Max Verstappen takes a big step in the title race by winning Canadian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen won the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday to strengthen his lead at the top of the F1 season rankings. Charles Leclerc, the driver who is second in the rankings, dropped out of the race halfway through after he was already far behind the race leader.

It is Verstappen's third win in a row in Montreal. Lando Norris of Mclaren finished in second place.

Verstappen gained 25 points with the win, taking his tally to 194. Leclerc's points total is unchanged at 138.

The reigning champion had to make do with a second spot on the grid after he drove at the exact same time as George Russell in qualifying, but the Mercedes driver had finished his quickest lap sooner. Verstappen was not bothered by competitors Leclerc and Sergio Pérez at the start, who had finished outside the top 10 in qualifying.

Verstappen started well on the wet road but was unable to trouble the quicker Russell. Norris, who started in third, was the fastest of the three at the start and took the lead after two quick overtakes in the 21st lap. He quickly increased his lead.

The wet circuit caused its first slip a few laps later; Williams driver Logan Sargeant was the unfortunate one. The American was stuck in the middle of the road, meaning the safety car had to be called. Verstappen and Russell went inside for a beneficial pit stop. That chance had gone for the much quicker Norris. The British driver of McLaren dropped to third place as Verstappen took the lead.

Lap 48 was another one where everything went Verstappen's way. The three-time world champion of Red Bull was able to stay ahead of Norris after his pit stop.

This was the moment that Leclerc dropped out of the race. After a slow and badly timed pit stop, the gap to the rest of the drivers was too big. The Monegasque won his home race at the end of last month.

Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) also slipped off the road near the end of the race meaning that they too did not finish the race. Williams driver Alexander Albon also had to pull his car aside after colliding with Sainz's spinning car. These incidents resulted in the safety car coming onto the track for the second time.

Verstappen got away well after the restart from the safety car and did not lose his lead after this.