With the nomenclature perhaps originating from the Scottish legend’s first title in 1963, when he won seven out of ten races and too was essentially in a class of his own, it might be pertinent to bring back the award this season for every non-Max Verstappen competitor?
Alonso and Hamilton are trying desperately to bring the excitement, with the Spaniard just behind Red Bull’s other driver – remember him? – and the Merc not much further back.
If Verstappen wasn’t in this championship, it would actually be all right.
Perez peters out
Perez probably dreaming of the safe confines of Force India and its cuddly boss Vijay Mallya right now
Red Bull
Speaking of Sergio Perez, some of the blame of this year’s championship representing a ‘Heineken 0% excitement’ tumbleweed lies at his door.
The Mexican simply has no answer for Verstappen, actually often even struggling to get this year’s by-far fastest car into second place.
You long for Milton Keynes to pick the modern equivalent of a driver like Nico Rosberg or Nelson Piquet to take on Verstappen – a pilot perhaps not quite as fast as the reigning champion, but someone who could really rattle his cage as they shared the fastest car.
Unsportsmanlike stewards
The very unsportsmanlike Lando Norris
McLaren
Lando Norris’s 5sec penalty – for driving too slowly under the safety car to try and create a gap when double-stacking with team-mate Oscar Piastri – appeared draconian at best when looking at other drivers’ actions in recent years.
Some heroic racing later on went unrewarded, then, allowing him to risk his life in vain for much of the race – classic F1.
Wall of shame
Iconic F1 views – brought to you by Pirelli
Sky
The extended pitwall exit – luridly branded with Pirelli banners, naturally – ruined one of F1’s best views in the run down to Montreal’s first corner. Rubbish.
Haas’s not so racey pace
Haas going nowhere fast (unless you count going backwards as going somewhere)
Haas
Continuing the veteran theme this year, Nico Hülkenberg has been qualifying the Haas brilliantly this year on his return, taking second in Canada before a penalty dropped him to fifth.
He continued to fall down the order in the GP itself though, finishing a miserable 15th. Race pace needs to be addressed, it seems.
Goin’ Up
Albono
Albon emulated such Williams greats such as Alex Zanardi, Kazuki Nakajima and Bruno Senna with his seventh place finish
Williams
Logan Sargeant’s struggles with this year’s Williams shows you just how well Alex Albon has been driving. A brilliant P7 was what he richly deserved after holding four cars at bay in the race’s closing stages.
Sad goodbye
Things are getting emotional down at AlphaTauri.
didn't expect myself to get attached to a social media admin but here i am. yuki's little bye bye 🙁 pic.twitter.com/RxVE24MDRJ
— liya 🐧 (@snowtsunoda) June 18, 2023
Playing an ace (kind of)
Fourth and fifth, the stuff Fred Vasseur’s dreams are made of (when he was at Sauber)
Ferrari
Ferrari strategists took some Le Mans inspiration by actually getting it right for once, putting Leclerc and Sainz up to fourth and fifth respectively from poor grid positions.