George Russell took a surprise pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix after warmer temperatures caused speculation that the Mercedes might not be as competitive.
Q1
Turn 1 proved to be a difficult corner to navigate early on, with both Bearman and Hamilton making errors at that corner on their first laps, ending them before they could even really start.
Just like it has been in the previous events where the C6 tyres have been brought to an F1 weekend, some teams gambled with using the C5 tyres, which are being used as the mediums, with the two compounds being pretty equal early on.
It was announced during this session that Yuki Tsunoda would receive a 10 place grid penalty for overtaking Piastri under red flags during practice.
Alex Albon had a very bizarre thing occur during Q1, as his engine cover effectively blew up as he was going down the back straight, with the resulting debris bringing out the red flag.
Albon would be able to get back out to set one more lap in this session, where he would comfortably make it through go Q2, unlike his teammate Sainz, who was significantly impeded by Hadjar.
ELIMINATED
16. Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber +0.007
17. Carlos Sainz Jr. – Williams +0.020
18. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin +0.139
19. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls +0.147
20. Pierre Gasly – Alpine +0.289
Q2
The mediums were still very much a competitive tyre in Q2, with the likes of Russell, Verstappen, Albon, and Antonelli all getting into Q3 on that compound.
Tsunoda was only able to to get to 11th place in Q2, not only knocking him out of qualifying, but also guaranteeing that he’ll start from last place at tomorrow’s grand prix.
Tsunoda was also involved in a couple of controversies towards the end of Q2, with Russell initially passing him on the exit of the pitlane, and then further round on the outlap he appeared to jump ahead of Leclerc and almost cutting him off.
Colapinto would find himself finishing 12th, meaning he’ll start tomorrow’s race in 11th, his best start in F1 since returning earlier this season.
ELIMINATED
11. Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull +0.099 (10 PLACE GRID PENALTY)
12. Franco Colapinto – Alpine +0.139
13. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber +0.180
14. Oliver Bearman – Haas +0.337
15. Esteban Ocon – Haas +0.631
Q3
Piastri had initially gone half a second quicker than second early on, although Verstappen would pip the current leader of the championship by just 25 thousandths of a second.
Pressure began to build for Norris, as he would set an extra lap on the same set of tyres, and while he was able to improve, it was only good enough provisional 5th place.
It would have been suspected that there would have been just three protagonists in the fight for pole position in Piastri, Norris and Verstappen.
Piastri and Norris had set near identical first sectors on their final flying laps, but a poor sector 2 for Norris effectively took him out of contention, and he didn’t even improve on his first time, leaving him stranded in seventh place.
Piastri would provisionally take pole once again, before Verstappen, now on the mediums, would again take it away from him.
However, it would not be Verstappen who took pole position. George Russell, who didn’t look to be in that fight for first, would snatch the top spot of the grid right at the death.
Qualifying Results
1. George Russell – Mercedes 1:10.899
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing +0.160
3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren +0.221
4. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes +0.492
5. Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.627
6. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin +0.687
7. Lando Norris – McLaren +0.726
8. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari +0.783
9. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls +0.968
10. Alexander Albon – Williams +1.008
