George Russell took pole place for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix after a useless warmth with present FIA Components 1 World Drivers’ Championship chief Max Verstappen.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Crew driver can be looking for his first win because the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix, and race day on Sunday will current him with a good chance to take action if he navigates his approach via potential tough circumstances with rain anticipated.
Qualifying introduced a variety of spectacular performances, together with Daniel Ricciardo, who secured his greatest qualifying results of the season, whereas Lance Stroll certified within the prime ten for the primary time at his dwelling circuit.
Learn what the drivers needed to say beneath:
George Russell — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Crew — 1st
“It’s been a fantastic day! It was such a decent combat for pole place. The last few races I’ve been a matter of hundredths of a second behind the automobile forward, so it’s good to be on the upside of that at the moment! In the long run, Q3 was tough. I did my greatest lap of the session in Q2, and I didn’t enhance on my final lap in Q3.
“I wasn’t positive subsequently whether or not I had taken pole place as I crossed the road. The brand new tyre is often value three to 4 tenths of a second however fortunately, my first run on the used tyre was ok for P1. The automobile has been so good this weekend.
“Everybody at Brackley and Brixworth has been working so exhausting to convey updates and efficiency. This difficult work is now translating into outcomes which is improbable to see. It’s solely been two races and on distinctive circuits, however the steps we’ve taken to get nearer to the entrance are encouraging. Let’s see what we will do tomorrow now.
“We can be aiming for victory however there are many unknowns with this new floor and the climate. I’m feeling assured within the automobile and in myself although so convey it on!”
Max Verstappen — Oracle Pink Bull Racing — 2nd
“I’m completely happy to be on the entrance row for tomorrow’s race and it was definitely greater than I assumed was attainable after FP3. We all the time knew this observe was going to be a bit extra difficult than others and evidently a variety of the groups are catching up.
“At present it was about managing the tyres with the graining, however for those who take a look at the tempo we did properly and improved properly each run. We tried to do the perfect we will and simply want to verify we now have a cleaner weekend as we now have been barely on the again foot. Seeking to tomorrow, I believe it can come right down to the climate and tyre behaviour.
“The rain will make it extra attention-grabbing, particularly with the tarmac making it extra slippery, the chicanes and the shut partitions. It has been a tough weekend, however contemplating all the pieces we positively maximised the end in qualifying and I’m trying ahead to tomorrow.”
Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Crew — third
An awesome job executed by the crew at the moment and congratulations to George Russell on his pole place. The session was difficult, it all the time is in Montréal, however it’s why we like it and it’s why we’re all smiling. It’s a pleasant feeling whenever you put lap in and find yourself within the prime three.
“I’m excited to see what we will do within the race. The automobile has been nice within the final three or 4 races and we’re on a roll. There are quick automobiles forward and lots behind us as properly so I believe we may very well be in for an thrilling one. We’ll get our heads down in a single day and see what we will do to maneuver ahead tomorrow.”
Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Crew — 4th
“P4. A really tight and tough session however a enjoyable one. I believe many individuals are leaving pondering they may very well be on pole, and I’m one in every of them, however that’s a constructive signal when it comes to tempo. It’s one other begin in direction of the entrance and we’ll see what we will do tomorrow.
“We’ve good consistency, and we take pleasure in having two automobiles beginning collectively, which is all the time a constructive from the technique aspect. Let’s see what we will do tomorrow. I’m trying ahead to it.”
Daniel Ricciardo — Visa Money App RB — fifth
“I’m more than happy about at the moment. It’s been a extremely good weekend, a variety of enjoyable, and a type of ones the place all the pieces’s simply feeling good. We’re lower than two-tenths from pole, and even when it’s not at the moment’s case, generally this implies being on the entrance row, so it’s good being aggressive and feeling snug within the automobile.
“In Q3 it was essential to have a quick warm-up lap and that is what I instructed the crew. I did it after which had the proper confidence for the push lap. It was good to place the lap collectively, however I’m not stunned, I do know once I really feel like this, I can do these items. I’m completely happy that I used to be in a position to get it out of myself, however completely happy and credit score to the crew, each automobiles going into Q3 and completely happy to reward them with a really good consequence.
“I all the time really feel one thing particular coming right here to Montréal and I’ve bought good reminiscences: precisely ten years in the past I bought my first win right here and my life modified. Additionally, the crew feels there’s some good power this weekend, so completely happy to transform that into some good driving. Tomorrow, we begin in a great spot inside the highest 5, with some good front-running guys round me, so I’ll get the perfect out of myself throughout the race.”
Fernando Alonso — Aston Martin Armaco F1 Crew — sixth
“It was a really unpredictable Qualifying session with the fixed menace of rain lingering, however I believe we now have to be proud of each automobiles in Q3 in these circumstances. After the final two occasions I used to be out in Q1, so beginning in sixth place offers us probability of scoring factors tomorrow.
“I don’t assume I did an ideal lap in Q3 and whenever you see on the finish that I used to be solely two tenths from pole place it hurts a little bit bit. Normally the automobile has felt a little bit higher this weekend and tomorrow we are going to see how we handle the tyres and tempo as we haven’t had a variety of lengthy runs within the dry.
“If it rains tomorrow, it may very well be determined by positive margins and who switches the tyres on the proper time, so we now have to be ready for all the pieces.”
Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Crew — seventh
Firstly, congratulations to George. It’s superb for the crew to take pole place. Everybody at Brackley and Brixworth has executed such a fantastic job pushing the automobile and its growth ahead. They’ve labored tirelessly to convey the latest updates.
“It’s been feeling nice all weekend so, regardless of beginning P7, I hope we will have an honest race. It’s powerful to overhaul right here and the automobiles forward are fairly shut so it will likely be difficult, however I’ll be doing my greatest.
“It was a tricky session on my aspect. We had been fast in FP3, however I struggled a little bit extra in Qualifying. I discovered it tough to get the tyres working all through and that was the identical on my closing lap in Q3. Let’s see what tomorrow brings and if we will make progress.”
Yuki Tsunoda — Visa Money App RB — eighth
“As you’ll be able to see within the consequence, the crew did a improbable job, and it was a profitable day for us. For myself, contemplating I used to be struggling in Free Observe, it was an excellent turnaround for qualifying. I had an unlucky gust of wind in Flip 2 and misplaced a variety of lap time there, however nonetheless, one other Q3 will not be dangerous.
“To date, it’s been an satisfying race weekend, with many ups and downs which have challenged me, however on the similar time, if we will flip it round to this it’s all the time feeling, and that’s credit score to the crew.
“We’ll see the way it goes with the climate tomorrow, however we now have automobile and clearly need extra factors within the bag, so we intention to complete within the prime ten with each automobiles.”
Lance Stroll — Aston Martin Armaco F1 Crew — ninth
“Getting via to Q3 is a constructive consequence, however I believe extra was attainable at the moment. I had a little bit of contact with the wall throughout Q1 which I believe might need precipitated some harm because the behaviour of the automobile wasn’t fairly proper after that.
“Nonetheless, we’re in place to attain some robust factors in entrance of my dwelling crowd tomorrow. The Montréal climate may throw something our approach, so we’ll do our homework tonight and ensure we’re able to benefit from any alternatives throughout the race.”
Alex Albon — Williams Racing — tenth
“A irritating Saturday. We did a small set-up change earlier than Qualifying and the automobile felt good from the get-go. We had robust tempo in Q1 and Q2, however we tried a unique run-plan in Q3 which didn’t work out for us.
“The bathe of rain between classes dropped the observe temperature and we struggled to heat up the tyres, compromising our closing Q3 try.
“Tomorrow can be difficult with two Ferraris behind, however equally I believe we now have a race in entrance of us with the Aston Martins and RBs. Total, it’s constructive to have two Q3 appearances in a row and I believe rain tomorrow will create some good alternatives for us.
Charles Leclerc — Scuderia Ferrari — eleventh
“We’ve to evaluation this qualifying session and FP3, as we merely weren’t on the stage we have to be. Tyre administration will play an enormous position within the race so we now have to deal with that and can push to realize positions tomorrow. With combined climate circumstances, there could also be some alternatives coming our approach and we should be able to benefit from them.”
Carlos Sainz Jr — Scuderia Ferrari — twelfth
“It’s been a tricky Saturday for us. We had bother with grip and couldn’t get the tyres to work correctly. On the final lap in Q2 I attempted all the pieces however sadly I didn’t nail the final nook and that’s the place I misplaced my probabilities of advancing to Q3. I keep constructive for tomorrow and I believe we will nonetheless convey dwelling some good factors. We are going to give it our greatest shot.”
Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing — thirteenth
“It’s little bit irritating as I bought held up on my greatest lap. I truly gained a tenth and a half on myself. If I had that point, I might’ve been straight via to Q3 which is disappointing as you understand it’s been left on the desk.
“Nonetheless it’s been one other stable weekend contemplating the circumstances and the way we’ve tailored. Our automobile tempo is a little bit bit higher right here which elevates us as a crew. I really feel like I’ve been driving properly with the bundle I’ve for the time being.
“We’re able that we will positively combat from tomorrow. I’m positive it’s going to be a difficult day with most probably altering circumstances via the race. We’ve managed it properly up to now and we’ll attempt to maintain doing the identical.”
Kevin Magnussen — MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew — 14th
“There was no visitors for me at the moment which was good. I believe we thought the rain was going to come back in Q2, so we went out on a brand new set firstly, which meant if the rain didn’t come, that wasn’t going to be nice as with observe evolution, you wouldn’t have your new tires for the top.
“Sadly, that rain didn’t come, so the lap I did on my first run was a extremely good lap, so given the tire decisions we made, I believe it was the perfect we may do.
“I’m barely optimistic, the long term tempo appeared respectable, albeit it was within the dry, so let’s see what the climate does tomorrow, we must be in competition it doesn’t matter what.”
Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Crew — fifteenth
“My laps in Q1 and Q2 felt respectable at the moment, so I used to be a bit stunned it was solely sufficient to qualify P15 in the long run. The fact is that this was simply merely what we may extract out of the automobile at the moment. Clearly, it’s tough to be glad with this consequence.
“We all know the place we stand when it comes to efficiency and the areas the place the automobile lacks, so in the meanwhile we might want to put our heads down and be affected person. The crew is working exhausting within the background to enhance the general bundle. Till then we have to maximise what we will out of the present set-up.
“Tomorrow is not going to be a simple race for us. I hope for rain and a few alternatives for us that may imply we will get nearer to the highest 10 and combat for factors, given how shut the mid-field is.”
Sergio Pérez — Oracle Pink Bull Racing — sixteenth
“In these circumstances by some means, we weren’t in a position to swap on the rear axle, I couldn’t lean on it in any respect and I didn’t have any confidence on the time to push. Mainly, I had no grip, I used to be sliding an excessive amount of and that meant our qualifying was a complete catastrophe.
“We have to take a look at it and perceive the explanation behind it, it was stepping away from me on a regular basis. In hindsight we may have executed a variety of various things however on the finish of the day we lacked some tempo, easy as that. There are some elementary points that we have to handle, perceive, and determine, to verify we’re in a position to enhance within the coming races.
“I’m offended with myself; we’re a Crew and it isn’t a great time for us however we now have full deal with tomorrow and hopefully we’re in a position to save one thing and rating some factors. The climate can hopefully assist us, it may well make issues unpredictable, and we are going to see what we will do with the technique as properly.”
Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber — seventeenth
“We had been positively near Q2 at the moment, nearly hundredths of a second away from making the minimize – which clearly leaves us with the sensation we may have achieved one thing extra. The final push lap was actually clear, truly the cleanest I’ve had this weekend up to now, and the stability was respectable as properly; it didn’t really feel like we may squeeze rather more out of that.
“By way of observe circumstances, they had been slippery at first, however it step by step improved. Sadly, we’re nonetheless barely struggling when it comes to single-lap tempo – that’s principally it.
“Going into Sunday, I believe we could be a bit extra optimistic: it certainly is a observe that provides extra alternatives for a shake-up than Monaco; the sphere is as soon as once more tremendous shut, so it’ll hopefully be an thrilling race.
“On prime of that, the climate may play an element right here – I’m rooting for combined circumstances or some rain, which might assist us progress additional. There can be alternatives, and we’ll strive the perfect we will to benefit from them.”
Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Crew — 18th (will begin twentieth on account of a grid penalty from the Monaco Grand Prix)
“It was an excellent tight session on the market at the moment and we didn’t do sufficient to get via to Q2 in Qualifying this afternoon. Sadly, I misplaced a tenth in Flip 6 and seven with one other driver in entrance fairly shut, and the beginning of my lap was additionally compromised choosing up grime after shifting off-line throughout my prep lap.
“Tomorrow we are going to attempt to do the perfect we will and hopefully it’s going to be a clear race, the place we will optimise the technique and transfer nearer to the factors. It’ll be powerful however we are going to do our greatest.”
Nico Hülkenberg — MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew — nineteenth (will begin 18th on account of Ocon’s grid penalty)
“I believe we went out a bit late, we modified the rear wing going into qualifying as a result of I haven’t been proud of the automobile all weekend and I had an issue with the rear wing the place it wasn’t performing because it ought to, so we determined to vary it earlier than qualifying.
“That meant our whole run plan bought out of sequence a bit, so we had been on the again foot with timings, and it bought busy and hectic. In direction of the top I additionally had somebody impeding, parked on the final chicane, so all collectively it made it a bit tough.”
Guanyu Zhou — Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber — twentieth (will begin nineteenth on account of Ocon’s grid penalty)
“At present was fairly difficult – coming into qualifying with out preparation on dry laps isn’t straightforward. Through the morning session, I had a second that ended FP3 early for me, and whereas I used to be in a position to achieve an increasing number of time on each qualifying lap, it wasn’t sufficient to make amends for my missed session.
“The sphere remains to be very shut, and I reckon we’re not far off our competitors however, given the shortage of operating, I wasn’t capable of finding the proper rhythm. Tomorrow is a brand new day, and we’ll proceed working to make up some floor.
“This can be a place the place overtaking is feasible, and we’ll give it go.”
