Verstappen secures pole for the Canadian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix following Saturday’s rain-hit qualifying session in Montreal.
Verstappen has won five of the opening seven rounds and even a wet-dry-wet track in Montreal could not slow the Dutchman down.
Nico Hulkenberg took advantage of the sodden track to take second spot for Haas, 1.2 seconds behind Verstappen, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso third. Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth, one spot ahead of George Russell in the other Mercedes, while Lando Norris claimed seventh for McLaren.
Yet Hulkenberg has been demoted three places due to a red-flag infringement, meaning Alonso will line up on the front row. Verstappen has been in a class of one this year and the Red Bull man kept his composure in changeable conditions to take an impressive pole.
Follow live updates from the Canadian Grand Prix with The Independent – the race started at 7pm (BST).
F1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX – UPDATES
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George Russell retires! (Lap 55/70)
George Russell is being told to retire! They’re worried about front-left brakes!
The Mercedes man is out of this race!
“So sorry everyone. Nothing more to say.”
That’ll be because of the damage earlier in the race due to that damage. His second retirement of the season!
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 20:18
Lewis Hamilton cutting gap to Fernando Alonso (Lap 49/70)
Fernando Alonso goes off track at turn 3, so takes to the escape route onto the track – losing him 1.4 seconds!
Gap between Alonso and Hamilton: 3.2 seconds. Lewis Hamilton – on mediums compared to Alonso’s hards – has set the fastest lap of the race.
Alonso, incidentally, is 5.5 seconds behind Max Verstappen out in front.
4-10: Leclerc, Sainz, Perez, Albon, Russell, Ocon, Bottas
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 20:12
Fernando Alonso pits – and then so does Max Verstappen (Lap 43/70)
The domino effect! Fernando Alonso pits next, and Max Verstappen pits a lap later!
Verstappen rejoins in front still, 5.6 seconds ahead of Fernando Alonso.
Alonso is five seconds clear of Hamilton.
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 20:03
Lewis Hamilton pits again (Lap 42/70)
Lewis Hamilton pits for the second time – 2.7 seconds – and onto mediums!
He rejoins still in third. Can he, possibly, undercut Fernando Alonso or Max Verstappen?
This is all about rear tyre graining…
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 20:01
Charles Leclerc pits (Lap 41/70)
Leclerc is out in P4 – and he’s ahead of Sainz and Perez!
It’s worked out for the Ferraris!
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton told to use these tyres to the max! “I already am!’ he rebukes.
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 19:59
Carlos Sainz pits (Lap 40/70)
One Ferrari comes in – and he’s out in front of Albon and Perez! He’s in P5…
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 19:58
Sergio Perez pits (Lap 39/70)
The Red Bull pits – 2.3 seconds – and comes out in seventh place, behind the Williams of Alex Albon.
Oscar Piastri also pits again – and is down to P12!
But his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris has got a five-second time penalty for ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’ – I think it’s for holding the pack up during the safety car period!
Top-10: Verstappen, Alonso, Hamilton, Leclerc, Sainz, Albon, Perez, Russell, Ocon, Bottas
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 19:58
George Russell up to P9 (Lap 38/70)
Courtesy of Ocon and Bottas pitting, George Russell is up to ninth!
Still a long way to go, mind…
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 19:56
Kevin Magnussen and Nyck de Vries both go off track (Lap 36/70)
The Haas and the AlphaTauri touched at turn 2, with George Russell passing both of them down the inside!
And then the pair both braked late and both went down the run-off area at turn 3!
Both reverse out of trouble – brief yellow flags but no safety car!
Russell has suddenly got himself up to P11 – after a crash!
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 19:54
Max Verstappen increases his lead… but is still not happy (Lap 32/70)
“I am just losing grip with this tyre now,” says Max Verstappen, over team radio.
“Yeah OK Max, I think we’ve got that message, head down for now,” replies Gianpiero Lambiase, his well-trusted race engineer!
Further down the pack, bit of a DRS train forming from P12 down – that’s Kevin Magnussen.
George Russell is now P17 – but only courtesy of Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg pitting again!
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson18 June 2023 19:49