Wolff sees Red Bull and Verstappen's lead shrink: 'That's important'

F1 News

Wolff reacts after the Canadian Grand Prix
10 June at 17:30
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  • Estéban den Toom

Max Verstappen has won the Canadian Grand Prix. The weekend started on Friday by no means ideal for the Dutchman. Smoke even came out of his RB20 during the second free practice, but after a qualifying session in which he ran the same time as George Russell and ended up in second place, he finished it all off on Sunday by winning at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Still, Toto Wolff sees Red Bull's lead dwindling.

Sergio Perez had a dramatic qualifying session in Montreal. After Q1, the Mexican was already finished on Saturday. Things did not fare much better for the Guadalajara-based driver on Sunday, as Perez lost his rear wing during the race, forcing him to put his car in the pit box. That was the end of his weekend. If only Verstappen takes (many) points, it will be difficult for the driver with number one on the car to clinch the constructors' title on his own. Wolff sees the Austrian constructor's lead shrinking.

Wolff on Verstappen and Red Bull

The Mercedes man speaking. "The last few races were more difficult for them, and I think everybody has been making good steps forward. Today, there were two or three teams that could have potentially won the race, maybe us, not quite. But I don't know whether they made a step backwards, but the most important is that it's shrinking," the Vienna-based man told Sky Sports after the race.

Mercedes came out well (with a third and fourth place during the race) in Canada, which Wolff hopes it is not a one-off. "I hope it's not track-related. Montreal is the outlier also that mid-range corner speed and change of directions, but overall, the driver [Verstappen] said the car is now in a space where they can push it. They have more confidence, and therefore, obviously, everything becomes much easier."

This article was written in collaboration with Sophia Crothall.