Q1: Chaos, Carbon, and Close Calls
Qualifying at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve kicked off with a bang, literally, as Alex Albon’s Williams dramatically shed its engine cover in the early stages of Q1. The debris brought out a red flag and gifted the Thai driver a fortunate reprieve; though the team scrambled to repair his car, the stoppage effectively gave them the time needed. Sometimes, the racing gods give and take, Carlos Sainz, on the other hand, got the short end of the deal.
Albon eventually made it through to Q3, lining up P10 for the race. A moment of irony: his own red flag saved his session. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly struggled massively with what appeared to be car issues and will start deep in the field. Colapinto shone brighter than expected and is set to start just inside the top 10, having also benefited from multiple grid penalties ahead. At Alpine, it’s Colapinto P10 and Gasly P20, a mixed bag if there ever was one.
Sainz, too, was unlucky. Blocked by Hadjar in the dying moments of Q1, he couldn’t improve his time and ultimately failed to escape elimination. Add this to the growing list of ‘cursed’ races for Carlos this season, while Albon seems to have fully cashed in all the good karma he stored last year. As some fans joked, “tactical red flag?” Not quite, but the thought crossed a few minds.
Q2: The Grid Tightens
Q2 showed just how fine the margins are in Montreal. Russell, Verstappen, and Piastri were in commanding form throughout, while Norris and Leclerc continued to show solid, though not pole-threatening, pace. Fernando Alonso once again demonstrated he still has it, comfortably placing himself into Q3.
The straight-line speed issues plaguing Aston Martin remain a concern. Alonso’s crafty overtaking masked them in Spain, but Canada’s long straights may prove a tougher test. Yet, despite it all, P6 in qualifying is a solid result. It speaks volumes when a driver’s performance at 43 makes the FIA feel compelled to “drug test the car”, a sentiment echoed by more than a few fans.
Meanwhile, George Russell kept going about his business quietly, until he didn’t. More on that shortly.
Q3: Russell’s Redemption and McLaren’s Misfire
George Russell delivered one of the finest laps in recent memory with a 1:10.899, making it the fastest qualifying lap at Montreal since Sebastian Vettel’s 1:10.240 in 2019. On a day when pundits had their eyes locked on Verstappen, Piastri, and Norris, Russell stole the spotlight in clinical silence. He didn’t just top the timesheets; he made a statement.
“George wants all the smoke,” fans quipped, as the Brit cheekily referenced his license points in a post-quali interview: “I’ve got a few more points on my licence to play with!” With Verstappen alongside him on the front row, many are anticipating a Turn 1 showdown. Some fans even started memeing their way down the circuit layout: “What about T2 tho 👀 … What about T3 tho 👀 … What about T4 tho 👀.”
Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli continued his quietly excellent rookie campaign. With used tires and little fanfare, the Mercedes junior locked in a P4 starting spot, yet another indication that the F1 fandom is beginning to take his top-five results for granted. He’s absorbing lessons fast, and the comparisons to Russell’s early years are only growing.
McLaren will feel disappointed. Norris once again topped FP3 but failed to translate that pace into pole, his fourth such instance this year. Though strong in Q1 and Q2, the final push in Q3 continues to elude him. Fans debated whether it’s pressure, car setup, or mental approach. Some pointed to a disconnect between the car’s stiffness and Norris’ aggressive kerb-riding style, while others see a mental block that flares up under Q3 intensity. Either way, P7 will feel underwhelming for a car that looked quick all weekend.
Leclerc and Hadjar rounded out the top 10, with the latter receiving a grid drop that promotes Colapinto. Alonso, slotting into P6, keeps showing flashes of vintage brilliance, his form these last few races has rebounded impressively. As one comment put it: “Compared to his prime, Alonso is washed. But him washed is still better than most of the grid.”
Starting Grid (Provisional)
- Russell
- Verstappen
- Piastri
- Antonelli
- Hamilton
- Alonso
- Norris
- Leclerc
- Colapinto
- Albon
Behind them, a field full of “what ifs” and comeback hopes, Sainz from P16, Gasly from P20, Bearman outside the top 10. Conditions for overtaking are notoriously difficult in Montreal, meaning Turn 1 could define the race for many.
Stay tuned, because if the buildup is anything to go by, the Canadian Grand Prix may just deliver one of the most explosive starts of the season.