Mercedes emerged as the team to beat in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, locking out the front row with George Russell taking pole position ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli. But for New Zealand fans, attention was firmly on Liam Lawson, who narrowly missed out on a place in the final shootout and will start Sunday’s race from 12th on the grid for Racing Bulls.
Russell delivered when it mattered most in Q3, producing a superb final lap of 1m12.578s to snatch pole position late in the session after looking out of contention earlier. Antonelli completed a Mercedes front-row lockout just 0.068s behind, while Lando Norris secured third for McLaren ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri.
Further back, Lawson’s qualifying campaign showed flashes of promise but ultimately ended in Q2 after a difficult final run. Lawson had looked competitive through the opening stages of the session, but a mistake across the final chicane on his decisive lap cost him valuable time and left him just outside the top 10.
The opening Q1 session was tightly contested as the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve continued to evolve rapidly. Antonelli initially set the benchmark with a 1m13.380s, narrowly ahead of Norris, while drivers battled low grip and several off-track moments.
Lawson safely progressed through the first segment despite a frantic session that caught out several drivers. Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez were among those eliminated, while Lawson quietly advanced into Q2 as Racing Bulls continued to show encouraging pace.
Q2 proved far more challenging for the New Zealander. Antonelli again looked strong early, with Norris and Isack Hadjar also near the top as lap times tumbled into the 1m12s.
Lawson struggled to hook together a clean final lap and was forced to cut across the final corners during his last attempt, ending any realistic chance of progressing into Q3. He eventually finished 12th, just behind Nico Hulkenberg, who once again narrowly missed Q3.
At the front, Russell’s recovery in Q3 stole the spotlight. After aborting his first flying lap due to a snap of oversteer, the Mercedes driver regrouped brilliantly to deliver the session’s fastest lap right at the chequered flag.
Antonelli backed up the team’s pace with second place, while Norris and Piastri locked out the second row for McLaren. Lewis Hamilton ended up fifth after a mistake exiting Turn 7, with Max Verstappen only sixth after battling straight-line speed concerns throughout qualifying.
Isack Hadjar impressed in seventh for Red Bull, while Lawson’s Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad continued his impressive form in ninth. Between them was Charles Leclerc in eighth, while Franco Colapinto rounded out the top 10 for Alpine.
Header Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
