LEWIS HAMILTON recorded his best qualifying position this season and will start from FOURTH at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Current Champion Max Verstappen will start from pole, while 40-year-old Fernando Alonso will start from second.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from the back of the grid as a result of an excessive engine usage penalty.
Follow ALL the action from Montreal with our live blog below…
Hamilton buoyant
Lewis Hamilton pulled off his best qualifying of the year and will start in fourth place, writes BEN HUNT.
The seven-times world champion, who has been plagued by back problems caused by his bouncing Mercedes, looked to have done the unthinkable with an excellent first attempt in Montreal that was good enough for provisional second place.
However, despite being eventually bumped down to fourth place, he hailed his achievement in the wet as his best of the season.
He said: “This past week has been a real challenge and every day working through the pain and getting my body right.
“We are still struggling with the car, so to get top four in those conditions is awesome.
“It is my best qualifying this season and feels similar to my first-ever qualifying in Australia in 2007, I was so excited.”
Alonso thrilled with second place
Fernando Alonso hailed his shock second place.
The Alpine ace, 40, said: “It feels great.
“It has been an unbelievable weekend and we have been competitive and thanks to the wet conditions, the car was mega and I was so comfortable.
“Red Bull are in a different league and pole was beyond our wildest dreams, so we will take a place on the front row.”
Verstappen joy
Ecstatic pole winner Max Verstappen said: “In tricky conditions we stayed calm and made no mistakes, so I am happy with pole.
“You were really on the edge with the grip but then it became more enjoyable as the track dried and luckily it all worked out in the end.”
Nervy Norris still adjusting to fame
EXCLUSIVE: Lando Norris is ready to take centre stage at the British Grand Prix as he enjoys his Glastonbury moment, writes BEN HUNT.
The Brit, 22, grew up in the Somerset town but has never been to its famous music festival.
Norris has had a stellar rise during his 3½ years in Formula One.
And while he is yet to win a race, he has attracted an army of fans from across the world.
However, the McLaren driver admits he still gets nervous in front of big crowds — and will do at the sold-out British GP in two weeks’ time, where he will be presented on the stage at the Fan Zone.
Ahead of the Canadian GP in Montreal, Norris said: “To have one race a year where it is over the top, you have to be careful and try not to do too much to take the focus off why you are there.
“But having that experience of so many fans — like the fan stage last year with everyone chanting your name — it is a special feeling.
“I never expected that growing up. I’ve never been one for festivals and stuff like that, so I am not confident standing up there.
“I’m nervous but the atmosphere and the feeling you get is pretty special.
“There are thousands of people all there supporting me. That is such a cool thing.”
The top 10 – how it looks on the grid
1. Max Verstappen
2. Fernando Alonso
4. Carlos Sainz
4. Lewis Hamilton
5. Kevin Magnussen
6. Mick Schumacher
7. Esteban Ocon
8. George Russell
9 Daniel Ricciardo
10. Guanyu Zhou
How it stands
Pole-winner Max Verstappen leads Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in the title standings by 21 points ahead of tomorrow’s Canadian GP.
And Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc suffered another blow to his crown hopes as he’ll start bottom as a penalty for excessive engine usage.
Grid recap
Verstappen and Alonso on the front row, Sainz and Hamilton next – followed by impressive Haas duo Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen.
Verstappen pole
Max Verstappen dominated the last two sessions of qualifying.
But Fernando Alonso was the surprise hero with second spot.
Hamilton qualifies in fourth
Alonso nicks into second ahead of Sainz!
Alpine are jubilant as Alonso squeezed into the front row with Verstappen.
That pushed Sainz out.
Sainz into second but Max sure of pole… surely
Russell off!
Not such a slick decision?
George Russell slid off after an ambitious turn in wet conditions.
But he’s still sixth quickest – with Lewis Hamilton in second.
Verstappen surges to 1.21.6
The world champ increases his fastest-lap.
So far…
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:22.701
2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
3. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
4. Mick Schumacher (Haas)
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
Russell gambles on slick tyres!
The Brit is going for a broke with this – changing to potentially the fastest but trickiest tyres.
Two laps and out
Most teams are changing tyres after just two laps.
Ricciardo punished
Daniel Ricciardo saw a lap-time deleted for exceeding track limits when his McLaren hit the grass.
Verstappen faster than Sainz
These two look the clear best.
Russell already quicker than Lewis
Russell is 0.3s quicker than team-mate Hamilton after their first lap of the third qualifying session.
BUT VERSTAPPEN IS FAR QUICKER.
Third session under way
Hamilton through the middle session in 26.9s
Max brilliance never tyres
3rd qualifying session starts in 5mins
MISSING OUT:
11. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
12. Alex Albon (Williams)
13. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
14. Lando Norris (McLaren)
15. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari – starts at back of grid)
Hairy time for Hamilton – but he survives
Lewis Hamilton was struggling in 11th but zoomed through for fifth fastest time at the death.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
