Perhaps beating Max Verstappen is the flawed aim now. Perhaps the target for the world’s (second-best) drivers must pivot to one thing extra modest, extra achievable, within the brief time period.

Perhaps, simply possibly, if the whole lot goes proper and the automobile is quick and the nerves maintain, one other Components 1 driver will discover a option to lead a lap.

Only one would now qualify as a second worthy of celebration.

Verstappen gained yet one more Components 1 race on Sunday, ending comfortably forward of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton on the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. It was Verstappen’s third straight wire-to-wire victory, his fourth win in a row and his sixth win in eight races this season. (He was second within the different two.)

What may be extra spectacular, although, is the sheer dominance he has proven in current weeks. Verstappen, the two-time world champion and the quickest automobile on the grid all season, now has led each lap run in Components 1 for the reason that late levels of the Miami Grand Prix on Could 7 — 224 in a row and counting.

It’s the longest such streak within the sequence since Nigel Mansell led for 235 consecutive laps in 1992, and it has drawn the Components 1 file of 304 — set in 1952 by Alberto Ascari — into view.

Can Verstappen get there? Till somebody will get in entrance of him, even for a lap, there’s no cause to assume he can not.

Pink Bull by the Numbers

Verstappen’s win, and a welcome robust day by his teammate Sergio Pérez, who completed sixth, made it a memorable day for Pink Bull Racing. Listed here are among the numbers:

4 Consecutive wins this season by Max Verstappen.

6 Verstappen’s 2023 win complete.

8 Wins for Pink Bull, in eight races.

41 Verstappen’s profession victory complete, which tied him for fifth with Ayrton Senna. Lewis Hamilton’s file (103) remains to be out of attain.

100 Wins in Components 1 by Pink Bull.

224 Consecutive laps led by Verstappen this season, the fifth-longest such streak in Components 1 historical past.

Sunday’s Race in Pictures

Silver Linings

Shut end Alonso, Hamilton and the remainder of the sphere — crushed once more — may have the ability to take coronary heart in a single statistic: Verstappen’s margin of victory was solely 9.57 seconds, the smallest hole of a race accomplished at pace all season. Perhaps Verstappen eased up on the finish. (Unlikely.) Perhaps his rivals are seeing some good indicators from the upgrades they’ve been making. (Extra possible.) However in a season when Pink Bull has gained each race, that shrinking margin of victory should really feel like an omen.

Powerful protection Alex Albon was seventh for Williams, a courageous defensive efficiency throughout which he drove greater than 50 laps on the identical set of getting old tires. It was his greatest end of the season.

Salvage job Charles Leclerc (fourth) and Carlos Sainz (fifth) saved Ferrari’s day on a depressing weekend that featured a grid penalty by Sainz and a diatribe by Leclerc during which he urged on Saturday that the crew was stumbling round at nighttime in search of options on easy methods to make up floor.

What They’re Saying

• “I’m very glad proper now.” — Verstappen, just about each week.

• “We hoped to problem a bit extra, however we misplaced a spot to Lewis initially after which battled all race. It was like 70 qualifying laps.” — Alonso, on taking part in catch-up all day.

• “It’s been a terrific weekend for us. We’re always chipping away.” — Hamilton, who was loving the Mercedes upgrades getting into the weekend and wound up on the rostrum for the second race in a row.

Drivers’ Championship Standings

Verstappen’s lead is now 69 factors over Pérez and 78 over Alonso. Apart from Hamilton, each different driver is greater than 100 factors behind by way of eight races.