A mature champion and two warriors: Three things we learned from the Canadian GP

Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton confirmed that a champion's natural speed and talent will always shine through on the world's toughest race tracks.

It was the three multi-world champions who filled the podium at Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix run on a bumpy barrier-lined semi-street track where fast straights, chicanes and slow corners demand total concentration.

AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Sunday's race:

Maturing Verstappen

World champion Max Verstappen was not born when triple world champion Ayton Senna, one of his father's racing rivals, died at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.

After Sunday's win, Verstappen concentrated on Red Bull's achievement of reaching 100 wins rather than his own - he has matched Senna's 41 Grand Prix race victories - in the aftermath of a textbook triumph.

It was another sign of his maturing sense of judgment on and off the track, a development his team boss, Christian Horner, appreciated.

"What we are witnessing is the emergence of another mega-talent," said Horner.

"You can start to talk about him in the same sentence as the greats now - having matched Ayrton Senna," he added.

Red Bull joined Ferrari, McLaren (183), Mercedes (125) and Williams (114) in the 100 club and have won 17 of the last 18 Grands Prix - an ominous run ahead of the next race, their home event at Spielberg in Austria.

Dreams do come true ??#CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5V8hvUJTwk

Mercedes, Aston Martin close the gap

Hamilton's unexpectedly strong form on a circuit unsuited to his car proved that the former champions and Aston Martin are closing the gap on Red Bull - and they have more upgrades to come.

After a double podium in Spain, Mercedes were fast and competitive again -