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Max Verstappen wins as Daniel Ricciardo endures tough day after pit stop blunder costs track position

Emily BenammarNews Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
A pit stop error was not what Daniel Ricciardo needed as he fights to hold onto his McLaren seat.
Camera IconA pit stop error was not what Daniel Ricciardo needed as he fights to hold onto his McLaren seat. Credit: Clive Rose/Getty Images

An incredible race in Canada saw Max Verstappen tighten his grip on a second world title, but Daniel Ricciardo and McLaren endured another nightmare because of a pit stop blunder.

“You drove like a champion today mate,” Red Bull told Verstappen over the radio after the Dutchman staved off an incessant threat from Carlos Sainz who finished second.

It was a day of mixed fortunes for his teammate Charles Leclerc who - who having started at the back of the grid after new engine components - drove from 19th to fifth.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 19: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 19, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Camera IconMax Verstappen is growing closer and closer to the world championship. Credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

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But Leclerc also fell victim to his team’s poor decisions and pit stop issues.

And he wasn’t the only one, McLaren’s pit crews opting to double stack their drivers with Ricciardo a couple of seconds slow because the front right wouldn’t come off but Lando Norris lost almost eight seconds on his stop.

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“It was not a well polished race,” Ricciardo said afterwards in either the understatement of the weekend of a bid to remain as diplomatic as possible.

“We were just not really quick today, we were struggling for some pace and then we had to manage a few issues a well so not being able to push and attack put us too far out of the battle for points.

“Simply not a very fast-paced race for us.

“Pushing 100 per cent we could just hang on to top 10 but once we start to manage temperatures and things like this, it put us out of the fight. Would love to have had a better race but we simply just weren’t quick enough.”

The Australian finished 11th with Norris 15th.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 19: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia driving the (3) McLaren MCL36 Mercedes on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 19, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Camera IconDan Ricciardo’s McLaren finished 11th after a pit stop blunder cost him track position. Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images

McLaren boss Zak Brown was less delicate.

“A weekend to forget, but a weekend to learn from,” he tweeted. “We didn’t deliver the performance our drivers and fans deserve, but we’ll keep our heads up and come back fighting at Silverstone.”

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

Unfortunately for McLaren a pit stop strategy during a virtual safety car backfired.

Opting to “double stack” the cars after Mick Schumacher’s race ended on the 20th lap, both came in one after the other and Norris paid the price.

“McLaren had an unusually bad day for them,” F1 pundit Ted Kravitz said.

“No points scored. Norris is 15th and down on power because he had to swap out for an old engine.

“That was not a good day for McLaren.

“They were effectively stacking, I don’t think the tyres were ready for Lando.

“He lost about six or seven or eight seconds.”

Mclaren said after the race they would be investigating the blunder.

LEWIS SMILING AGAIN

Incredibly, having struggled to even get out of the car in Baku a week ago because of the pain he endured in the car, Lewis Hamilton secured a podium place for the first time this season.

There were a number of hard luck stories in Montreal, Sergio Perez retired after 10 laps, Mick Schumacher was also forced to retire meaning he missed out on his first points in F1 and Fernando Alonso will be furious after starting second and somehow finishing behind his teammate.

“They were quick in the race (Ferrari), it was very exciting at the end, I gave it everything I had,” Verstappen said afterwards.

“This year we seem quick on the straights. The safety car mean they had fresh tyres but I prefer defending than attacking.”

Verstappen is now 46 points out in front in the driver standings - the same points difference by which he once trailed Leclerc.

In what has been a hellish season for Hamilton, the seven time world champion was overcome to have finally finished in the top 3.

“It’s quite overwhelming to get this third place, it’s been such a battle this year, but we continue to stay so vigilant and focused,” he said.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 19: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes films a video on the drivers parade ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 19, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Camera IconLewis Hamilton finished on the podium for the first time this season in Canada. Credit: Clive Rose/Getty Images

“They’re a little bit too fast for us at the moment but we’re getting closer, so we gotta keep pushing!”

“It was not comfortable at all in the last 10 laps,” Christian Horner said after the race.

“We lost communication with the car - he could hear us we couldn’t hear him.

“Max was clinical today, a very impressive drive.”

Silverstone is next up in a fortnight’s time and Mercedes will be hoping to continue this show of form for both their drivers’ home race.

“I would think before the safety car came towards the end we had good signs, we need to keep working on the car,” Toto Wolff said afterwards.

“We need to develop the car more, we had it really low on the ground and clearly that doesn’t function. We own the problems and we have to fix it.

“Before we embark on 2023 we have to know the problem. The lower the car the faster you go they say but you can’t drive the car there.

“The more you raise the more performance you lose.

Wolff confirmed the Mercedes had been raised for this race amid fears Hamilton would have to sit out the weekend.

“It’s super to see him smile, I’m so happy for Lewis,” Wolff said.

“I think yeah (can win at Silverstone). We are back in the championship fight.”

Originally published as F1 live Canada Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins as Daniel Ricciardo endures tough day

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