Verstappen wins Montreal Grand Prix for sixth win of 2022
Hamilton finishes on the podium for second time this year
Max Verstappen extended his dominance in the 2022 Formula One season by emerging as the winner of the Montreal Grand Prix ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen was hoping to carry the momentum of last week’s one-two finish with teammate Sergio Perez in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix into the Montreal Grand Prix.
The Dutchman won pole position in the qualifying race, with veteran Fernando Alonso claiming second place after an impressive performance. Charles Leclerc was handed a starting grid penalty and had to start from the back of the line-up in the race.
Starting in front of the line-up, Verstappen had a very good start to his race but saw teammate Perez drop out after only nine laps due to a problem with his gearbox. In the 10th lap, he pitted and re-emerged in third place behind Sainz and Alonso. He managed to re-take the lead by the 15th lap with expert driving.
Verstappen held on despite immense pressure from Sainz and claimed his sixth win of the 2022 season at the Montreal Grand Prix in a time of 1:36:21.757s for his 26th career Formula One win.
Lewis Hamilton finished in third place and claimed his first podium finish since the first race of the season. George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon, Alonso, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Lance Stroll completed the top 10 in the race.
Leclerc was named as the Driver of the Day after battling back from his penalty to reach fifth position in the race.
It was the third time in history that Verstappen, Sainz and Hamilton finished on the podium together and this win was in Verstappen’s 150th career race.
The drivers will now turn their attentions to the British Grand Prix on July 3rd as Formula One makes a stop in Great Britain.
