Max Verstappen claimed pole position in a wet qualifying session at the Canadian Grand Prix, delivering a string of surprises. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will start behind Verstappen.
Initially qualifying second, Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg received a three-place grid penalty for exceeding the speed limit during red-flag conditions. As a result, he was demoted to fifth place.
During the second session, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was eliminated after the team delayed putting him on slick tires before the rain returned. Leclerc’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, faced a penalty for impeding Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in the first part of qualifying.
Esteban Ocon from Alpine secured a sixth-place start, followed by Lando Norris in seventh, just ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. However, Piastri’s session ended prematurely due to a crash, which brought out the red flag and prevented further improvements in positioning due to worsening rain conditions.
Despite the penalty, Hulkenberg and Williams driver Alex Albon showcased exceptional performances in the challenging session marked by changing weather conditions on the demanding Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Hulkenberg, brought back to Formula 1 by Haas for his expertise, demonstrated his enduring skill in these conditions. Albon, who gambled on starting the second session with dry-weather tires, achieved the fastest time and secured Williams’ best starting position of the season so far.
Ferrari encountered difficulties during qualifying, with Leclerc expressing frustration as his session unraveled. The team’s previous speed in practice sessions and dry conditions did not translate to success during the wet qualifying.
Several drivers faced penalties, including Sainz, Tsunoda, and Lance Stroll, for impeding their competitors during their flying laps.
Sergio Perez, driving for Red Bull, struggled to optimize his tire performance and will start outside the top 10 for the third consecutive race, despite having a fast car and earlier championship aspirations.
In summary, Max Verstappen claimed pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix, while Nico Hulkenberg received a grid penalty. Ferrari faced challenges, and penalties were issued for impeding incidents during qualifying.
