Mayra Madrigal
The Canadian GP is back on the Formula 1 calendar after a two-year absence.
Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is set to host the Canadian GP, which will take place from June 17-19, this being the ninth race of the 2022 F1 season.
In Sunday’s race there will be many things at stake, beyond the points, and that is that some drivers have special stories related to this circuit so they will seek to accomplish their goals.
1.- Competition in Red Bull for the Drivers’ Championship
Red Bull has a problem at this point in the F1 season, and that is that both of its drivers are fighting for the championship. Actually, everyone would like to have that kind of problem, since it is allowing the Austrian team to maintain the lead in the Constructors’ Championship and live the best moment since its arrival in the highest category of motorsport.
The Dutchman Max Verstappen is the leader with 150 points, and precisely this weekend he will complete his 150th race. There is something to take note of, and that is that the defending world champion has never achieved a victory in Montreal, only a third place in 2018.
For his part, Sergio “Checo” Pérez, seconded his teammate in the Drivers’ table with 129 points. The Mexican stood on the podium for the only time at the Canadian GP in 2012, when he represented Sauber, in third place behind Lewis Hamilton and Romain Grosjean.
2.- Ferrari Looking To Get Back on Track
Ferrari sits in second place in the Constructors’ Championship, with 199 points, despite not scoring at the Azerbaijan GP. Things have been difficult for the “Tifosi”, despite the fact that Charles Leclerc has been consistently achieving pole position. There have been mechanical failures in the car, and there have also been problems with pitting times, which has complicated the drivers. This will be the moment for Ferrari to reverse its situation, since if Mercedes wakes up it could complicate things for the teams’ competition.
3.- Lewis Hamilton Will Seek to Overtake Michael Schumacher
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has struggled this season, sitting sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with just 62 points. However, the Canadian GP has pretty much been his backyard, so he could re-emerge right here. Should he take a victory in Montreal, the Briton would become the driver with the most wins in Canada, as he is currently tied with the legendary Michael Schumacher at seven victories. In addition, if he wins, he would also overtake the German as the driver with the most consecutive seasons with wins in Formula 1.
It will be a big challenge for Hamilton as he has seven consecutive races off the podium in 2022.
4.- George Russell: Mr. Consistency
When the 2022 F1 season began, the #1 Mercedes driver was Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time champion of the highest category of motorsports. But things took a 180° turn for him, and it has been the British George Russell with a better performance driving the single-seater and is the most consistent driver, being the only one who has been within the top 5 in the first eight races. He is expected to continue to be the most consistent so as to keep scoring points for the team.
5.- Nicholas Latifi’s Last Grand Prix?
Nicholas Latifi has had a dismal season, and Williams seems to have run out of patience. It is expected that the Canadian GP, in which he will be local, will be Latifi’s last, as according to rumors, the Grove structure will replace him with the Australian Oscar Piastri, who would make his debut at Silverstone and who’s the reigning Formula 2 champion and the reserve driver for Alpine.
