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 outcome 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 win, 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 claims before a race. According to him, it is impossible to determine who the real favorites are and it is important to consider the skills of the competitors 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 win 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.
In the previous season, Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix for the second consecutive time, achieving a sequence of 10 consecutive victories, breaking records. Verstappen stated that he does not waste time and energy focusing on what other teams are doing. Instead, he believes in focusing on improving his own performance.
Interestingly, while Ferrari seems to excel on tracks where aerodynamics play a significant role, Red Bull has faced difficulties in these conditions. Verstappen acknowledged this weakness, especially evident in his performance in Monaco. He mentioned that this served as a wake-up call for the team. With other teams closing in, relying solely on their aerodynamic advantage is no longer viable.
Verstappen aims to secure his third consecutive victory in Canada and add to his five wins this season. He has led the Formula 1 championship for a record 47 consecutive races, since May 2022 in Spain.
