Red Bull clinches first season podium at Canadian GP

Red Bull Racing secured its first podium finish of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen finishing third after a strategic recovery drive. Teammate Isack Hadjar finished fifth despite receiving two time penalties during the race. The result provided a positive conclusion to a weekend that began with significant frustration for the team, particularly after Verstappen qualified sixth.

Team Principal Laurent Mekies described the outcome as confirmation that recent upgrades are moving the team in the right direction. He stated that the performance in Montreal at least confirmed the step forward the team made at the previous race in Miami, and potentially represented further progress. He noted the qualifying deficit to the fastest cars was around three-tenths of a second, an improvement from the half-second gap seen in Miami, and that the race finish was closer to the winner. However, Mekies cautioned against over-optimism, suggesting the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's layout may have been forgiving for the car's characteristics.

The weekend highlighted an ongoing process of experimentation within the team. After qualifying, Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction with...