Verstappen takes a fine fourth in Canada

Starting fifth at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, the Dutchman leapfrogged Red Bull Racing team-mate Daniel Ricciardo at the start and also passed Mercedes driver Rosberg as he left the circuit at Turn 2 to move up the order.

Despite coming under slight pressure from Ricciardo in the early exchanges, Verstappen held off his Red Bull Racing counterpart.

After being jumped by Valtteri Bottas in the Williams for third, Verstappen was part of a thrilling battle with the recovering Rosberg for fourth.

Meanwhile, after his attempts to pass Verstappen petered out, Ricciardo fell away during the 70 lap contest. At the scene of his first win back in 2014, Ricciardo lost out to Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and he missed the final chicane dropping him further back as he was passed by Bottas and Rosberg.

The Australian eventually finished seventh, and fell to fourth in the drivers’ standings. Verstappen is sixth.