In Canada a qualifying session full of surprises took place, culminating in the pole position by George Russell. The number 63 of Mercedes, on his second career pole after Hungary 2022, he recorded the same time per thousandth as Max Verstappen, but he will start in front because he finished his lap before the Dutchman, therefore on a less rubberized and less performing track.
A situation like this is more than rare in Formula 1. Only on one other occasion, at the 1997 European GP in Jerez, had three drivers recorded the exact same time for pole position. After an excellent qualifying, Russell aims to confirm himself in the race too. This, but not only, is what he said to the microphones after qualifying.
Russell: “We've taken the first step but now we have to aim for victory”
"A lot of work in the factory led us to this – explains Russell – Pole wasn't a fluke, today we were very fast. Already in Monaco we saw that perhaps something had changed for our season and today is truly a fantastic feeling".
“We have taken the first step but now we must aim for victory. We will try to keep Verstappen behind: the car gave fantastic sensations. When you know that all your work translates into a result, it fills you with emotions".
“Did the trail help? Maybe partly, but my last lap wasn't so good; I did the pole lap on the old tires and my fastest lap ever was in Q2. Looking at the real pace, we could have been ahead by 3-4 tenths".
