Russell Stuns Verstappen to Claim Pole at Canadian Grand Prix

Russell Snatches ‘Mighty’ Pole from Verstappen at Canadian GP

George Russell delivered a stunning lap to claim pole position for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by 0.160 seconds in a thrilling qualifying session at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The Mercedes driver took the top spot just moments after Verstappen had snatched it from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, setting the stage for a fiery front-row showdown in Sunday’s race (19:00 BST).

Front-Row Fireworks: Russell vs Verstappen Continues

Russell’s pole arrives a race after his controversial Spanish GP clash with Verstappen, which resulted in a 10-second penalty and three licence points for the Dutchman. Verstappen is now one point away from a race ban.

In his post-qualifying interview, Russell joked, “We’re mates, so it’s all good. I have a few more points on my licence to play with, so let’s see.”

Verstappen, visibly irritated when the subject was brought up again in the press conference, said:

“I don’t need to hear it again… It is really annoying this world we live in.”

‘Exhilarating Lap’ Gives Russell Goosebumps

Russell called his pole lap “one of the most exhilarating of my life,” noting:

“I was going 0.1s quicker in every corner. I got to the last corner and thought, ‘This lap’s mighty.’ I’ve never had goosebumps like that before.”

Verstappen, though disappointed to miss out, remained confident:

“The car felt good all weekend. It’s a fun track, and we’ll try to have a solid race tomorrow.”

Piastri Third, Norris Disappointed with Seventh

Oscar Piastri delivered a strong performance to take P3, while teammate and title rival Lando Norris struggled with errors and could only manage seventh.

“I hit the wall at Turn 7 and messed up the final corner earlier,” Norris admitted. “It cost me.”

Strong Performances from Antonelli, Hamilton & Alonso

• Kimi Antonelli impressed in P4

• Lewis Hamilton followed in P5, continuing Ferrari’s recent consistency

• Fernando Alonso secured P6, Aston Martin’s best grid spot of 2025, as he praised the car’s upgrades:

“Since Imola, I’m more comfortable with the setup and can push with confidence.”

Rest of Top 10 & Penalties

• P8: Charles Leclerc

• P9: Isack Hadjar (under investigation for impeding Carlos Sainz)

• P10: Alex Albon

Yuki Tsunoda, who qualified P11, will start last due to a 10-place penalty for overtaking under a red flag. Stewards rejected his defense, citing a breach of safety regulations.

Sunday’s Race Preview

With Russell and Verstappen leading the grid into Turn 1, all eyes will be on their renewed rivalry. McLaren’s Piastri, Mercedes’ Antonelli, and Aston Martin’s Alonso could all play wildcards in a potentially chaotic Canadian GP.