Max Verstappen delivered Red Bull’s breakthrough moment of the 2026 Formula 1 season, securing third place at the Canadian Grand Prix to claim the team’s maiden podium since transitioning to manufacturer status. The four-time world champion fought his way from sixth on the grid to the final podium step at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, marking a crucial milestone for the Milton Keynes-based operation that has struggled to match the pace of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren this year.
The Dutch driver capitalized on strategic missteps by McLaren, whose drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri gambled on intermediate tires despite dry track conditions, forcing both to pit within the opening two laps. Verstappen’s podium chances improved further when George Russell’s Mercedes suffered a surprising power unit failure, removing another competitor from contention ahead of him.
While Verstappen initially overtook Lewis Hamilton in the early stages, the seven-time champion regained the position in the closing laps, relegating the Red Bull driver to third. Despite the late-race setback, Verstappen expressed complete satisfaction with the outcome, describing the weekend as “extremely positive” given the challenging circumstances his team has faced as a new power unit supplier.
“Racing back up front, that is always better, right? And for us to have our first podium, of course, is really positive,” Verstappen said after the race. “I had some cool battles out there, and the cool battle with Lewis Hamilton as well at the end. In a weekend where it’s not that easy to get things right, for us to be on the podium here is extremely positive, so naturally I’m very happy with that.”
The result represents a significant breakthrough for Red Bull’s challenging debut season as a works team, having previously relied on external power unit suppliers. When asked about closing the gap to their rivals, Verstappen emphasized the need for continued development, stating: “Keep working and improving better than our competition — that’s the target. But we’ll see over the coming races what we can do.”