High Drama in Montreal: Russell Claims Stunning Pole for Canadian GP
Qualifying for the 2025 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix delivered a dramatic session at the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. George Russell claimed a sensational pole position, snatching the top spot in the closing moments to set up a thrilling battle at the front for Sunday’s race.
The Mercedes driver’s stunning final lap put him on pole for the second consecutive year in Canada, clocking a time of 1:10.899. This narrowly edged out championship leader Max Verstappen, who qualified second for Red Bull, just 0.160 seconds behind Russell. The tension between the front-row protagonists, especially after their clash in the previous race in Spain, promises an explosive start.
Russell’s “Exhilarating” Pole Lap
Reflecting on his pole-winning effort, George Russell described his lap as “one of the most exhilarating laps of my life,” noting how he was consistently finding pace through every corner. Securing pole felt like a “real surprise” after a weekend where performance varied across sessions. Both Mercedes and Red Bull notably opted for the medium compound tyre for their crucial final runs in Q3, a strategy that paid off handsomely for Russell.
Looking ahead to the start, Russell playfully commented on the prospect of starting alongside Verstappen, quipping about having “a few more points on my licence to play with!” – a clear reference to Verstappen’s precarious penalty point situation which sees him just one point away from a race ban.
Verstappen Content Despite P2, Piastri Happy with Turnaround
Max Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his qualifying performance despite missing out on pole. He felt comfortable with the car throughout the weekend and believed it was in a “good window” for the challenging Montreal track, which he likened to a go-kart circuit with its demands for efficiency on straights and heavy braking. While acknowledging he would always prefer P1, he was happy with a front-row start and felt confident about having a “solid race” from second. Verstappen also voiced his frustration with repeated questions about his penalty points, dismissing them as “a waste of time” and “childish.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured third place on the grid. Currently leading the drivers’ championship by 10 points, Piastri was happy with his result, especially given the difficulties his team experienced during the practice sessions. He called it a “nice turnaround” and mentioned opting for the soft tyre in Q3 for consistency.
Norris Struggles, Key Top 10 Runners
In contrast to his teammate, Lando Norris had a disappointing qualifying session, only managing seventh place. Norris admitted to making “too many mistakes,” including hitting the wall on his final lap. He felt the car itself was good but lacked its typical advantage on this particular circuit, which he characterized as requiring excellent ride quality and the ability to handle bumps and low grip – areas where the Red Bull seemed stronger.
Other notable qualifiers included Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli who put in an impressive performance to take fourth place. Lewis Hamilton qualified fifth for Ferrari, one position behind his future teammate. Fernando Alonso delivered a superb performance for Aston Martin to secure sixth on the grid. Charles Leclerc had a difficult session for Ferrari, qualifying eighth and reportedly expressing frustration on the team radio, potentially related to an incident with Isack Hadjar. Completing the top 10 were Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) in ninth and Alex Albon (Williams) in tenth.
Grid Penalties and Investigations
The final race grid will see some changes from the qualifying results due to penalties and investigations. Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda, who qualified 11th, will start from the back of the grid (20th) after receiving a 10-place penalty for a red flag infringement during the third practice session. Isack Hadjar is also under investigation for allegedly impeding Carlos Sainz, now driving for Williams. Hadjar stated his team had informed him Sainz had aborted his lap, offering his perspective on the incident.
Race Start Time
With qualifying concluded, attention now turns to the race. The 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix is scheduled to start on Sunday at 7:00 PM BST.
The stage is set for a potentially explosive opening lap with George Russell and Max Verstappen side-by-side on the front row, reigniting their rivalry from Spain. Coupled with championship contenders Piastri and Norris starting close by, and several drivers facing grid uncertainties, the race in Montreal promises significant action.
