Max Verstappen wins Canadian Grand Prix to secure Red Bull’s 100th victory

Untouchable and unchallenged, there is now a distinct sense of deja vu to Max Verstappen’s victorious -performances this season, -exemplified once more by a flawless win at the Canadian Grand Prix.

It was another consummate run and a personal milestone in matching Ayrton Senna’s 41 race wins also marked an immense achievement by his Red Bull team in notching up a century of wins in style in Montreal. The debate over whether the Dutchman can be caught this season is over but he and Red Bull are surely set to clock up even bigger numbers.

Behind him Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso enjoyed a decent scrap at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with the Spaniard coming out on top in second for Aston and Hamilton third for Mercedes. It was something of a return to form for Aston Martin while Mercedes will once more be buoyed that their car was in the mix, as they had been at the last round in Spain.

Mercedes had thought they may struggle in the slow corners in Canada, that they were up there will be hugely heartening for them in that their new upgrades have genuinely delivered an improvement across a range of tracks.

They were very much in a battle of their own however, at the business end Verstappen was in a class of one. With his teammate Sergio Pérez managing only sixth the Dutchman now leads the world championship by 69 points after eight rounds.

Indeed that Red Bull remains unbeaten this season is largely down to Verstappen who has taken six wins from eight. Mercedes and Aston Martin do appear to be moving closer but equally it must be considered that Verstappen is opening a comfortable gap – nine seconds from Alonso at the flag – and then merely maintaining it, not needing to flog his ride unnecessarily.

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