Grand Prix du Canada: Russell (Mercedes) Clinches Pole Position with Same Time as Verstappen (Red Bull)
In a stunning turn of events during the qualifying session for the Grand Prix du Canada, George Russell seized the pole position with the exact same time as Max Verstappen. However, it was Russell who achieved this feat first. Meanwhile, Ferrari failed to advance to Q2, and Sergio Pérez was eliminated in Q1.
The qualification session at the Grand Prix du Canada saw George Russell of Mercedes secure the pole position on Saturday evening. Despite Max Verstappen matching his time of 1’12″000, it was Russell who set the time first during his initial run. This marks Russell’s second career pole position, following his success at the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix. McLaren occupies the second row, while Ferrari was unable to progress beyond Q2.
The competition remained tense until the end, with five teams vying for the top 6 positions in Montreal. Mercedes emerged as the strongest contender, with Russell and Lewis Hamilton leading the pack in Q2 and securing their first pole position in 20 races.
Verstappen faced a close call throughout the session, narrowly avoiding elimination in both Q1 and Q2. However, Sergio Pérez was not as fortunate, finishing in 16th place in Q1. Ferrari also faced disappointment, with both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failing to secure spots in the top half of the grid.
Despite the setbacks, the top 10 positions include Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, and Alexander Albon. Pierre Gasly’s Alpine will start from 15th place, while Esteban Ocon, who was eliminated in 18th place in Q1, will begin from the back of the grid due to a five-place penalty.
The Grand Prix du Canada has set the stage for an intense and unpredictable race, with Mercedes and Red Bull battling for supremacy on the track. Fans can look forward to an exciting showdown between Russell and Verstappen as they vie for victory in Montreal.