Russell secures top starting spot in the race.
For the first time this season, George Russell snagged the prestigious pole position in qualifying. World champion Max Verstappen matched Russell's time and will start in second place for the race in Canada. The Dutch driver took it all in stride.
In a surprising turn of events, Mercedes' George Russell clinched the lead position for the Canadian Grand Prix. The 26-year-old British driver posted an identical time as Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen in Montreal on Saturday, driving a Mercedes. Since he completed his fastest lap a few minutes earlier, the pole position was awarded to Russell for the second time in his career. Both drivers clocked in at 1:12.000 minutes. Lando Norris earned third place in the McLaren.
"It feels amazing, all the hard work really paid off," said Russell, optimistic about the upcoming race: "This is going to be super exciting. Maybe I can win a race - you never know." He expressed confidence in his Silver Arrow, commenting that it "feels great here." The team had been facing some issues lately, often trailing behind the leaders. However, Verstappen remained unbothered by the narrowly missed pole position. "That's just how it goes," said the three-time champion.
Perez and Leclerc struggled in qualifying
Four days after extending his contract for two more years, Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez experienced yet another setback. The Mexican driver was sent packing after the first of three qualifying sessions, placing 16th. He expressed his disappointment over the radio while driving his Red Bull. Even further back, Nico Hulkenberg secured the 19th spot in his Haas-racing car.
Before the ninth race of the season on Sunday (8:00 p.m./Sky), Verstappen holds the top spot in the World Championship standings with 169 points, leading Ferrari's Charles Leclerc (138). The Monegasque also faltered in qualifying and has an uphill battle for his next victory. His teammate Carlos Sainz also had a disappointing experience, finishing 12th.
Read also:
Max Verstappen, the Formula 1 world champion, will line up right behind pole sitter George Russell in the Canadian Grand Prix race. Despite missing out on the pole position by a few minutes, Verstappen remains optimistic about his chances in the upcoming race.
