F1: Max Verstappen is aiming for another victory in the Canadian Grand Prix

MONTREAL –

Formula 1 leader Max Verstappen can win the Canadian Grand Prix for the second consecutive year at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Sunday afternoon.

Verstappen will start from pole position after finishing first in Saturday’s qualifying session.

The 25-year-old Dutch driver is the two-time reigning world champion and is on track to finish third, having won five of the seven races this season, including the last three.

Veteran Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso will start second and seven-time Canadian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes will start third.

Montreal native Lance Stroll will open his race all the way back in 16th after finishing 13th in qualifying and taking a three-place grid penalty.

Stroll, the only Canadian on the grid, has never finished higher than ninth in his home Grand Prix.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 18, 2023.