Russell qualifies on pole at Canadian GP for 2nd straight year

MONTREAL - George Russell will start on pole at the Canadian Grand Prix for the second consecutive season.

It will be an identical front row as last year's event as Russell will line up alongside Max Verstappen, who held pole until the Mercedes driver snatched it away near the end of the session. Russell is the first non-McLaren and Red Bull driver to qualify on pole in grand prix format this season.

Russell called the lap the "probably the most exhilarating" one of his career, noting that he had goosebumps at the end of it.

"I just felt in such a rhythm, and crossing the line, when you do a lap like that, to get pole position afterward as well, was just insane," Russell explained in the post-qualifying press conference. "I had goosebumps in that moment. I don't think I've ever had goosebumps after a pole position or a good result. That one meant a lot to me."

Russell and Verstappen were involved in a collision at the last race at the Spanish Grand Prix after the Red Bull pilot crashed into him. However, Verstappen, who is one penalty point away from a race ban, shut down questions about the incident in the post-qualifying press conference.

"I don't need to hear it again," Verstappen said. "It's really pissing me off. You speaking about it ... it's such a waste of time. It's very childish. That's why I also don't want to say too much because it's really annoying."

Russell and Verstappen did their final push laps in Q3 on the medium tire while championship leader Oscar Piastri, who qualified third, opted to use the soft tire for his last lap.

Lando Norris struggled in the Q3 session, making a mistake at the final corner on his first lap. He could only muster up enough for seventh on his last push lap.

Yuki Tsunoda, Franco Colapinto, Nico Hulkenberg, Oliver Bearman, and Esteban Ocon were eliminated in Q2. Tsunoda qualified 11th but will start 20th after receiving a 10-place grid penalty for overtaking Piastri under red flag conditions in the third practice session. Meanwhile, Colapinto outqualified Pierre Gasly for the first time this season and slotted in 12th, his best result of the year.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Carlos Sainz, Lance Stroll, Liam Lawson, and Gasly were eliminated in Q1. However, Sainz was impeded by Isack Hadjar on his final Q1 lap, leading to the Racing Bulls driver being dropped from ninth to 12th after a three-place grid penalty.

Alex Albon caused a red flag in Q1 after the bodywork around his engine cover blew off his car and left debris on the back straight. However, Williams repaired his car and he qualified 10th.