Max Verstappen and Red Bull have been far too fast for their rivals (Picture: Getty)
Formula One’s CEO Stefano Domenicali says he will not try to ‘manipulate’ the rules to stem Red Bull Racing’s runaway success.
The Anglo-Austrian team have been in a class of their own, winning every race this year so far.
Domenicali, who was previously team principal of Ferrari, acknowledges it would be more exciting were there a close title fight, but has ruled out any rule changes that might allow their rivals to catch up. Better to keep the regulations as they are, and allow the gap to close naturally.
‘We cannot be seen as part of manipulation,’ said the London-based Italian. ‘This is not fair. I think [sticking with the regulations are they are] is the right approach, because the rules have been changed not many years ago. Therefore [the other teams] will catch up for sure.
‘F1 has always been a sport where there are cycles, where one team was dominant and then some others came into the equation. I would say our objective should be [in future] to make sure these cycles are shorter.’
Championship leader Max Verstappen (right) may be looking uncatchable but this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix may be a better opportunity than most for Red Bull’s rivals to haul him in a little.
Lewis Hamilton looks happy arriving in Montreal and could challenge the Red Bulls (Picture: Getty)
The Dutchman is hoping to win for the sixth time in eight rounds. He triumphed in Montreal last year, so he knows the lie of the land, but he only beat Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by a second in 2022.
Lewis Hamilton could be a challenger, too. The Englishman took his first F1 win here at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in 2007, and it’s therefore close to his heart.
He holds the record here with Michael Schumacher – seven wins each. Hamilton would love to go one better this weekend, and after a strong drive to second place a fortnight ago in Barcelona, it might not be a pipe dream.
Mercedes are bouncing back from a very disappointing start to the season.
Recent tweaks to the car’s design have made it less of a handful, and this earned them a double podium in Spain – their first since Sao Paulo last year.
Stefano Domenicali says nothing can be done to level the playing field (Picture: Getty)
That result has helped them to leapfrog Aston Martin for second in the standings.
Fernando Alonso was sub-par in his homeland, finishing behind team-mate Lance Stroll. He has not won in Canada since 2006 but he will certainly give everything he’s got to claim podium No.6 this year. It remains his best start to a season in 16 years.
Stroll must hit his stride after season takes painful turn
Lance Stroll finds himself under pressure now Mercedes are in the championship runners-up spot.
The Canadian finished ahead of his team-mate Fernando Alonso for the first time this year in Spain but is yet to bother the podium, unlike the black arrows drivers.
Fernando’s been banking the points – 99 of them – while Stroll has just 35 and is eighth in the drivers’ standings.
Lance Stroll believes he should get more credit (Picture: Getty)
A rostrum finish at his home race in Montreal would be timely and the 24-year-old does have a habit of pulling it out of the bag when the opportunity presents itself.
Perhaps due to his privileged background, it took some in the paddock by surprise that Stroll is as tough as nails; having broken both wrists, a hand and a toe 12 days before the Bahrain GP, to score sixth there and fourth in Melbourne when he was still in great pain was heroic.
Given his dad Lawrence owns Aston Martin, Lance is used to the n-word – nepotism. ‘Maybe I don’t get the credit I’m due,’ he said.
‘I know inside when I’ve done a good job. I’m the first one to be hard on myself when I don’t do well. Too hard, sometimes. There’s no better feeling than putting it together on a Saturday and delivering on a Sunday. Weekends like that are the best feeling in the world.’
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Lewis Hamilton could be a challenger in Montreal.