Lando Norris, during a press conference in Canada, expressed his belief that the favorites for the next race are difficult to determine. He mentioned that it could be his team, Ferrari, or Red Bull that will come out on top. The uncertainty of the result increases the excitement, as none of the teams have a clear advantage.
Red Bull, led by three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, dominated last year’s races, winning 21 out of 22. Verstappen himself achieved 19 notable victories. Currently, after eight rounds this season, Red Bull leads the F1 constructors’ championship. However, Ferrari’s recent victory, along with Sergio Perez’s unfortunate incident, brought them within 24 points of Red Bull.
Norris believes that Ferrari may have an advantage in the next race due to the importance of leading on the newly resurfaced Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
Leclerc, on the other hand, downplayed the idea that Ferrari is the favorite. He emphasized that no one wants to hear such statements before a race. According to him, it is impossible to determine who the real favorites are, and it is important to consider the competitors’ skills as well.
Leclerc added that the true picture will only be revealed when the teams hit the track. He mentioned that the three teams, Ferrari, Red Bull, and his own team, are very close. Leclerc’s recent victory in Monte Carlo, his first since Austria in 2022, further highlights the competitiveness among the teams.
Currently in third place in the standings, Norris is 25 points behind Leclerc, equivalent to a race win. The fact that Norris, Leclerc, and Verstappen, representing three different teams, have won the last three races is a notable occurrence that has not happened since 2021.
Dans la saison précédente, Verstappen a remporté le Grand Prix du Canada pour la deuxième fois consécutive, enchaînant une série de 10 victoires consécutives, battant des records. Verstappen a affirmé qu’il ne perd pas de temps et d’énergie à se concentrer sur ce que font les autres équipes. Au lieu de cela, il croit en se concentrant sur l’amélioration de sa propre performance.
Curieusement, alors que Ferrari semble se démarquer sur des pistes où suivre la trajectoire joue un rôle significatif, Red Bull a rencontré des difficultés dans ces conditions. Verstappen a reconnu cette faiblesse, particulièrement évidente dans sa performance à Monaco. Il a mentionné que cela a servi d’avertissement pour l’équipe. Avec d’autres équipes se rapprochant, se fier uniquement à leur avantage en suivant la trajectoire n’est plus viable.
Verstappen vise à garantir sa troisième victoire consécutive au Canada et à ajouter à ses cinq victoires cette saison. Il a mené le championnat de Formule 1 pendant un record de 47 courses consécutives, depuis mai 2022 en Espagne.
