Formula 1's Thrilling Ride in Montreal
Russell successfully advances to qualifying round in Montreal race event
Montreal (dpa) - The 2023 Canadian Grand Prix proved to be a nail-biter, as Mercedes driver George Russell unexpectedly claimed the pole position in a mind-blowing performance. The 27-year-old Brit stormed through Montreal in 1:10.899 minutes, snatching the front spot for the Sunday race (6 PM EST - Sky and RTL) - a triumphant start for his quest for a first win this season. Trailing closely was none other than the reigning champion Max Verstappen in second place, while World Championship leader Oscar Piastri put in a valiant performance in third aboard his McLaren.
Russell was over the moon, stating, "This was one of the most exhilarating laps of my life. I'm thrilled beyond measure about it!" His time was a mere 160 thousandths faster than Verstappen, who admitted, "Let's see what goes down tomorrow. I'm quite content with our accomplishments."
Beating the Odds - Nico Hülkenberg
The only German driver in the field, Nico Hülkenberg, secured an impressive 13th place. However, due to a penalty for Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda, the 37-year-old from the Rhineland will start from 12th. Hülkenberg made waves with a fantastic fifth place finish just two weeks ago in Barcelona, racking up a considerable points haul for his Sauber team.
Despite the tenth race out of 24 in the season, things are looking tense in the overall standings. Australian Piastri leads the way with a ten-point advantage over stablemate Lando Norris, who will start seventh for the race. Verstappen lags behind the leader by 49 points, but his three-time win record in Quebec makes him a formidable contender.
Verstappen's Scrutiny and Penalty Points
Following a mishap in the last race in Spain, Verstappen's driving tactics are under intense scrutiny. Not only did he crash, but he was also penalized for intentionally driving into Russell’s car, which earned him three penalty points on his license. If Verstappen collects one more point, he'll be faced with a race ban for the following World Championship round in Austria. Nevertheless, Verstappen has flatly refused to modify his driving style.
Nico Hülkenberg, the lone German driver, will start the race from 12th position due to Yuki Tsunoda's penalty, despite initially securing the 13th spot. Meanwhile, the controversial driving style of Formula 1 frontrunner Max Verstappen is under heavy scrutiny, with mounting penalty points potentially threatening his participation in the next World Championship round in Austria.
