Russell claims pole in thrilling Canadian GP qualifying

In a breathtaking qualifying session at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, George Russell has clinched a sensational pole position for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver delivered a scintillating lap under pressure in the dying moments of Q3, putting his car at the very front of the grid and signalling a major return to form for the Brackley-based squad. With a packed and ultra-competitive field behind him, Sunday's race in Montréal is set to be an absolute thriller.

Russell Snatches Dramatic Pole in Montreal

George Russell secured his first pole position of the season with a masterful lap of 1:10.899. Throughout the qualifying hour, the battle for the top spot was fierce, with multiple drivers trading provisional pole. However, when it counted, Russell hooked up a near-perfect lap that the rest of the field simply couldn't match. It’s a huge result for Mercedes, who have been building momentum in recent races and have now converted that pace into a prime starting position at one of the calendar's most demanding circuits.

The Chase for Pole: A Thrilling Q3 Shootout

The final part of qualifying was a nail-biting affair, with the top positions separated by the slimmest of margins. The evolving track saw lap times tumble with every passing car, creating a spectacular conclusion to Saturday's action.

Verstappen and Piastri Complete the Top Three

Max Verstappen will line up alongside Russell on the front row, having missed out on pole by just 0.160 seconds. The Red Bull driver looked threatening throughout but couldn't find the extra tenth needed to displace the Mercedes. He will undoubtedly be a major threat from P2 when the lights go out.

Right behind him, McLaren's Oscar Piastri secured a strong third on the grid with a 1:11.120. The Australian has been consistently quick all weekend and keeps himself firmly in the hunt for victory. The stewards did note Piastri for failing to follow the Race Director's instructions regarding the maximum delta time, but his starting position is secure for now.

Antonelli Stars as a Rookie Sensation

One of the standout performers of the day was Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian drove with maturity beyond his years to secure an incredible P4 on the grid, just behind the seasoned front-runners. It's a career-best qualifying for Antonelli, who out-qualified Lewis Hamilton. Speaking of Hamilton, he will start from P5, ensuring a fight between the two Ferrari-bound drivers. Rounding out a jumbled top seven are a defiant Fernando Alonso in P6 for Aston Martin and a slightly disappointed Lando Norris in the second McLaren, who could only manage P7.

Midfield Battles and High-Profile Exits

While the fight for pole raged, there were plenty of surprises further down the order. Charles Leclerc will start from P8, just ahead of an impressive Isack Hadjar, who once again wrestled his Racing Bulls car into Q3 to take P9. Williams' Alexander Albon completed the top ten.

The session saw some big names fall early. Most notably, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda was knocked out in Q2 and will start P11 (P20 after serving a 10-place grid penalty). Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz had a difficult session in his Williams, eliminated in Q1 and set to start a lowly 17th (P16 because of Tsunoda's penalty).

Looking Ahead to the Grand Prix

With the grid now set, all eyes turn to Sunday's race. Russell's pole gives him the initial advantage, but Verstappen is a formidable opponent from the front row. The long run down to Turn 1 and the infamous 'Wall of Champions' promise early drama, while the circuit's high tyre degradation and propensity for Safety Cars could blow the strategy wide open. With the top eight drivers separated by just over half a second, the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix is perfectly poised for an explosive and unpredictable race.