Verstappen’s ‘great call’ to McLaren as strategy disaster gifts Red Bull two places

Max Verstappen seized the opportunity after McLaren's strategy error, gaining two places and scoring his first podium of the season in the Canadian Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

McLaren's miscalculation highlights the fine margins in F1, and Verstappen's ability to capitalize shows Red Bull's resilience despite car issues. The Scuderia's gamble on intermediate tires backfired when rain stopped, handing positions to rivals.

The details:

• McLaren started both cars on intermediates, hoping for more rain that never came.
• Oscar Piastri warned it was a 'mistake' and pitted after lap 1 for slicks. Lando Norris followed a lap later, dropping positions.
• Verstappen, who did a reconnaissance lap on inters but switched to slicks, gained two spots without overtaking.
• He joked: 'That was a great call. I was like, 'Thank you'.'
• He also gained when George Russell retired, netting another place.
• Verstappen admitted the car felt better in Miami, calling the podium 'a little surprising' but happy with the result in tricky conditions.
• Team principal Andrea Stella defended the decision: at the time, the track was greasy and raining. He cited a double formation lap and rapidly drying conditions as unlucky factors.

Between the lines:

While Verstappen benefited, his comments underline Red Bull's ongoing struggle with car balance. The podium masks deeper issues, but capitalizing on rivals' mistakes keeps them in contention.