George Russell delivered a stunning performance to secure pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a nail-biting qualifying session in Montreal. The Mercedes driver’s final lap was a masterpiece, crossing the line 0.160 seconds ahead of Verstappen, with McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri settling for third.
Russell, who also started on pole in Montreal last year, described the experience as electrifying. “Today was awesome in front of this amazing crowd,” he said. “The last lap was one of the most exhilarating laps of my life. I got into the last corner and I could see on my steering wheel that this lap was mighty. It was a surprise to see I was first, but I was chuffed.”
The result sets up a blockbuster front row, with Russell and Verstappen reigniting their rivalry just two weeks after their controversial clash in Spain. Verstappen, who admitted fault for driving into Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, is now one penalty point away from a race ban. When asked about sharing the front row with Verstappen, Russell joked, “We are mates, so we are all good. I have got a few more points on my license to play with, so let’s see.”
Verstappen, who briefly held the top spot in qualifying before being overtaken by Russell, remained optimistic. “I felt quite good all weekend. The car actually was in a good window,” he said. “The tough choice was the tires, which one to use. But I think we did the right thing [by using the medium].”
Piastri, who trails Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, was left to settle for third after being usurped in the final moments. His McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, endured another frustrating qualifying session, finishing seventh. Norris’s struggles began in Q1 when he made a mistake at the final chicane, forcing him to abort his lap. “So Lando, let’s just reset and remember your braking references,” his race engineer, Will Joseph, advised over the radio. Despite a second attempt, Norris was 0.726 seconds off Russell’s pace, further denting his title hopes.
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressed with a fourth-place finish, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso claimed sixth, just ahead of Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar took eighth and ninth, respectively, though Hadjar faces a potential penalty for allegedly impeding Williams’ Carlos Sainz in Q1. Alex Albon completed the top 10 after recovering from a bizarre incident where his engine cover flew off on the back straight, causing a red flag and an eight-minute delay.
Further down the grid, Yuki Tsunoda was eliminated in Q2 and will start from the back after a 10-place grid penalty for a red flag infringement in practice. Franco Colapinto achieved a career-best 12th for Alpine, while Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Haas drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon filled positions 13th through 15th. Gabriel Bortoleto narrowly missed Q2 in 16th, followed by Sainz in 17th after being impeded by Hadjar. Home favorite Lance Stroll struggled in 18th, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly rounded out the grid in 19th and 20th.
Russell’s pole position marks his sixth career P1 start and sets the stage for an exhilarating race on Sunday. With a short run to Turn 1 and a circuit known for close-quarters racing, fans can expect a thrilling contest as Russell and Verstappen go head-to-head once again.