George Russell storms to pole in Montreal, edging Verstappen and Piastri in a thrilling qualifying packed with drama and red flags.
After three free practice sessions led by three different drivers, the Canadian Grand Prix qualifying promises to be highly unpredictable. Max Verstappen, George Russell and Lando Norris each topped one of the sessions.
Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren dominated the three practice runs. This suggests there may be three teams in the pole position battle, possibly four, as Ferrari did not appear to be off the pace either.
Behind the front-runners, access to Q3 will be highly contested, with Fernando Alonso, Williams and Racing Bulls aiming for a spot. A surprise performance or disappointment remains possible, especially with Montreal’s walls so close.
At 9:30 p.m., McLaren denied the report aired by Canal+ during FP1 that Donald Trump would test one of their cars next week in Austin. A team spokesperson told Crash.net and ESPN that Trump “will not drive our car”.
If anything happens, it would be in a car from Zak Brown’s private collection, though this has yet to be confirmed. It also raises questions about how the former president’s large frame would fit in such a machine.
At 9:38 p.m., another denial came between sessions, this time from Aston Martin, responding to claims that Fernando Alonso might leave at the end of the season to return to Enstone with Alpine. The team pushed back firmly.
Andy Cowell dismissed the rumour in an interview with Sky, saying “Fernando walks around any garage. He knows many people in the paddock and I’m satisfied with our contract for next year. Hopefully he remains our ambassador”.
Sky’s Nico Rosberg reminded everyone that Briatore “doesn’t care about contracts”, prompting Cowell to ask “what are you saying?”. Simon Lazenby added “Flavio likes to get what he wants”. Cowell replied simply “no comment from Aston Martin”.
22:57 – Two overtakes occurred under red flag conditions in FP3, but the stewards have yet to deliver their verdict on Yuki Tsunoda and Gabriel Bortoleto.
22:00 – Qualifying has begun!
Q1 – 18 minutes
22:05 – George Russell sets the first benchmark with a 1:12.574, with Alex Albon slotting into second, six tenths behind. Oliver Bearman made a mistake in Turn 1, and Lewis Hamilton did the same.
22:06 – Andrea Kimi Antonelli gambled on mediums for his first run and ended up just 0.060s behind his teammate. Gabriel Bortoleto goes third on softs, with Isack Hadjar in fourth. Charles Leclerc is only ninth for now, behind both Alex Albon and Nico Hülkenberg.
22:07 – Franco Colapinto goes third on mediums, a tenth ahead of Pierre Gasly. Lando Norris sets the third-fastest time, while Hamilton is only 16th.
22:08 – Bortoleto avoids a penalty for his red flag infringement in FP3.
22:09 – Oscar Piastri takes the lead with a 1:12.332, followed by Lance Stroll on softs and Fernando Alonso on mediums. Leclerc improves to go second.
22:10 – Hadjar climbs to seventh. Max Verstappen finally sets his first time and goes top with a 1:12.273.
22:11 – Tsunoda receives a 10-place grid penalty for overtaking under red flags.
22:12 – Alonso goes fastest with a 1:12.239 – on mediums!
22:13 – The engine cover of Albon’s Williams has come off! The left rear section of the car exploded down the main straight, bringing out the red flag.
22:19 – While we wait for the session to resume, here are the details regarding Tsunoda’s penalty and Bortoleto’s lack thereof.
22:21 – The session resumes! 5 minutes and 30 seconds remain.
22:22 – The big question is whether Albon, currently 18th, will manage to set a lap and get back out.
22:23 – Norris goes fastest with a 1:11.826. And Albon is back out!
22:24 – Piastri and Hamilton move ahead of Alonso. Colapinto jumps to sixth – a strong showing from the Argentine!
22:25 – Hadjar moves up to fifth, Tsunoda can do no better than ninth. Russell jumps to fifth.
22:26 – Bearman climbs to 11th, with Hülkenberg taking 12th. Ocon also improves, going 14th. Albon finishes his lap and grabs sixth! Sainz is 16th after running through the grass and encountering traffic! Bortoleto can’t improve beyond 16th. Verstappen moves up to fifth. The gap between the top time and the first eliminated driver is 0.559s, while 20th-place Gasly is 0.841s off!
Eliminated: Bortoleto, Sainz, Stroll, Lawson, Gasly.
22:30 – It was Hadjar who held up Sainz, and it’s hard to see the Frenchman escaping a penalty, as he clearly blocked the Williams.
22:31 – Q2 will resume at 22:33.
Q2 – 15 minutes
22:36 – Verstappen sets the early pace in Q2 with a 1:11.638 on mediums. Norris is just 0.038s behind, and Piastri 0.077s, both on softs.
22:37 – Colapinto is seven-tenths down, with Leclerc going fourth. Hamilton sets the fifth-fastest time.
22:38 – Bearman edges ahead of Colapinto, and Albon slots into eighth for now. Russell and Antonelli sit out the first runs. Alonso goes sixth.
22:39 – Tsunoda completes a lap good enough for seventh.
22:40 – Hadjar also completes a flying lap on softs and slots into 10th.
22:41 – The Mercedes drivers are on a different run plan, with Russell taking sixth. Antonelli follows and grabs eighth.
22:42 – Albon heads back out on mediums! Hamilton improves to fourth.
22:43 – Leclerc finishes his lap and goes fastest with a 1:11.626!
22:44 – Albon completes his lap and goes seventh, 0.337s off Leclerc. He’ll have time for another attempt with 4 minutes and 15 seconds remaining.
22:46 – Colapinto regains 10th position on mediums.
22:47 – Russell goes top with a 1:11.570 on mediums!
22:48 – Tsunoda takes ninth, eliminating Colapinto. Antonelli moves into eighth.
22:49 – Hadjar grabs ninth, Alonso climbs to sixth. Hülkenberg improves but can only manage 13th. A replay shows Russell overtaking Tsunoda in the pit lane.
Eliminated: Tsunoda, Colapinto, Hülkenberg, Bearman, Ocon.
Q3 – 12 minutes
22:58 – Leclerc is first to set a time, posting a 1:11.729. Norris clocks a 1:12.2, while Hamilton preps for another run.
22:59 – Albon initially went out on softs but switched to mediums.
23:00 – Norris’ lap is deleted. Oscar Piastri sets a 1:11.273. Alonso goes just behind Leclerc, less than a tenth away. Verstappen takes the lead with a 1:11.248. Hadjar records a 1:12.3.
23:02 – Russell moves into third, 0.268s behind Verstappen, and Antonelli is fourth, three-tenths back. Norris posts a time on his first set of tyres and is fifth.
23:03 – On mediums, Albon is ninth, eight-tenths off.
23:06 – Alonso completes his lap on mediums and improves to go fourth! Hamilton goes quicker and takes the position from him.
23:07 – Leclerc had the fastest first sector but was impeded by Hadjar. The Mercedes drivers, including Russell, are now on mediums.
23:08 – Piastri improves and takes provisional pole with a 1:11.120! Norris botches his lap and stays seventh. Verstappen goes faster again and reclaims top spot with a 1:11.059!
23:09 – Russell finds even more time and clocks a 1:10.899 to go fastest! Antonelli moves into fourth.
Just like last year, Russell takes pole position and does not appear to be under investigation for passing Tsunoda, who was stationary, in the pit lane. Verstappen will line up alongside him on the front row tomorrow.
Piastri and Antonelli will form the second row, followed by Hamilton and Alonso on row three. Norris starts seventh, Leclerc only eighth, with Hadjar and Albon on row five – though Hadjar remains under investigation.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | George Russell | Mercedes W16 | 1:12.075 | 1:11.570 | 1:10.899 |
| 02 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | 1:12.054 | 1:11.638 | 1:11.059 |
| 03 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | 1:11.939 | 1:11.715 | 1:11.120 |
| 04 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes W16 | 1:12.279 | 1:11.974 | 1:11.391 |
| 05 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari SF-25 | 1:11.952 | 1:11.885 | 1:11.526 |
| 06 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | 1:12.073 | 1:11.805 | 1:11.586 |
| 07 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | 1:11.826 | 1:11.599 | 1:11.625 |
| 08 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-25 | 1:12.038 | 1:11.626 | 1:11.682 |
| 09 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | 1:12.211 | 1:12.003 | 1:11.867 |
| 10 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW47 | 1:12.090 | 1:11.892 | 1:11.907 |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 11 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | 1:12.334 | 1:12.102 | |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault A525 | 1:12.234 | 1:12.142 | |
| 13 | Nico Hülkenberg | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | 1:12.323 | 1:12.183 | |
| 14 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | 1:12.306 | 1:12.340 | |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | 1:12.378 | 1:12.634 | |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 16 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | 1:12.385 | ||
| 17 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes FW47 | 1:12.398 | ||
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | 1:12.517 | ||
| 19 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | 1:12.525 | ||
| 20 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A525 | 1:12.667 |
