Red Bull's Verstappen expecting Ferrari upswing in Canada

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Max Verstappen heads to Canada expecting Red Bull Racing to be challenged by a Ferrari upswing in performance at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Red Bull started its season as the third best team in the pecking order behind Mercedes and the Scuderia.

But in Barcelona and Monaco, thanks to Max Verstappen, the Milton Keynes-based outfit was Mercedes' most worthy opponent, the Dutchman finishing second to Lewis Hamilton in the Principality after a thrilling battle only to be demoted to fourth on the account of a time penalty.

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In Montreal, the Red Bull charger believes he'll need to contend with Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, although it remains to be seen exactly what Ferrari will have done since Monaco to make itself for competitive next weekend. Likely not much.

"Montreal is always a nice city to go to," said Verstappen in his team's race preview.

"The track is actually pretty challenging even though it looks like there are quite a lot of straights.

"The chicanes and how you ride the kerbs is important as it can compromise you a lot if you make a mistake.

"It’s all connected, left to right or right to left, if you make a mistake on one of them, then your whole sequence is destroyed.

"It’s a fun track, at least you can overtake if needed and I always enjoy going there.

"I expect Ferrari to be more competitive in Canada, so for us it may be a bit more difficult, but as always we will try and maximise the result."

Red Bull team mate Pierre Gasly has limited experience of Montreal, but the Frenchman has noted his team's positive track record in Canada.

"I’ve only been to Canada once before so I don’t know much about Montreal but I’m happy to be going back and it’s a track that’s usually good for the team," Gasly said.

"Max finished third there last year and Daniel got his first win with the team in Montreal so it’s always been pretty successful for Red Bull.

"I think you always relate a track with your previous performance there and I was P11 in 2018 so it was ok but this year I will be aiming for much better."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.