Thrilling qualifying in Montreal. George Russell’s pole position shows that the potential Mercedes displayed on Friday was no flash in the pan, but rather the sign of a car perfectly suited to the curves and asphalt of the Canadian track. Verstappen edges ahead of a McLaren still difficult to push to the limit, despite modifications to the front suspension. The greatest regret, however, belongs to Charles Leclerc, in a Ferrari that confirms progress in tyre usage during qualifying.
Mercedes flash
In Canada, George Russell delivers one of the best qualifying sessions of his career. The Briton made the most of a car that has been strong over a single lap since the start of the season but seems reinvigorated in Montreal. The Brackley team continues to point to the cooler temperatures as one of the factors behind the W16’s spark—a car that, like its predecessors, thrives in the cold. However, it would be simplistic to attribute everything to the weather, especially considering that Saturday’s air and track temperatures were only 8 and 5°C lower, respectively, than those in Barcelona—hardly a massive difference.
Much more significant is the temperature at which the tyres operate. The new asphalt at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit is extremely smooth, reducing deformation and the heat generated in the tyres—an important advantage for the Silver Arrows, which tend to overheat them. The W16 also excels in Montreal’s slow corners, benefiting from a strong rear end that provides good traction and braking stability. Also noteworthy is the development programme over the past month: between the front wing introduced in Imola, the floor updates in Barcelona, and the rear suspension brought back for Canada, the car has been significantly transformed. There are many contributing factors behind Mercedes’ excellent form in Montreal, but the pole position and Antonelli’s fourth place are above all the result of excellent execution by the team and drivers.
Tyre factor
The Mercedes pit wall’s gamble to fit medium tyres for the decisive Q3 lap paid off. Similar to what happened in Imola, the softer compound (C6) offers a higher grip peak but deforms more under intense longitudinal loads in braking, providing less confidence to drivers. Along with Russell and Antonelli, Alonso and notably Verstappen also chose the same strategy, with the Dutchman securing an unexpected front-row spot. After Friday’s sessions, Max Verstappen had stated he didn’t even think he’d be fighting the McLarens, only to qualify ahead of both. Once again, overnight simulator work helped dial in the setup, making the most of the RB21’s good aerodynamic efficiency, particularly valuable on Canada’s straights.
Choosing the C6 compound instead led to both McLarens missing out on the front row. The weekend had already started poorly for the Woking team, with Norris calling it one of their worst Fridays of the year—not for lack of pace, but due to difficulties in putting everything together. On Saturday, the reigning champions looked in far better shape, topping the times in FP3 and Q1. But when it came time to push to the limit, all the MCL39’s handling issues resurfaced. The modifications to the front suspension don’t seem to have sufficiently improved the feel from the front end—limitations that are especially punishing on a braking-heavy track like Montreal. Oscar Piastri couldn’t do better than third, but Lando Norris suffered the most, qualifying seventh after a mistake at the final chicane.
Ferrari’s regret
Lewis Hamilton ends the day as the best-placed Ferrari driver, fifth and six-tenths off pole. The Brit appreciates the Canadian track’s layout, which lacks the fast corners where the seven-time world champion struggles with Ferrari’s oversteer. In qualifying, he seemed more comfortable with the SF-25 than on Friday, when changes made after the first free practice session had shaken his confidence.
Much more frustration, though, for Charles Leclerc, who made a mistake while disturbed by the dirty air from Hadjar after setting the best time in the first sector—until then, the part of the track where both Ferraris had struggled most.
The frustration within Ferrari, however, also reflects a team aware that the car had the potential to secure second row—or even front row—positions. After Monaco and Barcelona, the Scuderia confirmed its progress in getting the most from the tyres over a single lap in Montreal as well. Encouraging results came with a selection of compounds very different from the previous round, and on a track where it’s notoriously difficult to balance temperatures across both axles. The goal for the upcoming races will be to convert these improvements into better Saturday results, a crucial condition for building something meaningful on Sundays.
Looking ahead to the race
Mercedes is now tasked with defending what it achieved in qualifying—maintaining track position at the start, then managing the tyres. The concern is overheating, a recurring issue for the W16 in races. The good news for the Silver Arrows is that this time the limiting factor doesn’t appear to be thermal degradation but rather rear-axle graining, which they must try to avoid by minimising traction slip.
The outlook is for a two-stop race, offering plenty of opportunities for those chasing from behind—starting with Verstappen, who looks to be more aggressive than ever.
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