George Russell seized the 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix pole position for Mercedes, narrowly beating reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen in a nail-biting qualifying finale.
The session held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was marked by strategic tire choices, fluctuating track conditions, and a series of standout performances and unexpected disappointments across the grid, culminating in a qualifying hour that set the stage for a thrilling race day in Montreal.
Qualifying began under overcast skies, with the threat of rain looming but never materializing, allowing teams to push the limits on a dry track.
The opening phase, Q1, saw drivers eager to establish an early benchmark with Max Verstappen initially setting the pace. His Red Bull looked strong from the outset, his confidence evident as he topped the timesheets with a controlled and precise lap.
However, the margins were tight and the field was closely bunched, reflecting the competitive nature of the 2025 F1 season and the continual evolution of car performance across the grid.
Full Canadian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying Results
Canadian Grand Prix 2025 starting grid after penalties
Impeding incident blows Sainz’s chances
As Q1 progressed, the battle to avoid elimination intensified. Notably, Williams’ Carlos Sainz found himself under pressure after being impeded by Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls car, an incident that would later attract the attention of the stewards.
Sainz was ultimately unable to progress beyond Q1, a significant blow for the Spaniard and the Williams team who had hoped for a stronger showing at a circuit that historically rewards straight-line speed and late braking prowess.
Lance Stroll, racing on home soil, also struggled to extract pace from his Aston Martin and joined Sainz in the elimination zone alongside Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber).
Grid penalty drops Tsunoda to last
Q2 brought further intrigue as the track continued to evolve with rubber being laid down and lap times tumbling. The session was characterized by a flurry of activity in the final minutes as drivers sought to secure a coveted spot in the top ten shootout.
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda narrowly missed out on a Q3 berth, qualifying 11th before a ten-place grid penalty for an infraction during practice relegated him to the back of the grid.
Franco Colapinto secured an impressive 12th for Alpine while Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber), Oliver Bearman (Haas), and Esteban Ocon (Haas) rounded out the Q2 eliminations.
Russell and Verstappen battle down to the last minute
The final segment, Q3, was set up as a showdown between the established stars and the new generation of talent.
Mercedes, having shown promise in practice, delivered on their potential with George Russell and rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli both advancing to the top ten.
Russell in particular demonstrated supreme confidence, opting for the medium compound tyre in the closing moments—a strategic gamble that would prove decisive.
As the clock wound down, Verstappen once again set the benchmark, his Red Bull appearing to have the edge on outright pace.
However, Russell responded with a sensational lap, clocking a 1:10.899 which was enough to edge Verstappen by just 0.160 seconds and claim Canadian Grand Prix pole position – his first pole in the 2025 F1 season.
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Meanwhile championship leader Oscar Piastri delivered a composed performance for McLaren to secure third on the grid.
Piastri’s final effort on the soft compound tyre was strong but ultimately two-tenths shy of Russell’s pole time. However, his McLaren teammate Lando Norris endured a frustrating session, unable to improve on his final run and ultimately settled for seventh.
Kimi Antonelli claimed an impressive fourth place for Mercedes ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso who qualified in fifth and sixth for Ferrari and Aston Martin respectively.
Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc endured a challenging session after struggling with oversteer on his final attempt to finish eighth.
Isack Hadjar despite his earlier impeding incident and subsequent three-place grid penalty, managed to qualify ninth for Racing Bulls, albeit he would suffer a relegation to 12th following investigation by the stewards.
Alex Albon overcame an early setback when the engine cover flew off his Williams during Q1 to ultimately round out the top ten.
