Lando Norris, during a press conference in Canada, expressed his belief that the favorites for the upcoming race are difficult to determine. He mentioned that it could be his team, Ferrari, or Red Bull that comes out on top. The uncertainty of the outcome adds to the excitement, as neither team has a clear advantage.
Red Bull, led by three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, dominated last year’s races, winning 21 of 22. Verstappen himself scored a notable 19 wins. Currently, after eight rounds this season, Red Bull leads the F1 constructors’ championship. However, Ferrari’s recent victory, along with the unfortunate Sergio Perez incident, brought them within 24 points of Red Bull.
Norris believes Ferrari may have an advantage in the next race due to the importance of leading at the recently resurfaced Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
Leclerc, on the other hand, downplayed the idea of Ferrari being the favourite. He emphasized that no one wants to hear such claims before a race. According to him, it is impossible to determine who the true favorites are and it is important to also consider the skills of the competitors.
Leclerc added that the true picture will only be revealed when the teams take to 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 between the teams.
Currently in third place in the standings, Norris is 25 points behind Leclerc, equivalent to a race victory. The fact that Norris, Leclerc and Verstappen, representing three different teams, have won the last three races is a notable event that has not happened since 2021.
In the previous season, Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix for the second consecutive time, achieving a record-breaking 10-race winning streak. Verstappen stated that he does not waste time and energy concentrating on what the other teams are doing. Instead, he believes in focusing on improving his own performance.
Interestingly, while Ferrari seems to excel on tracks where following the guide plays a significant role, Red Bull has faced difficulties in those conditions. Verstappen recognized this weakness, especially evident in his performance in Monaco. He mentioned that this served as a warning to the team. With other teams closing in, relying solely on your lead advantage is no longer viable.
Verstappen is aiming 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, dating back to May 2022 in Spain.
