Russell storms – George Russell powered to pole position for the third straight year at the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing one-two for Mercedes as Kimi Antonelli had to settle for second by just 0.068 seconds. Lando Norris rounded out the top three at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
MONTREAL — The overcast at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve looked made for drama, and qualifying delivered it in the tightest possible way for Mercedes.
George Russell charged to pole position for the third consecutive year at the Canadian Grand Prix. clocking 1 minute 12.578 seconds on his final lap. He finished ahead of teammate and Formula One points leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.068 seconds. a gap that matched the one between them in sprint qualifying.
For Russell, it was another statement of pace. He had also made a pit stop earlier in the session. yet still found the lap that put him back on top. The pole continues a stellar weekend for the 28-year-old Brit. who won the Canadian Grand Prix from pole last year before dropping from first to third in 2024.
Lando Norris of McLaren completed the top three with a lap of 1:13.503 on a 22 C day.
The result sharpened the pressure within Mercedes. Antonelli leads second-place Russell by 18 points after winning the past three Grand Prix races. meaning Russell’s job this weekend isn’t just to win — it’s to turn momentum back in his direction. Russell had already shown his ability to swing the narrative earlier on Saturday by making a pit stop and then fending off chaos to win the dramatic sprint race. shaving points off Antonelli’s championship lead.
There was tension in the sprint too. Russell made contact with Antonelli earlier in the day but avoided disaster. On the sixth of 23 laps. they went wheel-to-wheel on Turn 1. and Russell held his line to fend off a pair of attacks from Antonelli. In the same phase, the Italian was forced into the grass.
“That was very naughty,” a furious Antonelli said on the team radio as emotions spilled over.
The qualifying grid sets up a familiar stack of contenders for Sunday. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will start the race in fourth. followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in sixth. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto rounded out the top 10.
Montreal’s Lance Stroll, the lone Canadian on the 22-driver grid, will start in 21st. The 27-year-old Stroll is still seeking his first points amid a difficult season for Aston Martin.
Sunday’s conditions could add another layer. The forecast calls for a chance of rain, with the possibility of a wet track for the first time this season.
The calendar backdrop underlines why every second matters: the Canadian Grand Prix is the fifth of 22 stops on the F1 schedule after the Iran war forced cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April.
George Russell Kimi Antonelli Canadian Grand Prix pole position Mercedes 1-2 Formula 1 qualifying Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Lando Norris Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Lance Stroll Oscar Piastri Charles Leclerc rain forecast