Mercedes’ George Russell takes pole for second straight year at Canadian GP
Fresh off his impressive pole position win at the Canadian Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell once again showcased his speed and skill on the track. Clocking a blistering lap time of one minute 10.899 seconds at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Russell finished 0.160 ahead of the three-time defending Canadian GP winner, Max Verstappen of Red Bull. This marked Russell’s first pole position of the season and the sixth of his career.
In a sunny and warm afternoon in Montreal, Formula One leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured the third spot on the grid with a time of 1:11.120. Piastri currently leads his teammate Lando Norris by 10 points in the drivers’ standings, with Norris qualifying in a disappointing seventh position.
The top six grid positions were rounded out by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in fourth, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in fifth, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in sixth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar, and Williams’ Alex Albon completed the top 10.
One notable absence in the top positions was Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, the lone Canadian driver on the grid, who was eliminated in the first round of qualifying and is expected to start in 17th position. Stroll returned to racing this weekend after undergoing a minor wrist procedure and missing the Spanish Grand Prix earlier in the month.
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda will start from the back of the grid after receiving a 10-place grid penalty for red flag infringement during the final free practice session. Despite the setback, all eyes were on star swimmer Summer McIntosh, who was in attendance at the qualifying session. Fresh off breaking three world records in one week at the Canadian swimming trials, McIntosh watched from the back of Red Bull’s garage, donning the team’s merchandise.
As the excitement builds for the race day, Russell remains optimistic about his chances of success. Reflecting on the close margins in Formula One racing, Russell acknowledged that weather conditions could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the race. With Mercedes’ car performing better in cooler temperatures, Russell emphasized the importance of adapting to changing conditions on race day.
The Canadian Grand Prix marks the 10th stop of the 24-race championship, with McLaren holding a substantial 197-point lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ standings. As the teams prepare for the race, all eyes will be on Russell and his competitors as they battle it out on the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
