Russell beats Antonelli to Canadian GP Sprint pole
Summary
George Russell claimed Sprint pole for the Canadian GP, edging Mercedes teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 0.068s, as Mercedes showed strong pace with upgraded W17.
George Russell reignited his 2026 title push by securing Sprint pole for the Canadian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Mercedes teammate and championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The Briton's 1m12.965s in SQ3 proved just enough as Antonelli fell 0.068s short.
Why it matters:
Russell's pole marks a momentum shift after Antonelli's recent dominance. Mercedes' heavily upgraded W17 finally delivered, suggesting the team could be a serious contender this weekend and beyond.
The details:
- Russell led after first SQ3 runs, then improved on his final lap.
- Antonelli was quickest in the final sector but couldn't overhaul his teammate.
- Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took third and fourth for McLaren, but conceded about three tenths.
- Ferrari locked out row three with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Charles Leclerc.
- Max Verstappen struggled to seventh, with Red Bull lacking grip over Montreal's bumps.
- SQ1 was red-flagged after Fernando Alonso crashed at Turn 3, damaging his car and ending his session.
- Pierre Gasly (19th) and Sergio Perez (17th) were early eliminations.
- Rookie Arvid Lindblad impressed with ninth, ahead of Carlos Sainz.
- Alex Albon and Liam Lawson did not take part due to separate issues from practice.
What's next:
The sprint race later Saturday will test Mercedes' race pace. If Russell and Antonelli can convert grid position into points, the title battle could tighten.
Original Article :https://f1i.com/news/564796-canadian-gp-russell-beats-antonelli-to-sprint-qualif...