Russell set a last minute lap time to snatch pole away from Antonelli as he goes fastest in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Q1
The track was getting faster and faster throughout much of Q1, as more and more rubber was being laid down onto the track, with the cool conditions making things difficult for drivers to set quick times from the very start.
This made it difficult to see the true order of things early on, with the likes of Gasly and Leclerc each finding themselves in the elimination zone, though they would both comfortably make it through to Q2 in the end.
Alex Albon would be able to take part in this qualifying session after missing out on Sprint Qualifying due to damaging his car due to an incident involving a groundhog, though he wasn’t able to be too competitive and would get knocked out in Q1 in 18th place.
ELIMINATED
17. Esteban Ocon – Haas +0.070
18. Alexander Albon – Williams +0.076
19. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin +0.421
20. Sergio Perez – Cadillac +0.654
21. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin +1.420
22. Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac + 1.497
Q2
Track conditions were still proving to be a tough nut to crack for the drivers, with many having to do multiple preparation laps before setting representative times. Verstappen even said that he was struggling to get his tyres into the correct operating window, describing things as though it was like driving on ice.
Despite managing to make it into the top 10 in the Sprint Qualifying yesterday, Carlos Sainz was unable to replicate such a feat today, only going 15th fastest in Q2, just over 4 tenths of a second away from the top 10.
ELIMINATED
11. Nico Hulkenberg – Audi +0.029
12. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls +0.040
13. Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi +0.214
14. Pierre Gasly – Alpine +0.330
15. Carlos Sainz – Williams +0.416
16. Ollie Bearman – Haas +0.559
Q3
George Russell initially struggled in Q3, having locked up at turn 5 on his initial lap, allowing for Norris to take provisional pole position ahead of Hamilton in 2nd. Then, on his second lap, he was only able to go as fast as 3rd place, albeit with just enough time to set one more lap.
On everyone’s final flying laps, it was Antonelli who would dislodge Norris from first place initially, with the McLaren man unable to find a response, all the while Piastri was only able to go 3rd.
However, at the last opportunity possible, Russell was able to find just enough time to pull his way up to pole position, beating out teammate Antonelli by just under 7 hundredths of a second, giving him a strong advantage in what could be a wet and wild race tomorrow.
Qualifying Results
1. George Russell – Mercedes 1:12.578
2. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes +0.068
3. Lando Norris – McLaren +0.151
4. Oscar Piastri – McLaren +0.203
5. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari +0.290
6. Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing +0.329
7. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull Racing +0.357
8. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari +0.398
9. Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls +0.702
10. Franco Colapinto – Alpine +1.119
