It’s set to be another crucial and intriguing weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix as the F1 2025𒁃 world championship fight continues to hot up.

After a two-week break to reset and take stock following an intense triple-header which ended in controversy in Spain, the teams and drivers now head to North America for a standalone race at one of F1’s greatest venues - Montreal.

Will Max Verstappen be more cautious?

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen finds himself in very real danger of picking up a race ban after his controversial late clash with Mercedes’ 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell in Barcelona.

As well as a 10-second penalty which dropped him down to 10th place after crossing the linꦆe, Verstappen also picked up three pe꧙nalty points on his superlicence.

That has taken the four-time world champion to 11 of a maximum 12 penalty points for the period cov❀ering the last 12 months, meaning the Red Bull driver will now walk a race-ban tightrope.

Verstappen must navigate the next two races - Canada and Austri♛a - without picking up any more penalty points to avoid a dreaded suspension that would act as a 🍎hammer blow to the Dutchman’s title hopes.

🍌Will this precarious position cause Verstappen to change how his approach to racing his rivals? It will be fascinating to see how he responds, starting when he addresses the media on Thursday.

Can Lewis Hamilton turn things around?

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton cut a desperately downbeat figure after a hugely disappointing Spanish Grand Prix, which he described as bein𝄹g his “worst race” in a 𓆏Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion uncharacteristically lacked pace in the race as he✨ s𒁏lipped from fourth to seventh on the road (which later became P6 following Verstappen’s penalty).

Hamilton was ordered to make way for his much faster teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc and was even overtaken by 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber following a late Safety Car. Ferrari boss Fred Vඣasseur revealed Hamilton hadඣ suffered damage to his car but refused to elaborate further.

Perhaps Canada will come at the perfect time for Hamilton. Afteꦿr all, the Circuit𓂃 Gilles Villeneuve is a happy hunting ground for the 40-year-old Briton, who has racked up six pole positions and seven victories at the historic venue where Hamilton claimed his first pole position and win in just his sixth grand prix.

Hamilton has lo⭕oked lost with his Ferrari for much of the season, but will th🗹is be the weekend he finally makes a breakthrough?

How fit will Lance Stroll be?

At the time of writing, there has been no further update on 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lance Stroll’s condition and recovery since he was forced to wit🗹hdraw from the Spanish Grand Prix due to hand and wrist pain thওat is a legacy of a cycling accident he had two years ago.

Details ൩surrounding the exact nature of Stroll’s procedure - and subsequent recovery time - have not been specified, but it was led by renowned MotoGP surgeon Dr Xavier Mir.

Mir and the same team helped Stroll recℱover from two broken wrists and a broken t꧙oe within a fortnight to take part in the 2023 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Everyꩲthing points to Stro✨ll being on target to contest his home race in Canada this weekend, and understands a final decision is expected to be communicated by Aston Martin this week.

In the event Stroll was unable to compete, Aston Martin would hไave to call on one of their two reserve drivers - Felipe Drugovich or Stoffel Vandoorne.

Piastri vs Norris to heat up?

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Oscar Piastri led a McLaren 1-2 in Spain to make it five wins in nine races and move him into a 10-point lead over teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lando Norris in the championship.

With Verstappen’s costly penalty leaving him 49 points adrift of Piastri, coupled with McLaren’s current superiority, it is looking more t🤪han ever like being an in-house battle for the world title.

So far, Piastri and Norris have avoided major flashpoints, but McLaren know they need 🅘to be delicate in how they manage the intra-team fight as the season develops and the championship fight hots up.

There was a minor incident in Barcelona wh꧑en Norris gained by catching a “cheeky” tow from Piastri during q🅷ualifying to briefly hold pole position, only for the Australian to snatch it back.

Both Piastri and McLaren downplayed the moment which𓆉 team principal Andrea Stella described as bein🌱g a “minor episode” between the pair.

Norris and Piastri have managed to keep things clean for now, but the longer they duel over the same pieᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚce of tarmac, the chance of potential fireworks will only increase as the st💦akes are raised.

Could Mercedes be back in the hunt?

Mercedes made a flying start to 2025 with Russell claiming four podiums in the first six races, though the Silver Arrows have not retu🅠rned to the rostrum since Miami.

It was a brutal triple header for Mercedes and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kimi Antonelli in particular, but there is hope the team will be more compe𝓰titive in Canada.

Weather can always be a bit of an unknown in Montreal at this time of year and cooler temperatures are expected across the weekend. Those are the conditions Mercedes’ W16 tends to like best, so the German manufacturer will be looking to caꦜpitalise.

Russell claimed pole position here a year ago and went on to finish third in the race, giving reason to believe that Mercedes could be on for a stronger weekend after a recent perform🍨ance slump.