F1 Canada GP: Verstappen on pole with Alonso P2

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured pole position in wet conditions, ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, and will be sat alongside Alpine’s Fernando Alonso who secured P2.

How qualifying unfolded…

Q1

When the pit exit light went green, to start the qualifying session, the Alfa Romeo drivers of Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou were the first to get out onto Canada’s soaked Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – with the former out in front. All of the drivers, who came out on their initial laps all opted to run the blue-ringed full wet tyres.

After the first five minutes, Verstappen topped the timing board but he was soon beaten by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz who was dethroned the world champion from the top spot, as the session crept into its last 10 minutes.

However, P1 kept changing hands across the first qualifying third as Mercedes’ George Russell topped the timing board with a 1:34.989 but this was soon beaten by Haas’ Kevin Magnussen. Russell climbed back to the top before he was overtaken by Verstappen as the lap times continued to tumble.

Alpha Tauri’s Yuki Tsunoda became the first driver to pit from the track.

As the session entered its last minute, Sainz brought out the yellow flag as the Spaniard found himself in the run off area at turn three. Fortunately, the Spanish driver was able to return to the track and continue on his way. But, the yellow flag would have hindered those on their final laps.

By the end of Q1, Verstappen put in a quick lap which put him at the top of the leaderboard.

Eliminated:

20. Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Tauri

19. Nicholas Latifi, Williams

18. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

17. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin

16. Pierre Gasly, Alpha Tauri

Q2

In a similar fashion to Q1, Zhou was the first driver to venture back on onto the track on the wet tyres. Only seven opted to go for the green-ringed intermediates; Alexander Albon (Williams), Fernando Alonso (Alpine), Sainz, Magnussen, Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Mick Schumacher (Haas) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull).

This was a result of the track nearing its ‘cross-over’ point between the full wets and intermediates.

With just over 10 minutes left on the clock, Albon had kissed the barrier as the London-born driver locked up into turn six. Fortunately, he was able to reverse his car out of the barrier and return to the track. However, this wasn’t the case for Perez as the Mexican crashed into the barrier at turn three.

As the Mexican Red Bull couldn’t reverse back out of the barrier, the session was red flagged to allow the track marshals to clear away the #11 Red Bull.

Nine minutes remained on the clock, during the red flag stop, Alonso was the quickest man on track with a 1:30.910, 0.547 seconds quicker than Verstappen who was P2.

When the session was restarted, Bottas headed the queue back out into the track. All of the drivers returned to the track on the intermediates.

Russell had a scary moment on his first hot lap, on the inters. As the young Briton exited the turn 10 hairpin, his car squirmed under acceleration. Fortunately, Russell was able to keep his car out of the barrier.

McLaren’s Lando Norris joined Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as a driver who failed to set a lap time in Q2 as the young Briton was recalled to the pits. It was suspected there was a significant problem with Norris’ power unit.

In usual form, Verstappen set the fastest time with a 1:23.746 ahead of Alonso and Russell, who were P2 and P3 respectively.

Eliminated: 

15. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

14. Lando Norris, McLaren

13. Sergio Perez, Red Bull

12. Alexander Albon, Williams

11. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo

Q3

While the track remained wet, the 10 remaining drivers ventured back out onto the track with the intermediate tyres fitted. It was speculated the track might dry up enough for the drivers to use the slick tyres – but this seemed unlikely.

McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo had his lap time deleted early on as the rear tyres slipped across as he broke into the braking zone at turn six which caused him to venture outside track limits.

After the first set of runs, Verstappen set the fastest time with a 1:22.701 with Sainz and Alonso behind in P2 and P3 respectively. While at the other end of the table, Ricciardo sat P10 at the bottom of the timing sheets.

A number of drivers ventured back into the pit lane, notable Verstappen and Sainz, and returned to the track with another set of intermediates. While Russell came into the pit lane to end his qualifying runs on the slick, red-ringed soft compound tyres.

However, on his first flying lap on the young British driver found himself in the barrier as his car rolled backwards, and damaged his rear wing as a result. On the other hand, Hamilton put in a superb lap to put his car P2. However, he was soon demoted down to P4 after he was beaten by Sainz and Alonso who put his car on the front row of the grid.

Top 10:

10. Guanyu Zhou, Alfa Romeo

9. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren

8. George Russell, Mercedes

7. Esteban Ocon, Alpine

6. Mick Schumacher, Haas

5. Kevin Magnussen, Haas

4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

3. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

2. Fernando Alonso, Alpine

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

That’s it for the article: F1 Canada GP: Verstappen on pole with Alonso P2! The grid is now set, who do you think will win the race tomorrow? Let us know in the comments!

Read more Formula 1 here!

• F1 Canadian GP: Fernando Alonso tops wet final practice
• F1 Canada GP: Charles Leclerc to start at back of grid
• F1 Canadian GP: Charles Leclerc takes 10-place grid drop
• F1 Canadian GP: Max Verstappen Friday Fastest Man

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