Red Bull seeking 100th F1 win this weekend; Verstappen can match Ayrton Senna’s win tally of 41.
It’s a fifth pole position in 2023 for Max Verstappen as he continues to show dominance over the season.
Just like he did 12 months ago, Verstappen came out on top in the rain in Canada. But it was not the rain that was the surprise, it was that Haas will start on the front row for the first time ever thanks to Nico Hulkenberg’s second place as he crossed the line for his time six seconds before the red flag came out after McClaren’s Oscar Piastri crashed.
Fernando Alonso will line up in third, alongside Lewis Hamilton. George Russell will be fifth.
After an up and down practice day yesterday with a shortened P1 and a long P2 where Verstappen saw himself a bit off the top pace was thrilled to be on Pole for tomorrow.
“Yesterday wasn’t fantastic so we made a few changes to the car, I do think the car improved to drive,” said Verstappen post race. “It was super slippery out there but we made all the right calls so of course very happy to be on pole here. Maybe it’s dry tomorrow, but we have a good race car.”
It’s going to be a mixed up grid tomorrow though. Leclerc, Perez and Stroll are all outside of the top 10, and Gasly is way down the field. It could still change too, with the stewards still set to investigate a few blocking moments from qualifying regarding drivers Sainz, Ocon and others. The stewards have their hands full of decisions to come.