Red Bull’s Max Verstappen acknowledges the challenge of matching McLaren’s pace in the upcoming Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix and instead aims to focus on a podium battle with Mercedes. Despite winning the last three races in Canada, this year presents a different scenario for Red Bull at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve due to its characteristics favoring McLaren. Verstappen identifies Mercedes as the primary rival for Red Bull in Montreal, emphasizing the difficulty of fighting for a podium finish against strong competitors.
Although improvements have been made to address balance issues in Red Bull’s car, it still lacks outright performance on rear-limited tracks like Montreal compared to McLaren. Verstappen highlights areas of weakness for Red Bull, such as handling kerbs and bumps, emphasizing the need to enhance overall performance. The team is making progress compared to the previous year but must continue striving for more competitiveness on challenging circuits.
In summary, Verstappen anticipates a tough competition at the Canadian Grand Prix, focusing on battling for a podium finish against Mercedes and Ferrari amid challenges posed by McLaren’s speed and the circuit’s characteristics.
