Round 9 F1 GFT AI Driver Rankings: Verstappen Wins Canadian GP for 6th victory of 2023 and Red Bull’s 100th
18 June 2023
By Bob Francis, Managing Editor
Go Full Throttle Racing News
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA — While both Mercedes and Aston Martin upgrades show promise, it was another dominating drive for F1 defending champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing on Sunday at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Rainy conditions provided drama through much of practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday, but for F1 fans hoping for a true challenge at the front for the victory- it was not to be as Verstappen took Pole position in qualifying and led all laps Sunday in Montreal.
“I think I hit a bird”
While Verstappen made the win look easy, there was some early drama when over the team radio we heard “I think I hit a bird!” The odd radio communication sent Red Bull engineers into a full data review looking to see if any telemetry indicated an issue. None was identified, at least over the team radio. However, after the race it was discovered the bird was lodged into the Red Bull’s right brake duct.
“I think the biggest moment he had was hitting a bird that did half the race behind the front right brake duct,” he told reporters.
“The remains of a bird.”
Verstappen told Sky Sports television: “It was still stuck on my car when I came in, it didn’t look great. I also feel sorry for the mechanic having to remove it.”
An Insurmountable Lead?
In the 8 races thus far in the 2023 F1 calendar (note that Round 6 EMILIA-ROMAGNA was cancelled) it’s been all Red Bull. Max Verstappen has now won 6 Grand Prix's with teammate Sergio Perez winning 2.
Driver Championship Points Differentials:
P1 = 195 Points for Max Verstappen
P2 = Sergio Perez @ 69 points back
P3 = Fernando Alonso @ 78 points back
P4 = Lewis Hamilton @ 93 points back
Up Next: 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, which takes place over 71 laps of the 4.318-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on Sunday, July 2.
