The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix was action-packed, featuring matching pole times, two safety car periods, five retirements, and a hard-fought victory for Max Verstappen. Here’s a quick recap before we head into the 2025 race week.
In qualifying, both George Russell and Max Verstappen set identical lap times. However, since Russell clocked his time first, he started from pole position, with Verstappen lining up beside him and Lando Norris just behind.
The race began on a wet track with most drivers starting on intermediate tires, though the weather soon shifted. On lap 17, Verstappen made an error by running straight through the final chicane. A few laps later, on lap 21, Norris overtook Verstappen and began chasing down Russell, whom he passed on the very next lap.
A spin by Logan Sargeant triggered the first safety car. Unfortunately for Norris, he had already passed the pit entry and had to complete another lap, allowing both Verstappen and Russell to regain track position.
During pit stops, Verstappen, Russell, Norris, and Oscar Piastri all switched to fresh intermediate tires. Once racing resumed, the rain returned. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc, already struggling with engine issues, gambled on dry-weather tires, anticipating a dry spell that never came. He soon had to switch back to intermediates. Not long after, Carlos Sainz collided slightly with Pierre Gasly, damaging his car.
From then on, Verstappen held the lead aside from his pit stop and remained unchallenged as chaos unfolded behind him. The race ended in disappointment for Ferrari’s duo, along with Alexander Albon and Sergio Perez, all of whom failed to finish.
In the end, Verstappen claimed victory, finishing 3.8 seconds ahead of Norris. Russell held on for third, narrowly beating Lewis Hamilton by just half a second.
Verstappen has now won the Canadian Grand Prix three years in a row. With McLaren showing strong pace, the competition remains fierce. A win this year would see Verstappen surpass Michael Schumacher’s record for most consecutive victories in Montreal.
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