George Russell returns to the top spot of the grid as he gets a good start to his weekend in Montreal with pole in Sprint Qualifying.
SQ1
Only 20 drivers out of 22 were set to take part in Sprint Qualifying after Lawson suffered a hydraulics issue during free practice, while in that same session Alex Albon crashed his car after hitting a groundhog crossing the circuit.
The number of of drivers paricipating would also reduce during SQ1, as Fernando Alonso would crash into the barriers at turn 3 with just under two minutes to go. This would cause a mad dash to the timing line for those at risk of elimination, and while lap times were able to be set by those who went back out, no one would be able to improve, meaning a surprise elimination for Pierre Gasly, who has looked rather quick in his Alpine so far this season.
ELIMINATED
17. Sergio Perez – Cadillac +0.130
18. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin +0.482
19. Pierre Gasly – Alpine +0.770
20. Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac +0.994
21. Alex Albon – Williams NO TIME
22. Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls NO TIME
SQ2
Despite not taking part in SQ2, Alonso had set a time good enough to make it through the first part of sprint qualifying, though it did mean he would have no chance of improving upon a 16th place starting place.
Carlos Sainz had left it late to set a final lap time in this session, having been the last driver to cross the line and set a lap. He made good use of his time though, going from 13th and eliminated to 10th and through to SQ3, by a margin of less than half a tenth.
ELIMINATED
11. Nico Hulkenberg – Audi +0.048
12. Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi +0.080
13. Franco Colapinto – Alpine +0.155
14. Esteban Ocon – Haas +0.381
15. Oliver Bearman – Haas +0.758
16. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin NO TIME
SQ3
Lewis Hamilton was the first to set a time in SQ3, having looked pretty competitive in the first two parts of Sprint Qualifying, and the Canadian Grand Prix being a place where he has historically done well at.
Hamilton was initially able to hold off challenges from everyone other than Russell following the first timed laps, but there still appeared to be some life left in these soft compound tyres that were being used, allowing other drivers, and Hamilton himself, to keep improving.
In the end, Russell would extend his lead at the top, being joined on the front row by his teammate Antonelli on the front row. The rest of the top 10 had something of a ‘Noah’s Ark’ composition, with Norris leading Piastri on the second row, Hamilton ahead of Leclerc on an all Ferrari third row, and Verstappen beating teammate Hadjar on the fourth row.
Sprint Qualifying results
1. George Russell – Mercedes 1:12.965
2. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes +0.068
3. Lando Norris – McLaren +0.315
4. Oscar Piastri – McLaren +0.334
5. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari +0.361
6. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari +0.445
7. Max Verstappen – Red Bull +0.539
8. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull +0.640
9. Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls +0.772
10. Carlos Sainz – Williams +1.571
