George Russell took pole place for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix after a lifeless warmth with present FIA System 1 World Drivers’ Championship chief Max Verstappen.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Group 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 means via potential tough situations with rain anticipated.
Qualifying introduced a lot 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 under:
George Russell — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Group — 1st
“It’s been an awesome day! It was such a decent struggle for pole place. The last few races I’ve been a matter of hundredths of a second behind the automotive forward, so it’s good to be on the upside of that right now! 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 certain due to this fact whether or not I had taken pole place as I crossed the road. The brand new tyre is normally value three to 4 tenths of a second however fortunately, my first run on the used tyre was ok for P1. The automotive has been so good this weekend.
“Everybody at Brackley and Brixworth has been working so onerous to deliver updates and efficiency. This difficult work is now translating into outcomes which is implausible 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 are able to 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 automotive and in myself although so deliver 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 actually greater than I assumed was doable after FP3. We all the time knew this monitor was going to be a bit extra difficult than others and it appears that evidently loads of the groups are catching up.
“At the moment it was about managing the tyres with the graining, however should you have a look at the tempo we did properly and improved properly each run. We tried to do the perfect we are able to and simply want to ensure we’ve a cleaner weekend as we’ve been barely on the again foot. Trying to tomorrow, I feel it would come all the way down to the climate and tyre behaviour.
“The rain will make it extra fascinating, particularly with the tarmac making it extra slippery, the chicanes and the shut partitions. It has been a tough weekend, however contemplating all the things we positively maximised the end in qualifying and I’m wanting ahead to tomorrow.”
Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Group — third
An ideal job executed by the crew right now and congratulations to George Russell on his pole place. The session was difficult, it all the time is in Montréal, but it surely’s why we like it and it’s why we’re all smiling. It’s a pleasant feeling once you put a very good lap in and find yourself within the prime three.
“I’m excited to see what we are able to do within the race. The automotive has been nice within the final three or 4 races and we’re on a roll. There are quick automobiles forward and many behind us as properly so I feel we could possibly be in for an thrilling one. We’ll get our heads down in a single day and see what we are able to do to maneuver ahead tomorrow.”
Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Group — 4th
“P4. A really tight and tough session however a enjoyable one. I feel many individuals are leaving pondering they could possibly be on pole, and I’m one in every of them, however that’s a constructive signal by way of tempo. It’s one other begin in direction of the entrance and we’ll see what we are able to do tomorrow.
“We’ve got 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 are able to do tomorrow. I’m wanting ahead to it.”
Daniel Ricciardo — Visa Money App RB — fifth
“I’m very happy about right now. It’s been a very good weekend, loads of enjoyable, and a kind of ones the place all the things’s simply feeling good. We’re lower than two-tenths from pole, and even when it’s not right now’s case, generally this implies being on the entrance row, so it’s good being aggressive and feeling comfy within the automotive.
“In Q3 it was crucial to have a quick warm-up lap and that is what I informed 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 shocked, I do know once I really feel like this, I can do this stuff. 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 end result.
“I all the time really feel one thing particular coming right here to Montréal and I’ve received good reminiscences: precisely ten years in the past I received my first win right here and my life modified. Additionally, the crew feels there’s some good vitality this weekend, so completely happy to transform that into some good driving. Tomorrow, we begin in a great place inside the highest 5, with some good front-running guys round me, so I’ll get the perfect out of myself through the race.”
Fernando Alonso — Aston Martin Armaco F1 Group — sixth
“It was a really unpredictable Qualifying session with the fixed menace of rain lingering, however I feel we’ve to be proud of each automobiles in Q3 in these situations. After the final two occasions I used to be out in Q1, so beginning in sixth place provides us a very good likelihood of scoring factors tomorrow.
“I don’t suppose I did an ideal lap in Q3 and once you see on the finish that I used to be solely two tenths from pole place it hurts a bit bit. On the whole the automotive has felt a bit higher this weekend and tomorrow we are going to see how we handle the tyres and tempo as we haven’t had loads of lengthy runs within the dry.
“If it rains tomorrow, it could possibly be determined by effective margins and who switches the tyres on the proper time, so we’ve to be ready for all the things.”
Lewis Hamilton — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Group — seventh
Firstly, congratulations to George. It’s superb for the crew to take pole place. Everybody at Brackley and Brixworth has executed such an awesome job pushing the automotive and its growth ahead. They’ve labored tirelessly to deliver the current updates.
“It’s been feeling nice all weekend so, regardless of beginning P7, I hope we are able to have an honest race. It’s robust 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 troublesome session on my aspect. We have been fast in FP3, however I struggled a bit extra in Qualifying. I discovered it tough to get the tyres working all through and that was the identical on my last lap in Q3. Let’s see what tomorrow brings and if we are able to make progress.”
Yuki Tsunoda — Visa Money App RB — eighth
“As you may see within the end result, the crew did a implausible job, and it was a profitable day for us. For myself, contemplating I used to be struggling in Free Apply, it was an excellent turnaround for qualifying. I had an unlucky gust of wind in Flip 2 and misplaced loads of lap time there, however nonetheless, one other Q3 will not be dangerous.
“To this point, it’s been an fulfilling race weekend, with many ups and downs which have challenged me, however on the identical time, if we are able to flip it round to this it’s all the time a very good feeling, and that’s credit score to the crew.
“We’ll see the way it goes with the climate tomorrow, however we’ve a very good automotive and clearly need extra factors within the bag, so we goal to complete within the prime ten with each automobiles.”
Lance Stroll — Aston Martin Armaco F1 Group — ninth
“Getting via to Q3 is a constructive end result, however I feel extra was doable right now. I had a little bit of contact with the wall throughout Q1 which I feel might need brought on some injury because the behaviour of the automotive wasn’t fairly proper after that.
“Nonetheless, we’re in a very good place to attain some sturdy factors in entrance of my dwelling crowd tomorrow. The Montréal climate may throw something our means, so we’ll do our homework tonight and ensure we’re able to take advantage of any alternatives through the race.”
Alex Albon — Williams Racing — tenth
“A irritating Saturday. We did a small set-up change earlier than Qualifying and the automotive felt good from the get-go. We had sturdy 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 periods dropped the monitor temperature and we struggled to heat up the tyres, compromising our last Q3 try.
“Tomorrow can be difficult with two Ferraris behind, however equally I feel we’ve a race in entrance of us with the Aston Martins and RBs. General, it’s constructive to have two Q3 appearances in a row and I feel rain tomorrow will create some good alternatives for us.
Charles Leclerc — Scuderia Ferrari — eleventh
“We’ve got to evaluate this qualifying session and FP3, as we merely weren’t on the degree we must be. Tyre administration will play a giant position within the race so we’ve to deal with that and can push to realize positions tomorrow. With combined climate situations, there could also be some alternatives coming our means and we should be able to take advantage of them.”
Carlos Sainz Jr — Scuderia Ferrari — twelfth
“It’s been a troublesome 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 things 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 feel we are able to nonetheless deliver dwelling some good factors. We’ll give it our greatest shot.”
Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing — thirteenth
“It’s little bit irritating as I received held up on my greatest lap. I truly gained a tenth and a half on myself. If I had that point, I’d’ve been straight via to Q3 which is disappointing as it’s been left on the desk.
“Nonetheless it’s been one other strong weekend contemplating the situations and the way we’ve tailored. Our automotive tempo is a bit bit higher right here which elevates us as a crew. I really feel like I’ve been driving properly with the package deal I’ve in the meanwhile.
“We’re ready that we are able to positively struggle from tomorrow. I’m certain it’s going to be a difficult day with more than likely altering situations via the race. We’ve managed it properly thus far and we’ll attempt to preserve doing the identical.”
Kevin Magnussen — MoneyGram Haas F1 Group — 14th
“There was no site visitors for me right now which was good. I feel we thought the rain was going to return in Q2, so we went out on a brand new set at the start, which meant if the rain didn’t come, that wasn’t going to be nice as with monitor evolution, you wouldn’t have your new tires for the tip.
“Sadly, that rain didn’t come, so the lap I did on my first run was a very good lap, so given the tire decisions we made, I feel it was the perfect we may do.
“I’m barely optimistic, the long term tempo regarded first rate, albeit it was within the dry, so let’s see what the climate does tomorrow, we needs to be in competition it doesn’t matter what.”
Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Group — fifteenth
“My laps in Q1 and Q2 felt first rate right now, so I used to be a bit shocked it was solely sufficient to qualify P15 ultimately. The truth is that this was simply merely what we may extract out of the automotive right now. Clearly, it’s tough to be happy with this end result.
“We all know the place we stand by way of efficiency and the areas the place the automotive lacks, so in the intervening time we might want to put our heads down and be affected person. The crew is working onerous within the background to enhance the general package deal. Till then we have to maximise what we are able to out of the present set-up.
“Tomorrow is not going to be a simple race for us. I’m hoping for rain and a few alternatives for us that can imply we are able to get nearer to the highest 10 and struggle for factors, given how shut the mid-field is.”
Sergio Pérez — Oracle Pink Bull Racing — sixteenth
“In these situations someway, 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. Principally, 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 have a look at it and perceive the rationale behind it, it was stepping away from me on a regular basis. In hindsight we may have executed loads of various things however on the finish of the day we lacked some tempo, easy as that. There are some basic points that we have to deal with, perceive, and work out, to ensure we’re in a position to enhance within the coming races.
“I’m offended with myself; we’re a Group and it isn’t a great time for us however we’ve 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 might make issues unpredictable, and we are going to see what we are able to do with the technique as properly.”
Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Group Kick Sauber — seventeenth
“We have been positively near Q2 right now, 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 thus far, and the steadiness was first rate as properly; it didn’t really feel like we may squeeze rather more out of that.
“By way of monitor situations, they have been slippery at first, but it surely step by step improved. Sadly, we’re nonetheless barely struggling by way of single-lap tempo – that’s principally it.
“Going into Sunday, I feel we could be a bit extra optimistic: it absolutely is a monitor that provides extra alternatives for a shake-up than Monaco; the sector 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 situations or some rain, which might assist us progress additional. There can be alternatives, and we’ll strive the perfect we are able to to take advantage of them.”
Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Group — 18th (will begin twentieth because of a grid penalty from the Monaco Grand Prix)
“It was a brilliant tight session on the market right now 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 selecting up grime after shifting off-line throughout my prep lap.
“Tomorrow we are going to attempt to do the perfect we are able to and hopefully it will be a clear race, the place we are able to optimise the technique and transfer nearer to the factors. It will be robust however we are going to do our greatest.”
Nico Hülkenberg — MoneyGram Haas F1 Group — nineteenth (will begin 18th because of Ocon’s grid penalty)
“I feel 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 automotive 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 total run plan received out of sequence a bit, so we have been on the again foot with timings, and it received busy and hectic. In the direction of the tip I additionally had somebody impeding, parked on the final chicane, so all collectively it made it a bit tough.”
Guanyu Zhou — Stake F1 Group Kick Sauber — twentieth (will begin nineteenth because of Ocon’s grid penalty)
“At the moment was fairly difficult – coming into qualifying with out preparation on dry laps is rarely simple. Through the morning session, I had a second that ended FP3 early for me, and whereas I used to be in a position to acquire increasingly more time on each qualifying lap, it wasn’t sufficient to compensate for my missed session.
“The sphere remains to be very shut, and I reckon we’re not far off our competitors however, given the dearth of working, I wasn’t capable of finding the right 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 a very good go.”
