Results of the First Third of the Formula 1 Season: What Do We Know Before the Canadian Grand Prix?
Formula 1 is not just a sport; it's a true art form. Beautiful cars, equally beautiful women, champagne, millionaires. It resembles a wonderful dream interrupted by an alarm clock at 6:00 AM, calling you to work. But we all have a chance to dive into this masterpiece. Especially since a third of the season is behind us – the race in Barcelona has passed, after which much has become clear. What awaits us next?
McLaren – the main favorite
Two young drivers who have yet to gain experience and sufficient skill. But does it matter when the orange car is technically the best? In Barcelona, the British team was once again the strongest, and Oscar Piastri won both the qualifying and the main race. Why is this happening?
The team of technicians skillfully balances between penalties and staying within the regulations. Excellent downforce, excellent tire warming. In Barcelona, with its many turns, McLaren had no rivals. The orange cars flew farther than anyone else because the cars are so versatile that they can handle any settings, even the most aggressive ones. A huge reserve on the front and rear axle load allows the car to tackle any track. The main thing is to set it up correctly. And while competitors continue to complain that McLaren is violating the regulations, there have been no documentation issues so far. And if you don't want to turn your car into a spaceship (hello Red Bull), then rely on your best driver.
A few words about the best driver
Yes, Red Bull indeed did something with their cars, but it hasn't affected the races. The team is waiting for regulation changes, and Helmut Marko has already stated that the update cycle is over. Although the team did something, and Red Bull still has no rivals on the straights. But for this, you need to secure a high position in qualifying, start on time, and warm up the tires. It would be great if Piastri and Norris didn't feel too well, and all the strategists at Ferrari fell ill. But there are chances.
Verstappen understands perfectly that he is the only driver in the team, so the Constructors' Cup is as elusive to him as his own tailbone. Yuki Tsunoda declared to the world that there's nothing difficult about steering and taking the podium. What was the result? The guy can't even get through qualifying to start high. In general, a lot of loud words, but little action. So, about the best driver?
The best driver is still good and aggressive. Only his car is weak. Therefore, Verstappen only has chances on straight tracks. For example, the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix might be successful for him. In Japan and Italy, Max proved that he is still good, but he needs a more powerful car... Verstappen is a hostage to the situation. But he talks about how the car can be updated and tuned. It seems that all conflicts were left in the past season, and now everything is good again. But there are still many Grands Prix ahead, and Red Bull has one driver and an old car.
“Scuderia” with Hamilton is not pleasing yet
The lineup of drivers at Ferrari is excellent – Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Yet, we don't even see the Brit in the top 5. When two such top-tier drivers race on the same team, a conflict can arise out of nowhere. So far, there are no news reports, but it seems that the atmosphere at Ferrari is tense. Especially since Lewis is struggling; he either asks for updates or goes silent. In general, it's chaos and confusion. Only Leclerc remains stable, motivated by the Brit's arrival on the team.
By the way, Leclerc is delivering the main results. He is in fifth place in the standings, and everything goes well for him if the race conditions are ideal. There haven't been any significant changes to the car compared to last season. The car hasn't gotten worse, but you can forget about it being "better." Perhaps everything will change when the regulations are updated, and the Italian engineers get to work. For now, Leclerc is competing not with Verstappen, Norris, or Piastri, but with Hamilton.
Can Mercedes still compete?
Currently, the Germans are in third place in the Constructors' Championship. But can they maintain the same pace? George Russell is an excellent driver, truly very good, but the second driver doesn't inspire confidence. The Constructors' Cup seems distant for the team, and one can't help but feel sorry for Russell... The car is quite good, yet it can't compete with McLaren, Ferrari, or even Red Bull. The Brit is squeezing the maximum out of the car; it was interesting to watch him in Barcelona. There are issues with grip, the rear axle struggles, as Russell mentioned. But Mercedes is worth watching.
What to expect from the Canadian Grand Prix?
Want to see Verstappen take first place? Perhaps Canada will give him that chance. But still, there's no one stronger than McLaren, and nothing will change until the regulations are updated. Meanwhile, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull will try to achieve what they occasionally manage through their drivers, wings, and tires. We continue to follow F1, no matter how obvious McLaren's superiority may be.
