Max Verstappen’s Canadian GP Battle Plan: Attack or Defend Explained

Max Verstappen finished second at the Canadian Grand Prix, delivering a strategic drive that balanced attacking moves with careful defense. Starting from P2 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Verstappen faced strong pressure from George Russell and the Mercedes team throughout the race.

Red Bull’s plan relied on aggressive undercut pit stops, but problems with tire wear complicated the push for victory. Despite this challenge, Verstappen held off Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli for most of the event.

The race unfolded differently from predictions made before the start. Many expected McLaren to dominate, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showing promising speed during practice.

Instead, the main fight became a close contest between Red Bull and Mercedes, especially after McLaren could not replicate their earlier pace in the warmer Sunday conditions. Data from the weekend showed Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren were running closely matched lap times, but rising track temperatures on race day affected tire degradation.

Red Bull’s tire wear was higher than anticipated, leading the team to move up their pit stops to protect Verstappen’s track position. Advisor Helmut Marko noted that Verstappen may have pushed too hard in the early stages, trying to match Russell’s pace.

Mercedes, on the other hand, managed its Pirelli tires well, thanks in part to upgrades on the rear suspension. Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, said the team’s improved performance in the heat surprised even the engineers, with long stints that outlasted rivals.

Verstappen called the Red Bull approach “attacking” due to the early pit stops and two undercut attempts. However, the main goal was to keep Antonelli behind, especially as the Mercedes looked stronger late in each stint.

Both pit cycles saw Verstappen pit just before Antonelli could attempt a move, with team radio instructing him when to box and urging him to use his “overtake” button on key out-laps. In the second pit phase, Antonelli almost managed to leapfrog Verstappen, but Verstappen kept his place using warmer tires out of the pit exit.

In the last stint, Verstappen changed tactics. With tire wear having cost him pace earlier, he drove more carefully, aiming to stretch the final set of tires close to 33 laps—longer than his middle stint by eight laps.

He later said that a lighter Red Bull improved performance late, but still didn’t provide enough speed to go after the lead. Meanwhile, Antonelli admitted that he made an error by pushing too hard as soon as he came out behind Verstappen, which made his own tires drop away before the flag.

The result gave Verstappen 18 points, cutting the gap to McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the championship. Piastri leads with 198 points, Norris has 176, while Verstappen’s total rose to 155, keeping him in striking distance as the calendar heads to Austria next on June 29.

Red Bull now holds 162 points in the constructors’ table, behind McLaren and Mercedes. After the race, Verstappen praised Red Bull’s quick thinking but made it clear that they need more raw pace if he is to challenge for another title.

He said the strategy and qualifying gave them the edge this weekend but warned that relying on tactics won’t be enough against a stronger McLaren and improving Mercedes over the next rounds. As the championship continues, Red Bull is looking for answers to their tire management struggles and aiming to close the performance gap for the rest of the season.