Formula 1, in Canada Ferrari aims to meet again. Verstappen can reach Senna

On the push of Gilles Villeneuve. And also of the resounding success at Le Mans. There Ferrari will try to take advantage of the right place and moment to meet again Montreal. Two weeks ago, in Barcelona, ​​the important updates on the SF 23 (belly and bottom) judged overall positive, however, didn’t take the reds very far: Carlos Sainz 5th from 2nd at the start, Charles Leclerc out of the points (11th) after a start from the pit lane for rear axle replacement and a 19th place in qualifying due to mysterious problems. “We arrive in Canada aware that we must continue to improve performance in the race” admits the team principal, Fred Vasseur. And also in the general performance of the team: he goes up on the Canadian wall Diego Iovernoresponsible for the pit stops, to support the sports director Laurent Mekies, leaving for the helm of the Alpha Tauri as soon as an agreement is found for his release. The arrival of other figures in the team is also expected.

Bitter Ferrari, so far only one podium

Mekies’ is one of the many knots to untie in a Scuderia with mixed feelings: we are celebrating last weekend’s victory in the most famous Endurance race in the world, the 24 Hours in the centenary edition, where Ferrari returned after 50 years of absence and beat Toyota with the hypercar driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi, Antonio Giovinazzi and James Calado and with the group led by Antonello Coletta (given by some as a natural replacement for Vasseur in the coming years). But together we suffer for an F1 that has so far reserved more bitterness than joy: Maranello fourth in the Constructors’ standings behind Aston Martin and the Mercedes that seem reborn (in Catalonia Hamilton 2nd, Russell 3rd). Only one podium: Leclerc 3rd in Baku.

Montreal, a circuit favorable to reds

The Monegasque, a spectator with all the management of the 24 Hours that he would like to race one day, in Montreal will find similarities with Azerbaijan where he also made two poles (including the mini one of the sprint race, which he then finished 2nd): semi-permanent circuit from long straights where low downforce is needed and high speeds are reached and slow corners where traction is needed. For 4361 meters and 70 laps. And the circuit named after Villeneuve is historically favorable to the reds: 12 successes, 8 poles, 10 fastest laps and 37 podiums. The last win is by Sebastian Vettel in 2018: The German, who retired last year, will be back behind the wheel of a Red Bull for a show in Germany in September.

Verstappen can reach Senna

There Red Bull true, that of Max Verstappencontinues his ride: the Dutch leader with three successes in a row and 5 in 7 GPs disputed so far, is 170 points, +53 behind his teammate Sergio Perez. If he also won in Montreal, he would reach 41 hits like Ayrton Senna. In addition to the Mercedes, the Aston Martins will try to stop him Fernando Alonso and of Lance Stroll, who plays at home: the greenback who underperformed in Spain should bring a new fund. But the growth of competitors still seems insufficient to dim the splendor of the blues. In Quebec there are many fires in the woods, the air is thick with fumes, but the race would not be at risk. Is it, if anything, the excessive power of Red Bull that puts the show in F1 at risk? President, Stefano Domenicali: “There have always been cycles in F1. And you don’t change the rules in progress to interrupt them”. It is the others who have to run more to improve themselves.