Should Verstappen be happy with second starting position: 'Didn't expect it'
F1 News
![Verstappen receives praise from Brundle and Villeneuve before GP Canada](https://webp.gp.cdn.pxr.nl/news/2024/06/09/6dc420f3ae544ae44699c7e4fab4850113419f91.jpg?width=1800)
- Cas van de Kleut
Red Bull Racing can be happy with Max Verstappen's performance. The Dutchman will start the Canadian Grand Prix from P2, ahead of both Mclarenand Ferrari, among others. And that during a difficult phase for the Austrian racing stable. Jacques Villeneuve and Martin Brundle therefore see that Verstappen has stepped up since Miami, the weekend where difficulties began for Red Bull.
Ferrari and McLaren have made huge strides towards Verstappen's Red Bull. Suddenly the Italian and English teams are competing for wins, whereas earlier in the season it seemed unreal. Especially in Monaco, it became painfully clear to the Austrian racing stable that the other teams are improving, with a P6 for Verstappen and a DNF by Sergio Perez, after the Mexican started from P18.
Verstappen gets praise
Villeneuve therefore tells Sky Sports that Verstappen should not be dissatisfied with his starting position in Montreal: "I think he can be happy because being on the front row is not what he was expecting with this car. We just have to see where Perez is..."
Martin Brundle also sees the Dutchman performing: "I haven't seen Max probably for a couple of seasons now really having to hustle the car and pick up slides.T he team say 'we haven't gone the wrong way on anything' and maybe it's just the competition are pushing them and they are having to drive a little bit harder and a little bit faster."
The past one has actually made it harder for Perez to get more out of the car. For the second weekend in a row, the Mexican did not survive Q1. On Perez, then, Brundle has an opinion: "We have seen Sergio Perez has fallen away under that kind of pressure [from other teams]. Max is really standing up in the seat now and really hanging on to that car, since Miami."
This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall.