A catwalk. Two generations. Three world champions.
In 2013, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton took the second and third steps of the podium respectively at the Canadian Grand Prix, while Sebastian Vettel triumphed.
On Sunday, ten years later, only one of those three faces was different. On the first step of the podium appeared Max Verstappen, the new young king of F1.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Fernando Alonso, Adrian Newey, Technical Director of Red Bull, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton
“10 years ago, I wasn’t on the grid! laughed the winner. “I remember at the time watching them compete in Formula 1. I’m very happy to be there now too and compete against them. »
Not only does the Red Bull driver measure up to these two sporting greats, he dominates them aboard a car that is much more powerful than theirs. In a race without much history, he once again flew over the circuit to easily win his second Canadian Grand Prix, his sixth of the season and his 41e in career. He also gave his team his 100e victoire.
So many numbers, but few surprises. To tell the truth, the only surprise was to see the champion win by only 9 seconds. Is it the pace of Aston Martin which has increased? The Red Bull one that slowed down?
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
“We changed the car a bit compared to Friday, so I didn’t know how it would go. Luckily it went in the right direction, but it was pretty tough to keep the tires in the right window today. They were always quite cold, ”explained an amused Verstappen of Hamilton, who was taking selfies by his side.
“It was probably not our best race, but still, to win by nine seconds shows that we have a good car. »
Alonso, who was leaving 2e on the grid, was passed by Hamilton at the start. It took him 20 laps before managing to regain his place thanks to a nice overtaking from the inside.
“We had more pace in this part of the race, noted the Spaniard. It was going well until the last 20 or 25 laps, Lewis was coming really fast and I still had to push to the limit. »
An “iconic” top 3
There was no animosity between the three champions gathered on the sofa in the conference room, an hour and a half after the race. It’s not like there are any big on-track battles this season, like there were between Verstappen and Hamilton in 2021.
Everywhere in the paddock, it is agreed that Verstappen and his Red Bull will dominate this season until the end. Hamilton himself mentioned it, when a journalist asked him if he was accumulating a certain frustration over the races.
“It’s no longer a frustration, if it ever was,” replied the Mercedes star. We know what we’re up against and there’s nothing I can do about their incredible performances. There is a good chance that they will win all the races this year. »
“I’m happy to be back in the race and I just hope that at some point we’ll be able to have a higher level to get back to the good races we had in 2021. all three in one big battle would be awesome. »
It is not the first time this season that the three champions have found themselves on the same podium; this was also the case in Australia. Alonso, dean of the trio at 41, admitted to enjoying fighting on the track with his two counterparts.
“There is a lot of respect, a lot of talent when you fight against them. You know you can’t make a mistake because they’ll take advantage of it and they won’t make a mistake. […] It is a very intense, fair, respectful struggle. »
Hamilton, seven-time world champion, summed up the situation in the best possible way, in the calm that characterizes him:
“It’s an iconic top 3. I don’t know if there’s ever been a top 3 like this, I don’t think so. Hoping there will be more. »