Max Verstappen Opens Up About His Worry Before Canadian GP

Max Verstappen pushed to secure second place at the Canadian Grand Prix, bringing home his fifth podium of the 2025 Formula 1 season. The race, held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 15, saw Verstappen finish behind Mercedes driver George Russell, who delivered a strong performance to take first.

Rookie Kimi Antonelli, also driving for Mercedes, finished third and challenged Verstappen repeatedly for position during the race. Throughout the event, Verstappen explained that he was forced into a defensive strategy by Antonelli’s pressure.

Red Bull made key decisions about pit stops to prevent Antonelli from overtaking. Verstappen admitted that he worried his aggressive approach might not last, especially since he experienced heavy tyre degradation in the race’s opening phases.

“The first two stints, I was struggling a lot with the tyres,” he shared. Each time Antonelli came close, Red Bull called Verstappen in for fresh tyres, helping him hold onto his position.

Pacing himself for the remainder of the race was difficult, especially during the final stint on hard tyres. Verstappen mentioned that even with a lighter fuel load in the closing laps, he still felt the car was struggling.

He said he focused on managing the gap to Antonelli and watching his tyres closely, avoiding any moves that could increase wear. Verstappen highlighted that at no stage did he feel confident about keeping second, but the strategy and quick reactions by the Red Bull team proved effective.

George Russell’s win marked an important result for Mercedes, showing improved speed and reliability. This was especially notable as Mercedes took both first and third places, strengthening their Constructors’ Championship campaign.

Russell’s victory also followed Red Bull’s formal protest, which was dismissed by officials. The incident added extra tension to a weekend already filled with action, including a collision between Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, which did not affect Verstappen’s race.

In the post-race standings, Max Verstappen now has 155 points, holding third position in the drivers’ table behind Oscar Piastri, who leads with 198, and Lando Norris with 176. Red Bull sits fourth in the teams’ standings with 162 points.

As the championship continues to unfold, each strategic call and race result is making a difference in the tight battle between McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. Verstappen acknowledged that while the car performed reasonably well over the weekend, the team did everything possible to extract the best result.

He praised Red Bull’s strategy and pit work in Canada, recognizing the importance of making quick decisions to remain competitive as rivals continue to push harder. With the next round set for the Austrian Grand Prix on June 29, teams are looking to build on their momentum.

Verstappen and Red Bull will be preparing for another tough challenge as they aim to close the gap to the leaders and secure more podium finishes in the coming weeks.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.