BRIEFING F1: CANADIAN GP

Formula 1 crosses the Atlantic this weekend, with the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit set to host the Canadian Grand Prix. And if there’s one car tailor-made for the demands of this track, it’s the most well-rounded machine on the grid right now: the McLaren. As if the team from Woking needed another advantage at this stage.

The circuit’s layout is a classic stop-and-go configuration: heavy braking zones, slow exits, tight corners, and tall curbs. It’s the perfect playground for a car that’s stable under braking and delivers strong traction on corner exits — attributes that currently define the McLaren package.

Among the contenders, McLaren enters as the clear favorite: dominant, composed, and seemingly cruising, like someone driving with one arm out the window. Behind them, Mercedes appears resigned to the role of elegant understudy, while Verstappen — more than Red Bull as a whole — is taking a cautious approach as he awaits tracks that better suit his car’s strengths.

It’s not an easy moment for the Dutchman. He’s one penalty away from a race suspension due to accumulated infractions. In Canada, that means he’ll have to play the model student, setting aside the aggressive style he’s known for to avoid more serious consequences.

And Ferrari? Once again caught between expectation and reality. On paper, the Canadian track isn’t exactly suited to the Scuderia’s characteristics, with its struggles in slow corners likely to resurface. Still, some recent signs of improvement in tire management might offer a glimmer of hope for a better-than-expected result. Attention will also be on Lewis Hamilton, still searching for real harmony with his car.

To make things more complicated, the weekend presents an added variable: the use of the C6 compound in qualifying — a tire Ferrari has never truly gotten along with. It’s a seemingly minor detail that could heavily influence the outcome of Saturday’s session.

All of this puts added pressure on team principal Frédéric Vasseur, who faces a double burden: an imperfect car and a contract expiring in 2025. Not exactly ideal conditions in a company that has historically shown little hesitation in changing leadership when results fall short.

That said, the Canadian Grand Prix is often a stage for surprises: tight walls, unpredictable weather, and a track that punishes mistakes can quickly shake up the order. It will also be a major test for both McLaren drivers — especially for Lando Norris, who’s being called on to make another leap in maturity as Oscar Piastri continues to rise rapidly, lacking only in experience.

For Lando, this could be the perfect opportunity to capitalize on a potentially less-than-peak Verstappen and assert his status as the team’s lead driver. But the battle is far from over.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri

Race Frame