George Russell secured the pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix, placing him ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri on the grid.
Sunday Thriller at the Canadian Grand Prix:
Britain's George Russell clinched pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix on June 14, 2025, scorching the circuit in Montreal and beating rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
A jubilant Russell, who took pole last season in Canada, proclaimed, "Bloody 'ell, securing this pole is bloody fantastic, especially in front of this electrifying crowd! It might be one of the most thrilling laps of my career! In the last lap, I was getting faster, and faster, so I'm bloody well chuffed about it!"
Italian rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) carved out a commendable fourth place, outpacing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Spanish veteran Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).
Norris Misses the Cut
Lando Norris, a British driver and McLaren's points leader, missed out on Q3 and will start from the seventh spot, his second poorest qualifying result of the season. The top 10 is rounded out by Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), French rookie Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), and Thai driver Alexander Albon (Williams).
The young Parisian is expected to be penalized three spots on the grid for interfering with Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (Williams) during Q1 qualifying. Esteban Ocon (Haas), who's struggled since the season kicked off, managed to minimize the damage, qualifying 14th. Unfortunately, the third Frenchman, Pierre Gasly (Alpine), ended up in 20th place, just 841 thousandths of a second behind the best Q1 time.
Expert Predictions:
Experts predict Max Verstappen (Red Bull) to claim victory once more, given his impressive record of three consecutive wins at Montreal before this race. Analysts believe he'll take advantage of overtaking opportunities at crucial corners to pass Russell early in the race.
George Russell, despite starting from pole, is predicted to finish on the podium but likely behind Verstappen due to the latter's overtaking edge. Russell is expected to be too steady to ignore, ensuring at least third place.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri (McLaren) is also tipped for a podium finish, with his consistency this season and strong pace granting him a solid chance to challenge for Russell's second or third position.
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton are considered outside contenders, but with longer odds compared to the top three drivers. The race strategy will focus on managing tire compounds, particularly the softest ones, with most drivers likely optting for a one-stop strategy due to the track's particular characteristics.
In summary, a stunning showdown between Verstappen, Russell, and Piastri is on the cards, with George's pole providing a solid starting point, but Max'sMontreal dominance making him the favorite for victory. Oscar Piastri is also highly likely to join them on the podium.
George Russell's pole position in the Canadian Grand Prix is reminiscent of last year's success, and he expressed his excitement for a potential sports victory, especially considering the racing thrill of Montreal. Despite his pole position, experts predict that Max Verstappen, known for his racing dominance in the city, will claim another victory, possibly passing Russell early in the race.
