Formula One driver Max Verstappen claims the pole position at Monza, while McLaren team struggles to compete.
Formula 1 Grand Prix of Montreal: Qualifying Recap
The 2025 Grand Prix of Montreal saw a thrilling qualifying session, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen securing pole position by a narrow margin of 0.077 seconds over Lando Norris of McLaren.
Verstappen, who will start alongside Charles Leclerc of Ferrari on the second row, revealed that he made some final changes that allowed him to push more in qualifying. This adjustment proved crucial, as he set the fastest lap in Formula 1 history during the session.
Meanwhile, Ferrari's flashes of brilliance weren't enough to challenge for the top spot. Leclerc will start from the fourth position, while teammate Carlos Sainz will line up in the 13th spot.
The track in Montreal, similar to Monza with its long straights and low-speed corners, provided an opportunity for drivers to gain from the slipstream. Many drivers took advantage of this, with Mercedes showing promising speed and potentially being in contention for a podium on Sunday.
Unfortunately, Racing Bulls' drivers Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson were eliminated in Q1, contrasting their podium finish in Zandvoort last week. The team faced difficulties in qualifying, a trend that was also seen in other mid-tier teams like Williams, Sauber, and Haas.
Williams struggled with out-lap and tire management, leaving them starting from the seventh row. Their drivers, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, were closely matched in qualifying struggles. Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto showed mixed results, with Bortoleto qualifying 7th, while Hulkenberg was eliminated in Q2.
Pierre Gasly, who recently signed a new contract with Alpine, was outqualified by his rookie teammate, marking a difficult start to his new tenure. Fernando Alonso, despite Aston Martin's low-downforce package causing difficulties, managed to qualify for Q3.
The starting grid for the race in Monza is as follows: 1. Max Verstappen, 2. Lando Norris, 3. Oscar Piastri, 4. Charles Leclerc, 5. George Russell, 6. Kimi Antonelli, 7. Gabriel Bortoleto, 8. Fernando Alonso, 9. Yuki Tsunoda, 10. Lewis Hamilton, 11. Ollie Bearman, 12. Nico Hulkenberg, 13. Carlos Sainz, 14. Alex Albon, 15. Esteban Ocon, 16. Isack Hadjar, 17. Lance Stroll, 18. Franco Colapinto, 19. Pierre Gasly, 20. Liam Lawson.
The race promises to be an exciting one, with Verstappen aiming to extend his lead in the championship and several teams fighting to secure a strong finish.
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