Mercedes’ Russell Edges Red Bull’s Verstappen to Canadian Grand Prix Pole

George Russell (26) claimed pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix on Saturday, achieving the same lap time as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (26). However, Verstappen, the triple Formula 1 world champion, was relegated to second place because he completed his lap of one minute 12.000 seconds after Russell, making the British driver the pole-sitter in a thrilling qualifying session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Mercedes had shown their potential earlier on Saturday when Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time winner in Canada, recorded the fastest time in the final practice session, with Russell close behind in third.

Friday’s practice sessions were disrupted by rain, which returned for the first two phases of Saturday’s qualifying. However, the weather cleared just in time for the final shootout, resulting in a dramatic tie for pole position.

Russell’s pole position is his first since the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2022. He will start at the front of the grid on Sunday, with Verstappen, who is aiming for his third consecutive Canadian Grand Prix victory, alongside him.

The second row will be occupied by McLaren drivers, with Lando Norris, a winner in Miami, starting third, and his teammate Oscar Piastri in fourth.

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In one of the closest qualifying sessions in Formula 1 history, the top seven cars were separated by less than three-tenths of a second.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo delivered a surprising performance to qualify fifth, while Aston Martin’s Spanish double world champion Fernando Alonso secured sixth.

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion who won his first of 103 grand prix races in Montreal in 2007, couldn’t match his Mercedes teammate’s speed and will start seventh.

Neither Ferrari made it into the top 10, with Charles Leclerc qualifying 11th and Carlos Sainz 12th.