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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.

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Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?

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

Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?
Circuit layout (Image credits Formula Media)

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.

Monaco Grand Prix STOPPED by red flag after horrific first-lap crash tears  Sergio Perez's F1 car in half | The US Sun
Checo’s accident in Monaco

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.

Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?
Image credits: Formu1a.Uno

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

Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?

Maximum temperature expected: 23 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 16 Celsius

SATURDAY, JUNE 8 – FP3 AND QUALIFYING

Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?

Maximum temperature expected: 19 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 17 Celsius

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 – RACE WEATHER

Canadian GP 2024 Preview: Can Red Bull Rebound Against Surging Ferrari and McLaren?

Maximum temperature expected: 20 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 15 Celsius

Weekend Schedule

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Formula 1

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

What was meant to be a showcase of Spa’s legendary high-speed curves turned into a waiting game. Here is our Belgian GP review

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Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

2025 Belgian GP: Torrential rain delayed the start by 80–90 minutes, with visibility concerns forcing multiple laps under the Safety Car before a rolling start from lap 5. The drama began before the race even started. Heavy rainfall caused an 80-minute delay as race control weighed safety concerns due to low visibility and spray from modern ground-effect cars. While some criticized the cautious approach, it proved wise: conditions improved just enough for a rolling start on lap 5, and the field finally went racing.

Perfect Strategy, Flawless Execution: McLaren’s Spa Statement

Oscar Piastri, starting just behind Norris, made his move immediately after the safety car pulled in. Seizing the moment through Eau Rouge and the Kemmel Straight, he powered past Norris with an assertive overtake that set the tone for the race.

Switching to medium slicks at just the right time, Piastri extended his gap over the field, showing supreme confidence in low-grip conditions. The win marked his sixth victory of the season, boosting his title hopes and further establishing him as the championship leader.

Norris Claims P2 in Wet and Wild Belgian GP

While Lando Norris put up a fight early on, his decision to opt for hard tyres in the drying phase proved costly. Struggling for grip compared to Piastri’s mediums, Norris was unable to mount a late challenge. Still, he comfortably brought the car home in second, giving McLaren its third one-two finish of the season.

He did a better job in the beginning, and that was it. Nothing more I could do after that point. I would love to be up top, but Oscar deserved it today.” – Lando Norris(post race)

Despite narrowly missing out on victory, Norris’s consistency continues to keep him in the hunt for the Drivers’ Championship, just 16 points behind his teammate.

Max Verstappen: A Homecoming Without Glory

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, racing in the post-Christian Horner era, could manage only P4, battling balance and pace issues all weekend. Throughout the race, Verstappen wrestled with car instability in mixed conditions. Red Bull’s setup—optimised for low drag and top speed—offered little help through Spa’s wet and winding middle sector. Even as others found pace, Verstappen remained mired behind Charles Leclerc and couldn’t mount a serious charge for the podium.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

To compound matters, team communication lacked its usual clarity—perhaps a sign of turbulence following recent management changes.

Ferrari: A Lone Wolf in the Storm

Scuderia Ferrari found light in the gloom. While the team couldn’t match the runaway pace of McLaren, Charles Leclerc delivered a composed drive to bring home a valuable P3 podium finish, salvaging pride for the prancing horse at a chaotic Belgian Grand Prix.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

Lewis Hamilton reminded the world that even at 40, class is permanent. Starting a distant P18, the seven-time world champion delivered a gritty and intelligent performance to climb up to P7—one of the standout recovery drives of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix.

“Today’s race was a really positive step forward. The strategy and pit stop were executed perfectly, and the overnight changes we made to the set-up really allowed me to get the most out of the car.” – Lewis Hamilton(post race)

Mercedes: Smart Strategy, But Pace Still Missing

George Russell drove a quiet but solid race. Starting higher up the grid, he avoided unnecessary risks, stayed out of trouble during the wet phase, and finished P5, just behind Verstappen. He extracted everything the car had to give, but couldn’t mount a serious challenge to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc — let alone the dominant McLarens.

Despite challenging wet conditions and a delayed race start due to rain, Antonelli remained composed, gaining valuable experience battling seasoned drivers on a tricky track. While he did not score points, his consistent lap times and ability to stay on track without mistakes impressed Mercedes.

Williams: Alex Albon defends Lewis Hamilton

Albon’s weekend began with a strong performance in qualifying, where he secured a season-best P5, marking Williams’ best qualifying result of the year. He executed a one-stop strategy, switching from intermediate to dry tires at the optimal moment, which allowed him to capitalise on the evolving track conditions.A standout moment came when Albon expertly defended his position against a charging Lewis Hamilton, finishing P6 in the race.

Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, started from the pit lane due to a poor qualifying session and a strategic error with the rear wing setup. Sainz struggled throughout the race. He finished in 18th place, a result that reflected the team’s challenges in adapting to the evolving track conditions.

Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson aquaplanes into top 10 finish

Liam Lawson delivered a standout performance at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps, securing his third points finish of the season with an eighth-place result. This achievement was particularly significant given his challenging start to the year and the team’s recent management changes.

Issack Hadjar, a rookie who got many top 10 finishes, faced a challenging weekend, culminating in a 19th-place finish in the race. This result was a step back from his earlier performances, highlighting the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the unpredictable dynamics of the Spa circuit.

Kick Sauber: Development and progress

Bortoleto continued to demonstrate his skill and consistency. He finished in 9th place, earning valuable points for the Kick Sauber F1 Team. This result was particularly notable as it marked his first points finish in Formula 1, underscoring his potential and the team’s progress.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025

Nico Hülkenberg faced a challenging weekend, culminating in a 12th-place finish in the main race. This result was a step back from his remarkable podium at Silverstone earlier in the season. Despite the setback, Hülkenberg’s performance underscored the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the unpredictable dynamics of the Spa circuit.

Race Result

Drivers Standings

Constructor Standings

Next up in the double header: Hungarian Grand Prix

As the F1 circus heads to Hungary, the message is clear: McLaren are no longer chasing the front—they are the front. And unless rivals find a response soon, the papaya-colored cars might just be painting the 2025 season in orange glory.

Belgian GP Battle Through the Rain: The Thrills of Spa 2025


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/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime

The Formula 1 British Grand Prix was a story to tell for most drivers. A dream podium, a home race win, rain chaos, and multiple DNFs, the British GP had everything on offer.

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Lando Norris wins the Formula 1 British Grand Prix

Whenever Formula 1 visits Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, it always turns out to be one hell of a weekend, and this race was no different. It had everything you would want when you’re sitting in front of the screen on a Sunday afternoon with a drink in hand. There was rain, there was chaos, there was even Nico Hülkenberg on the podium – a race full of uncertainties.

Controversial Home Race Win

Lando Norris made it two wins in a row on Sunday, beating teammate Oscar Piastri to the finish line. Oscar led most of the race until a 10-second time penalty for reckless driving was given to him due to aggressive braking, which caused Max Verstappen to take evasive action. Soon after the restart, Max was overtaken by Lando Norris, which put him in the net race lead. This turned into P1 on track shortly after the pit stop onto slicks, as Oscar served his penalty.

Lando joined the club of 8 time race winners, an A-list with some great names, and what a way to do it – by winning your home race!

Embed from Getty Images

Hülkenburg Counters The Odds


Nico Hülkenberg writes a story of his own. 239 Race Starts later, the man in green has gotten himself and Sauber a podium. After 15 long years, the wait came to an end, and the stars finally aligned. Following the rainy chaos, Nico made all the right calls to propel himself up the grid. He was running P4 behind Lance Stroll, where an overtake on the Aston followed shortly after.

In the dying laps, he was being chased by a desperate Lewis Hamilton in Scarlet Red. However, he kept his cool and achieved what hadn’t been possible for so long.



The Streak Ends With Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton had a 13-year-long streak of scoring podiums at his home race. However, every tale must come to an end. Lewis Hamilton fell one position short of the podium, a valiant effort from the Brit. He expressed his disappointment in a post-race review, saying he was not at all happy about the race.


Charles Leclerc, on the other side of the garage, had a worse day. Jumping the gun on the slick tires early was a gamble he made, but it was a gamble that did not work. Later on, he struggled with tires following a series of VSCs, he even had an off at Beckets, cutting across the grass to add to his dismay. At the end, no points were scored by the Monegasque, a day to write off for him.

Mercedes Missed Out On An Opportunity

Following reports of talks between Max and Mercedes, they were in the spotlight coming into this weekend. A decent qualifying from the pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli gave them a fighting chance on Sunday. George called the change onto slicks at the end of the formation lap, and Kimi was rear-ended by Isack Hadjar, causing heavy damage to his diffuser, resulting in a retirement. George kept being in the wrong place at the wrong time, ultimately crossing the line in P10, scoring one singular point.

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime
British Grand Prix, Sunday. Photo: Glenn Dunbar

Verstappen Struggles On Track

Red Bull ran a low downforce setup for the race, which cost them when a rain shower had showered on the track. Max was caught sliding on multiple corner exits due to the lack of downforce. Despite this, he held a strong challenge for the starting half of the race. However, at the Safety Car restart, he had a spin on the entry of the Vale chicane.

Formula 1 British Grand Prix Review: The Race Of A Lifetime
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB21 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 06, 2025 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

A good recovery by the Dutchman limited damage and placed him P10. From there, a decent effort to fight back moved him up into P5, scoring decent points. Teammate Yuki Tsunoda found it difficult, saying he did not know why the pace of the car disappeared in the race. He finished P15, last of the classified drivers.

Williams Return To Points

After a treacherous recent few rounds for the Williams outfit, finally, some luck struck with a points finish. Although Carlos missed out on points by a slim margin, teammate Alex Albon scored a respectable P8 in changing conditions

Aston Get Two Cars Into The Top 10

Both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso secured a points finish on Sunday, even though both of them complained about the car and the package after the race.

Lance, at one point, was running in the podium positions, but he was overtaken by Nico shortly after. He ended up crossing the line in P6. Tire degradation was a prominent issue in the car, according to him in a post-race interview.

Fernando scored P8, but he showed frustration at the team’s strategy and how they always get it wrong for him.

Race Results



Standings




Next Round In Spa

For the next race weekend, we head to the hilly forest of Spa-Francorchamps. A part home race for Lando and Max. The high-speed spectacle is sure to put on a show, the longest track on the F1 Calendar includes many overtaking spots and iconic corners such as Eau Rouge and Radillon

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/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula One’s Constant: The British GP

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Formula One's Constant: The British GP

The F1 Paddock heads to Silverstone this weekend. The place where it all started. Silverstone is one of the most historic tracks on the Formula 1 Calendar.

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The 2025 Formula 1 British Grand Prix roars into Silverstone this weekend, bringing with it a fierce championship battle, homegrown heroes, and the electric atmosphere only this iconic circuit can deliver. As Round 12 of a tightly contested season, all eyes are on McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, currently locked in a close title fight as they look to extend their dominance on home soil. Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton returns to his home Grand Prix in Ferrari red, adding another layer of drama for British fans. With sell-out crowds, unpredictable weather, and the historic weight of Silverstone, this year’s race promises to be one of the most thrilling yet.

About The Track

Formula One's Constant: The British GP

(credit – f1.com)

Silverstone Circuit is renowned as one of Formula 1’s most iconic and challenging tracks, blending high-speed straights with a technical mix of sweeping corners. Measuring 5.891 kilometers, the former RAF airfield is a true test of car balance and driver bravery, especially through legendary sections like Maggots, Becketts, and Chapel, where rapid directional changes demand razor-sharp precision. The track’s fast-flowing nature rewards aerodynamic efficiency and cornering stability, making it a favourite among drivers. With unpredictable British weather often playing a role, and overtaking opportunities at corners like Stowe and Vale, Silverstone delivers both strategic complexity and spectacular racing action year after year.

Pirelli’s Specifications



Stories This Weekend

Special Liveries


McLaren dropped a gorgeous livery for their home race in Silverstone. A lot of chrome on the car to keep them standing out on track. This is a throwback to their iconic Vodafone Chrome livery in the late 200s



VCARB also brought out a fancy spray paint livery after a good result for them in Austria.


Hamilton At Home In Red

Lewis Hamilton makes his first appearance at home for the Scarlet Outfit. He has a record of a 14-year-long streak of top 3 finishes at his home race. He will be looking to keep that going coming into this weekend.


Rumours Of Verstappen x Mercedes

Sky Sports Italy put out a post on X saying that talks are in advanced stages between Max and Mercedes, George Russel and Max’s future remains uncertain at this stage. George expressed his will to stay at Mercedes for the foreseeable future.


F1 Movie Release

The long awaited F1 Movie produced by Lewis Hamilton starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris makes its first appearance in the big screens. With a lot of positive reviews, the movie is a recommended watch.

Weekend Schedule



Weekend Forecast

Friday: 22°C, Wind 29 km/h, 10% chance of rain
Saturday: 21°C, Wind 24 km/h, 45% chance of rain
Sunday: 21°C, Wind 24 km/h, 10% chance of rain.

It’s windier than usual, making cars unpredictable. Droplets of rain are expected during Qualifying

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/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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