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Sunday debrief: Verstappen makes it 100 wins for Red Bull with a win in Canada

  • mallikarull
  • Jun 18, 2023
  • 2 min read
Verstappen sails to victory in Canada with his fourth consecutive win. Fernando Alonso holding off Hamilton to the chequered flag after a thrilling battle for P2.

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Image credit: motorsport.com

Max Verstappen started the race from pole after a wet qualifying. Hulkenberg started in P5 after qualifying in P2, Hulkenberg penalised for not slowing properly under the red flag, promoting Alonso to P2. Both Mercedes locked out the second row with Hamilton starting from P3. Stroll and Sainz were amongst the other drivers penalised after qualifying, both drivers starting outside the top 10.

As the lights went out, Verstappen kept his lead while Hamilton got ahead of Alonso going into Turn 1. Magnussen nearly going into the walls in Lap 2 but was able to make his way back on to the tack with no damage to his Haas.


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Image credit: motorsport.com

Logan Sergeant’s first Canadian GP came to an end on Lap 8 bringing out the virtual safety car while the marshals worked to get the Williams off track.

The Safety Car was shortly brought out for Russell after he put his Mercedes into the wall after going deep at the chicane. The top 3 taking the chance to pit under the safety car, Alonso and Hamilton nearly making contact leaving the pits, the Aston Martin nearly getting ahead of the Mercedes. Mercedes were able to get Russel back out on track, Russell now at the back of the grid.

The race resuming on Lap 16, Verstappen building the gap between himself and Hamilton to 1.2 seconds on the first lap. Hamilton and Alonso battling it out for a few laps before Alonso gets back ahead of the Mercedes on Lap 23 going into the final chicane.

The Yellow flag came out on Lap 36, De Vries and Magnussen both going off into the run off area, De Vries locking up on the inside taking Magnussen with him as the AlphaTauri goes off track.

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Image credit: motorsport.com

In the Battle for P2, Hamilton pitted again on Lap 41 for a set of medium tyres. Aston Martin responding quickly by bringing Alonso into the pits a lap later for another set of hard tyres. Alonso coming out still ahead of Hamilton.

George Russell became the second retirement of the race on Lap 55. Russell being told over the team radio that his “brakes wear is too high”. Lewis Hamilton now the only Mercedes left on track was able to close the gap between himself and Alonso down to under 2 seconds by Lap 57.

Verstappen was the first to take the chequered flag for the sixth time this season. Alonso finished next in P2, with the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton trailing behind him to complete the podium in P3. Lando Norris crossed the line to finish in p9 but dropped down to P13 after receiving a 5 second time-penalty.

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