P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has stressed a battle with McLaren in F1’s Canadian GP is “not even in my head” as Red Bull’s prospects will be limited to the podium.
Max Verstappen is primarily focused on challenging Mercedes for a podium finish in the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, rather than battling with McLaren, whose performance has significantly improved over the past year. In the current F1 season, McLaren has won almost all races, with Verstappen being responsible for the only two defeats they have suffered. Verstappen recognizes that McLaren may have the upper hand on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which requires a car that is stable under braking and can handle bumps and kerbs well. Despite Red Bull’s progress in making their car more drivable, Verstappen acknowledges that McLaren’s pace is formidable and his main goal is to contend for a podium finish alongside Ferrari and Mercedes. He remains optimistic that Red Bull is on the right track towards bridging the performance gap with McLaren by addressing key weaknesses in their RB21 car.
