George Russell completed his eighth victory over his team mate in qualifying this year despite lewis Hamilton once being crowned the King of the one lap qualifier. The junior Mercedes driver claimed pole position ahead of Max Verstappen lodging an equal time to the Red Bull driver.

However, the FIA regulations state should this happen, the driver who delivered the lap first is classified ahead of their competitor who equals the time later in the session. Since the introduction in F1 of timing capable of measuring lap times to three decimal places, this was only the second time that two drivers have recorded an equal time.

 

 

 

Hamilton blames the car

Russell incredibly recorded his pole time in the first run of Q3 on WORN tyres whilst Verstappen was the only driver to improve on his first run in final qualifying on new tyres as the wind picked up and confused the rest of the field.

The first time pole was decided by this system was in 1997 when Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve put his car on pole ahead of Heinz Harold Franzen and then double world champion Michael Schumacher.

Lewis Hamilton complained his car had “gone away” from him having been the quickest driver in free practice three. Lap times are actually recorded to the 1/10,000th of a second, but tradition has it that the FIA only recognised them to the 1,000th of a second.

The seven time world champion was led by his team mate during qualifying on average by 0.25 seconds. Yet then the clouds came in for the final run in qualifying  and the wind picked up, Russel had the upper hand over his outgoing team mate.

HUGE problems with 2026 car regulations

 

 

 

Side by side video reveals Russel “more precise”

Hamilton congratulated his team mate on his second pole position of his career, but Russel claimed he’d learned from lewis’ data which gave him the edge in the qualifying sessions. When told he was P7 as the chequered flag fell, Hamilton was conspicuous by his silence as the 8-1 season count defeats in the Saturday session for the former world champion finally sank in. Lewis cryptically revealed in Monaco that he didn’t expect to beat his team mate in qualifying for the rest pf this year.

Lewis now also had the new front wing which George ran alone in Monaco following Hamilton rejecting the upgrade due to worries he would receive a penalty should he damage the wing in qualifying and be forced to return to the old configuration. This would have resulted in him starting from the pit lane, yet Russel was happy to take the gamble for the team and it clearly gave him an advantage.

Sky F1 broadcast a side by side of Hamilton and Russel’s comparative laps and it was clear Russell was more precise and aggressive than the former champ over the kerbs although George received a tow from Alex Albon down the final long straight, but 8-1 is 8-1 and clearly this is no lucky score as Hamilton is heading for ferrari next season.

Meanwhile despite coming into the Canadian Grand Prix weekend claiming his car would be difficult over the aggressive kerbs, Mac proved his elite skills by matching the Mercedes which has in the past decade been dominant in Montreal.

Verstappen seethes over Red Bull problems

 

 

 

Max happy with P2

Over pit radio Max was told he’d qualified P2 and the Dutch driver appeared pleased with the result replying, “we’ll take that” to his pit wall engineer.

On the other side of the Red Bull garage, Sergio Perez for the second outing in a row failed to make it out of Q3. The Mexican driver punched his halo when informed of the result and given his new two year contract makes the red Bull decision to retain Checo questionable.

Horner justified the retention of Perez by stating “we want stability and continuity” although this means having a number two driver who is not in a league of Verstappen and struggles to even finish PO2 to the Dutch world superstar.

Meanwhile Ferrari returned to their ill considered strategic ways which were repeatedly the outcome under the management of precious team boss, Mattia Binotto. Leclerc and Sainz failed to make final qualifying with the Monegasque winner last time out in Monaco merely classified as P11 with Sainz in P12.

Marko admits “a truce with Horner” as lates Red Bull crises emerges

 

 

 

Ferrari strategic mistake AGAIN

Both drivers were on WORN tyres on their final attempts in Q23 and Charles Leclerc indicated his disapproval on team radio telling the team he would discuss the matter after the event inn private. 

“I wont’t say it on the radio” said Leclerc, while new Ferrari boss appeared to make his first serious mistake and blamed the fact that the “tyre was never ready.”

McLaren finished the session with Lando Norris in P3 and Oscar Piastri in P4. Pastry risked not making it out of both Q1 and Q2 with last ditch final runs seeing the young Australian claiming his place in the next session.

McLaren team principal claimed tyre graining will be an issue in the race given the favoured medium tyre is “fragile.” 

FIA cockup costs Ferrari a fine

 

 

 

Ricciardo finally beats Tsunoda

Aston Marin had one of their better qualifying results in recent events, with both drivers’ making it through to Q3. When Fernando Alonso was informed he’d been pipped to P5 behind the resurgent RB driver Daniel Ricciardo, he said it was “annoying”. Lance Stroll was almost half a second back and classified in P10.

Daniel Ricciardo, the only one of the four Red Bull driver without a contact for 2025, had a remarkable qualifying seeing him finish the session in P5. Yuki Tsundao who has recently been awarded a two year contract was some 0.2 seconds behind his team mate, as the loveable Aussie appeared to finally fin his mojo.

Alexander Albon came home in P10, proving Williams are on the rise more quickly than fellow back markers Alpine, Haas F1 and Kick Sauber.

Alpine confirms Schumacher talks

 

 

 

DOMINOS FALL IN THE DRIVER MARKET AS BIG CONTRACT CONFIRMED IN CANADA

As the news embargo ended at 15:30 local time in Canada, Christian Horner confirmed Yuki Tsunoda will remain with the RB team for the next two years. The Japanese driver was rumoured to be living the team the end of last season, as insiders close to the team revealed Christian Horner wanted him out and Liam Lawson in.

Tsunoda’s team mate Daniel Ricciardo, who was brought back by Horner to beef up the Red Bull junior squad following his exit from McLaren, was expected to eventually replace Sergio Perez who at the time was suffering a poor run of form… READ MORE