Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying: Russell Reigns Supreme, Verstappen Faces Challenges
George Russell secured pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix with a fast lap of 1:10.899, marking his first pole since the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Starting alongside him is Max Verstappen, who faces a ten-place grid penalty following a collision with Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, where he subsequently received three penalty points.
Despite being the fastest in earlier sessions, Verstappen was eclipsed by Russell’s late performance. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start from third for McLaren, while his teammate Lando Norris struggled to seventh place, sharing the fourth row with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Notably, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start in fourth for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Fernando Alonso contributing strong performance for Aston Martin in sixth. Isack Hadjar and Alex Albon completed the top ten finishers.
Yuki Tsunoda encountered a significant setback, receiving a ten-place grid drop for a red flag infringement during FP3, relegating him to the back of the grid after being 11th fastest in Q2. Franco Colapinto will occupy the 11th position, taking Tsunoda’s place, with Nico Hülkenberg, Oliver Bearman, and Esteban Ocon next in line.
The qualifying session saw unexpected results as Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson were eliminated early, finishing slowest in Q1. Home favorite Lance Stroll struggled with a return from injury, placing 18th. A red flag was needed due to Albon’s Williams shedding bodywork during the session, while Carlos Sainz expressed frustration over Hadjar’s impeding maneuver that affected his qualifying performance.
Qualifying Results:
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:10.899
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – Grid penalty (originally 2nd)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (AlphaTauri)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
The Canadian Grand Prix promises an intriguing race as strategy and grid positioning come into play amid the penalties and competitive dynamic between drivers.
