Verstappen holds off Sainz to win the Canadian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen withstood late pressure from Carlos Sainz to win the Canadian Grand Prix and increase his lead at the top of the championship.

Verstappen had looked on course for a comfortable victory, but a late safety car period closed up the field and it was a race to the flag with 15 laps to go. Despite being on fresher tyres, Sainz was unable to get close enough to try an overtake and had to settle for second place.

Lewis Hamilton came through to finish in third, just ahead of his team-mate George Russell. Fernando Alonso, who started the race in second after a superb performance in Saturday’s wet qualifying, faded away in the drier race conditions and finished in seventh.

Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez failed to finish after retiring with technical issues. Charles Leclerc managed to salvage fifth place after starting the race from the back of the grid following penalties for changing parts of the power unit.

It was the Dutchman’s sixth win of the season, and his fifth in six races. This latest win saw him extend his championship lead over Perez to 46 points.