Red Bull’s Max Verstappen takes pole under rainy conditions at Canadian Grand Prix | 24CA News
MONTREAL — Formula One chief Max Verstappen weathered the storm and drove his Red Bull into the pole place Saturday in qualifying on the Canadian Grand Prix.
The 25-year-old posted a lap of 1 minute 25.858 seconds on a moist observe at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to position first and safe his spot on the entrance of the grid in Sunday’s race.
It’s Verstappen’s fifth pole of the season. The Dutch driver is chasing a fourth straight win and his sixth general this yr.
Nico Hulkenberg shocked by ending in second place as Haas will begin within the entrance row for the primary time. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was third.
Seven-time Canadian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton, who has by no means certified exterior the top-5 in Montreal, was fourth.
Montreal-born driver Lance Stroll of Aston Martin superior previous the primary spherical of qualification for the primary time in 5 makes an attempt on the circuit’s solely Canadian cease, however fell out of the session in Q2.
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, ranked second and seventh within the standings, additionally did not advance from Q2. It’s the second Grand Prix in a row that Leclerc hasn’t made the ultimate spherical of qualifying.
The session started with out rain after showers all through the day Saturday. But the precipitation returned and bought heavier and heavier over the ultimate half-hour.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri slid off the observe amid the difficult circumstances to delay the ultimate session.
Verstappen, who gained final yr’s Canadian Grand Prix, leads the Formula One drivers’ standings with 170 factors, 53 forward of Perez.
Red Bull’s 287 factors prime the constructors’ standings, whereas Mercedes is second with 152.
After two days of showers, the rain may subside for Sunday’s race because the forecast requires a mixture of solar and clouds.
It’s the 52nd Canadian GP and the forty fifth anniversary of Gilles Villeneuve’s win when Montreal hosted for the primary time in 1978.
No Canadian has gained the race since.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
