Russell pips Verstappen to Canada pole in dramatic qualifying

George Russell took pole position from Max Verstappen for the Canadian Grand Prix despite the pair setting identical times in a thrilling qualifying.

Russell set his 1:12.000 before Verstappen to take his second career pole in F1 and Mercedes’ first since last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Lando Norris was just 0.021s away from pole as he took third from McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, while Lewis Hamilton had to settle for seventh, having shown great speed in final practice.

It was a dramatic qualifying at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as both Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were knocked out in Q2 and Sergio Perez was eliminated in Q1.

Daniel Ricciardo recorded his best qualifying of the season in fifth, in front of Fernando Alonso and Hamilton.

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Yuki Tsunoda, who was confirmed to stay at RB for 2025 earlier on Saturday, took eighth, from home driver Lance Stroll and Williams’ Alex Albon.

Canadian GP Qualifying: Top 10

1) George Russell, Mercedes

2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

3) Lando Norris, McLaren

4) Oscar Piastri, McLaren

5) Daniel Ricciardo, RB

6) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

7) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

8) Yuki Tsunoda, RB

9) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

10) Alex Albon, Williams

Russell shines as Verstappen rescues Red Bull

It’s just the second time since F1 went to three decimal place timing that two drivers have set the same time for pole position.

Mercedes looked quick throughout Saturday but it was Hamilton who looked the stronger driver ahead of qualifying, only for Russell to continue his dominance over his team-mate when it matters most in Q3.

Russell, who got a big slipstream from Albon, set his best lap time in Q3 on used tyres. Verstappen did everything to beat it with fresh rubber but missed out by the closest of margins.

Verstappen was close to elimination in Q2 when light rain made it difficult to generate tyre temperature. However, the rain wasn’t enough to wet the track and Verstappen hooked up the car to secure a front-row spot.

Hamilton was second before the final Q3 runs but was pushed down by Verstappen, then both McLarens of Norris and Piastri, plus Ricciardo and Alonso.

The seven-time world champion was just 0.280s off pole position, which underlined the close margins in qualifying.

As for Ricciardo, his future has come under scrutiny this week but he has responded in the perfect manner with fifth place.

Shock Q2 elimination for Ferrari

Ferrari came into the weekend as slight favourites as the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve characteristics were expected to suit their car.

But, the rainy practice and drying conditions didn’t play to their strengths, so Leclerc and Sainz were both bumped out in Q2 in 11th and 12th.

Both drivers complained about a lack of grip, perhaps due to the light rain which fell during the second part of qualifying.

However, Ferrari chose to put their drivers on used tyres for their final Q2 runs which may have been a strategic mistake which proved costly.

“We put the new tyres at the beginning of Q2 I think, and the last set was for the Q3. We will review everything,” Leclerc told Sky Sports F1.

“Obviously, not happy to be out in Q2 and we’ll look into it. I think the biggest issue was that we were so slow. Every time it was dry conditions we were nowhere this weekend and we’ve got to look into it.

“We don’t understand it yet, so we’ve got to look into it because since FP3 we’ve been nowhere.”

Perez out in Q1 on week he signs new contract

Earlier on, Red Bull’s Perez was knocked out in Q1 in an equally surprising elimination and will start the race in 16th.

The Mexican, who signed a new two-year deal to stay with Red Bull until the end of 2026, also struggled with grip and was visibly sliding the car in the slow corners as he missed out on Q2 by less than half a tenth.

“The main thing was switching on the rear axle, which was quite tricky and I ended up paying the price for it. I basically had no grip and was sliding too much, so that meant our qualifying was a total disaster,” said Perez.

“It was more tyres than kerbs. We were not able to switch on the rear axle, I couldn’t lean on it at all and I just didn’t have any confidence to push.”

Canadian GP Qualifying Timesheet

Driver
Team
Time

1) George Russell
Mercedes
1:12.000

2) Max Verstappen
Red Bull
+0.000

3) Lando Norris
McLaren
+0.021

4) Oscar Piastri
McLaren
+0.103

5) Daniel Ricciardo
RB
+0.178

6) Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
+0.228

7) Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes
+0.280

8) Yuki Tsunoda
RB
+0.414

9) Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
+0.701

10) Alex Albon
Williams
+0.796

Knocked out in Q2

11) Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1:12.691

12) Carlos Sainz
Ferrari
1:12.728

13) Logan Sargeant
Williams
1:12.736

14) Kevin Magnussen
Haas
1:12.916

15) Pierre Gasly
Alpine
1:12.940

Knocked out in Q1

16) Sergio Perez
Red Bull
1:13.326

17) Valtteri Bottas
Sauber
1:13.366

18) Esteban Ocon
Alpine
1:13.435

19) Nico Hulkenberg
Haas
1:13.978

20) Zhou Guanyu
Sauber
1:14.292

Sky Sports F1’s live Canadian GP schedule

Sunday June 9

5.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – Canadian GP build-up
7pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX

9pm: Chequered Flag – Canadian GP reaction

10pm: Ted’s Notebook

Formula 1 is on Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and you can watch every session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 7pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime