Schedule
The Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix that took place on June 1 2025, wrapped up the second triple header of the 75th edition of Formula 1. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya held the last Spanish Grand Prix, as the event is set to relocate to Madrid from 2026.
As two of the three triple headers of this season end, with the McLaren duo separated by 10 points and Max Verstappen breathing down their necks, let’s review how each of the 3-week long racing action has affected the championship battle.
Max, Lando and Oscar [Left to Right] at the Japanese GP 2025
Japan-Bahrain-Saudi Arabia
The opening triple header of the season delivered some great racing action. Max Verstappen proved to the world that he is never out of the championship fight, with his dominant pole-to-victory performance, despite McLaren having the car advantage. The Flying Dutchman marked his 4th consecutive win at Suzuka while the Papaya duo completed the podium. Hadjar gained his first points in Formula 1 in P8.
Oscar Piastri stood at the top step of the podium at Bahrain for his 50th Formula 1 race, delivering McLaren’s first ever win at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The young Australian started at pole and led every lap, showcasing his talent, while his teammate and championship rival, Lando Norris, finished P3 despite his 5-second penalty for a false start. Multiple technical failures and a pit signal fault resulted in Max finishing P6, costing him several championship points. The Dutch wasn’t the only one suffering from technical issues, as George Russell’s Mercedes faced multiple troubles, despite which he finished P2 fending off Norris.
Another weekend, another win for Piastri. This one is even more special as it led to him becoming the first Australian to lead the championship since Mark Webber, his manager, in 2010. Even though Verstappen received a 5-second penalty during the race, he finished P2. Ferrari seemed to finally get back into their rhythm as Charles Leclerc garnered the Italian team’s first podium of the year with a solid P3. Williams’ double points finish marked their surge among the midfield, pushing them up to 5th in the championship.
The triple header ended with Oscar Piastri leading the championship, 7 points ahead of teammate Lando Norris, who himself was just 5 points ahead of reigning champion Max Verstappen. With the top 5 separated by only 30 points, the fight for the championship was on.
Imola-Monaco-Spain
The second and the most recent triple header had all three title contenders win each race. Max Verstappen overtook pole-sitter Oscar Piastri on the first lap to secure his 4th win here, while Lando and Oscar completed the podium. Franco Colapinto, who replaced rookie Jack Doohan from this race onwards, started and finished at P16, delivering a lukewarm debut performance.
At Monaco, Lando Norris secured his first win at the Principality, fending off homeboy Charles Leclerc in P2. Oscar stayed in P3, as most of the grid finished exactly where they qualified, apart from Fernando Alonso, claiming to be “the unluckiest driver”, who retired from P6 due to an engine failure.
Lando after his win at the Monaco GP (Credits: Formula 1)
The latest race, the Spanish Grand Prix, delivered equal parts of racing and drama. All was well till lap 60 when the safety car came out. RedBull pitted Max for a fourth time and sent him out with brand new hard tires, which, due to not warming up properly for the restart, led him to lose a position to Leclerc. Another incident with Russell resulted in Verstappen’s engineer Gianpiero Lambiase requesting him to let the Briton through. Initially refusing, on lap 64, Max appeared to let Russell go past him, but swerved into him on turn 5, causing a collision.
This unnecessary action and RedBull pit wall’s questionable decisions resulted in Verstappen being handed a 10-second penalty and 3 penalty points, which critically impacted his championship battle. Nico Hulkenberg in his Sauber, overtook 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari on the penultimate lap, securing a P5 finish. Fernando Alonso also ended his pointless run, garnering 2 points at his home grand prix. The McLaren duo clinched a 1-2 finish, avoiding all the drama behind them.
The second triple header ends with Ferrari shooting up two places to reach P2 in the Constructors’ Championship Standings, although McLaren leads with a comfortable 197 points.
The Drivers’ Championship is very close, with Norris only 10 points behind the leader Piastri. Max, however, due to his 10-second penalty, lags by 49 points, staying at P3.
The next and final triple header consists of the last three races of this season: Las Vegas-Qatar-Abu Dhabi. As the championship stands, it’s fair to speculate that the battle could go on till the final triple header. As we lie in wait till the next race weekend in Canada, let’s enjoy the on and off-track drama unfolding in front of our eyes.
Will Oscar Piastri be the first Australian World Champion since Alan Jones in 1980, or will teammate Lando Norris be successful in retaking the lead of the championship? Never count Max Verstappen out, as he also has the chance to defend his title. Any mid-season upgrades could bring George Russell or Charles Leclerc to the fight as well. The prestigious 75th anniversary of Formula 1 is definitely providing some great battles, which unfortunately can only be won by one.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
The anticipation is building as the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix approaches, bringing Formula 1 back to the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Set against the backdrop of the St. Lawrence River, this high-speed, high-stakes race is a mid-season favourite known for dramatic overtakes, unpredictable weather, and passionate fans. With championship battles heating up and teams pushing the limits of performance, the 2025 edition promises another thrilling chapter in Canada’s rich motorsport history. Here’s a look at what to expect as the engines roar back to life in one of F1’s most beloved venues.
About The Track
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve offers a technically demanding layout that balances high-speed sections with heavy braking zones. Turns 1 and 2 require precise throttle control and set the tone for the lap.
The Turn 10 hairpin is a critical overtaking point, featuring one of the heaviest braking zones on the calendar and leading onto a 1.2 km straight where DRS can be deployed. This back straight leads to the final chicane (Turns 13 and 14), where late braking offers a chance to pass, though drivers must be cautious of the infamous “Wall of Champions” on exit. A second DRS zone along the main straight aids slipstreaming into Turn 1, making the circuit a prime venue for intense and strategic battles on track and in the pit lane.
Pirelli’s Specifications
For the #CanadianGP, the softest trio of compounds will feature on track. That means that the C6 will be in use, alongside its closest relatives, the C5 as Medium and the C4 as Hard. Read more here 👉https://t.co/DlTqNkvtUn #F1 pic.twitter.com/ZWjgybDVjW
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) June 9, 2025
Pirelli has selected the softest compounds on the spectrum, meaning the C6 (soft), C5 (medium), and C4 (hard) compound tires will be in use throughout the weekend.
Track Evolution being on a 5/5 rating denotes that times will tumble on Saturday during the Qualifying session, so drivers will need to be consistent on every lap.
Stories This Weekend
Piastri With The Momentum
Oscar Piastri led a controversial Spanish Grand Prix from start to finish, keeping his distance from his rivals. He leads the Drivers Championship by 10 points over his teammate, a battle that will continue to run till the end of the season. The Aussie is very much in contention for his first-ever title, so he will need any and every win he can get. That’s what he’s going to be gunning for in Montreal.
European triple ✅
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) June 9, 2025
Focused on Canada 👊#McLaren | #CanadianGP 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/ZQg11idjPa
Max Nears A Ban
Max Verstappen is now just 1 penalty point away from a Race Ban, which presents an opportunity for Arvid Lindbald to potentially make his F1 debut for VCARB, and Isack Hadjar a seat in the senior Red Bull team.
Notably, Isack Hadjar has scored more points than Max Verstappen has in the last 2 races.
Stroll At Home
Lance Stroll withdrew from the Spanish Grand Prix following a concern about his wrist injury from 2023. He is now preparing to hit the ground running and score some points at his home race.
A taste of home.@lance_stroll brought the team together last night at one of his favourite Montreal spots, Lester’s Deli. 💚 pic.twitter.com/cZL3yzgiH3
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) June 12, 2025
200 Races For Haas
The American Team achieves a landmark 200 race appearances. They have prepared special race suits for this occasion and, of course, a special livery. With a race so close to home, the pair of Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon will be gunning for the top 10.
Suited up like it’s 2016 👌
— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) June 12, 2025
Celebrating 200 races with full throwback race suits 🤩#HaasF1 #F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/zvaHjsGm3i
2026 Calendar Reveal
See you next year 🔥🇦🇺 https://t.co/bwVogdR7pj
— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) June 10, 2025
Weekend Schedule
📅 | Here is the Weekend Schedule for Formula 1's Canadian GP and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) June 11, 2025
Note: All timings mentioned are in 🇮🇳 Indian Standard Time.#f1 #Formula1 #CanadianGP #WEC #LeMans24h pic.twitter.com/Hg6Es0G2du
Weather Forecast
Friday: 18°C, Wind 6 km/h, 1% chance of rain
Saturday: 21°C, Wind 11 km/h, 1% chance of rain
Sunday: 23°C, Wind 9 km/h, 2% chance of rain.
Conditions seem to be stable, allowing for consistent data throughout practice sessions and the race.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
Formula 1
Piastri For The Win, McLaren Double Podium, Max Receives 3 Penalty Points: 2025 Spanish GP Review
Oscar Piastri delivered a masterclass in Barcelona, capping off a rollercoaster triple-header with a dominant win at the Spanish Grand Prix. The weekend was filled with uncertainty following the FIA’s new Technical Directive clamping down on flexi-wings, forcing every team except McLaren to scramble with upgrades. In the end, it was Piastri who capitalised on the chaos.
Piastri was in a league of his own all weekend, topping two of three practice sessions, grabbing pole with the largest margin of the season, and controlling the race from lights to flag. Calm, calculated, and clinical—this was a coming-of-age drive from the Aussie, who now leads the World Drivers’ Championship by 10 points.
Teammate Lando Norris made it a McLaren front row lockout, though he briefly lost P2 to Max Verstappen at the start. A smooth move down the inside of Turn 1 reclaimed the spot, and Norris brought the car home for a strong 1-2 finish, underlining McLaren’s dominance.
Embed from Getty Images
Max Verstappen Nears A Race Ban
Max Verstappen’s weekend was turbulent. He qualified P3 and had a lightning start to slot into P2, but that was as good as it got. Red Bull’s risky 3-stop strategy was undone by a late Safety Car, forcing Max onto hard tyres no one else dared to use.
A flurry of battles followed, and contact with George Russell. The stewards slapped Verstappen with a 10-second penalty and 3 penalty points, leaving him just one point away from a race ban. The reigning champ now walks a razor’s edge heading into Montreal.
Leclerc Lands A Top 3
Charles Leclerc fought his way from a P7 start to finish third, claiming his first-ever Spanish GP podium. A strong opening lap and a razor-sharp Safety Car restart helped him leapfrog Verstappen.
His teammate Lewis Hamilton had a contrasting story. After qualifying P5, he was overtaken by Nico Hülkenberg late in the race and finished P6. Post-race, a dejected Hamilton said there were “no positives” to take from the weekend.
The first podium in Spain for @Charles_Leclerc! 🤩🥉#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/oiEtNgOuK2
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 1, 2025
Merc’s Bittersweet Weekend
George Russell had a quietly strong weekend, qualifying P4 and securing P4 in the race, surviving the Verstappen clash and banking valuable points. Rookie Kimi Antonelli wasn’t as lucky. An engine failure forced his retirement, marking the first time in triple-header history that a Mercedes driver failed to score points.
Sauber In The Top 5
Sauber shocked the paddock. Nico Hülkenberg, starting P15, carved his way through the field with some smart overtakes and Safety Car timing to finish P5, his best result since 2019. Teammate Bortoleto also impressed, showing glimpses of pace before fading late.
Two Sides Of The Home Race
For Spanish fans, it was a weekend of extremes. Carlos Sainz suffered a Q1 exit and could only recover to P14, yet another home race disappointment for Williams. Albon also had a disappointing weekend, contact when being overtaken resulted in front wing damage, forcing him to retire.
Fernando Alonso, on the other hand, gave the crowd something to cheer about. With daring late-race moves, he scored his first points of the season, offering a glimmer of hope for Aston Martin. Lance Stroll, still managing a wrist issue from 2023, withdrew before lights out, casting doubt on his home GP appearance in Canada.
Race Results
After all that drama… let's take a look at our top 🔟 in Spain! 🇪🇸⬇️#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/Ces37N1VtF
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 1, 2025
Standings
How do things now stand… 🤔
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 1, 2025
Here are the all-important drivers' standings to tell us! 📊#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/mhrV4bU2zu
Ferrari jump up to P2 in the standings!.. 📈
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 1, 2025
…And there's several other movements throughout the field 👀#F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/vIzJ5asbvm
Next Race Weekend In Montreal
Oscar Piastri now leads the WDC by 10 points over his teammate, and both McLarens will be looking to extend their lead at the top
Max will need to keep his nose clean, as with just 1 more penalty point, he will be banned for a race.
Home Hero Lance Stroll is still doubtful to appear at his home race, which means one of Aston Martin’s reserves may get an opportunity to prove themselves.
Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.
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