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International press see Verstappen shine: 'But this driver should have won'
- Cas van de Kleut
Max Verstappen pulled out on top after a chaotic Canadian Grand Prix. The Dutchman won for the sixth time in 2024, making a big step up in the world championship. International media were impressed by the championship leader's race, although one medium would have thought it deserved if someone else had won the race.
'Verstappen dominated GP Canada'
Spain's Marca even states, "The Dutchman started second in the race alongside George Russell, then took control when the sun started to shine and dominated again at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuves on Ile Notre-Dame in the Saint Lawrence River. "
At Bild, it is mainly about Mercedes' missed opportunity to win another race: "Silver arrow George Russell started the race from first position. The miracle came very close, but in the end it lasted only 21 laps. In the end, the Mercedes drivers took third and fourth, with Norris in second."
The German medium also observes that Charles Leclerc had a disappointing race: "A shame! Verstappen put Leclerc a lap behind on lap 36. A fortnight ago, the Monegasque won his home race and now he is put on a lap by the world champion."
'Norris really should have won in Canada'
So Verstappen was the eventual winner, but according to the Daily Mail, someone else should have won: "It should have been Lando Norris standing on the top step of the podium, his slim world championship hopes having caught fire in a pulsating Canadian Grand Prix of thrills and perils in the rain. But it wasn’t to be, the intervention of a safety car, and his McLaren team’s sluggish response to it, condemning the Briton to a never-say-die second place behind the unignorable Max Verstappen, who else?"
Still, the British medium is positive after the exciting Grand Prix: "A tremendous afternoon of sport – the kind in danger of giving Formula One a good name."
Perez criticised again after crash
Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez had a less strong race, the BBC concludes: "Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez had a poor race, failing to make significant progress from his 16th grid position and then crashing late in the race. Perez was given a three-place grid penalty for the next race in Spain for returning to the track with a damaged car after his accident, leaving carbon-fibre debris strewn around the circuit."