Canadian GP Sprint Qualifying: George Russell pipped Kimi Antonelli to third in Montreal with Lando Norris | F1 News

George Russell beat Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli on sprint pole at the Canadian Grand Prix in a dramatic battle at the end of sprint qualifying.

Russell, who is 20 points behind Antonelli after seeing the Italian teenager win the last three grands prix, beat Antonelli by just 0.068 seconds as Mercedes’ upgrade for Montreal saw them further up the field.

McLaren locked out the second row and Lando Norris recovered from a mistake in SQ3 to take third from team-mate Oscar Piastre, but the pair were more than three tenths behind Russell.

“It feels great after a tough Miami but I never doubted myself. I know what I can do. Miami is unique but it’s an amazing circuit with high grip,” said Russell.

“It looks like you’re driving a proper F1 car here, how it should be. It’s come together”

Lewis Hamilton topped SQ1 and was second in SQ2, only to be leapfrogged by the McLaren when it was crucial but still a creditable fifth, ahead of Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in sixth.

Hamilton revealed that he had not tested Gilles Villeneuve at the circuit on the simulator and the move appeared to have paid off as he beat Leclerc in a competitive session at the track for the first time since the second round in China.

Noah’s Ark completed the top eight with Red Bull Max Verstappen in seventh and Isaac Hajar in eighth.

Britain’s Arvid Lindblad was ninth in sprint qualifying on his first visit to Montreal, with Williams’ Carlos Sainz in tenth.

Saenz’s teammate Alex Albon missed the session after hitting a groundhog in practice earlier on Friday.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso also produced a red flag with a shunt at Turn 3 in the first part of sprint qualifying.

Russell lands the first punch of the big weekend

After performing well last weekend in Miami, Russell had to wait three weeks to return, knowing he has historically been strong at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, converting pole position into victory in Canada last year.

Antonelli flew out of the blocks topping the only practice session but Russell turned things up a notch when he went fast in SQ2 and delivered a strong banker lap in SQ3.

But, the dusty track was improving all the time and Russell, the British driver, went even faster with a 1:12.965 that nobody could beat.

Antonelli was the last driver to cross the line but finished 0.068s slower despite the purple final sector. Hamilton also looked a threat as he set the fastest first sector but the Ferrari’s lack of power unit and a small mistake by Hamilton at the hairpin killed any chance of shocking the sprint pole.

Both McLarens were slower than Hamilton throughout sprint qualifying until the final lap of SQ3 but will worry about their three-tenths deficit to Mercedes, able to challenge the Silver Arrows in Miami.

“I think it’s a fair margin considering they (Mercedes) have made significant upgrades here,” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said. Sky Sports F1.

“We also had some upgrades. We actually wanted to take a little longer to see how the front wing behaved, so we ran with the previous front wing.

“So, looking at the fact that the car is the same as the Miami car, it’s a gap that remains encouraging.”

Sky Sports F1’s Canadian GP schedule

Saturday 23 May
2.40pm: F1 Academy Race 1
4pm: Canadian GP sprint build-up
5pm: Canadian GP Sprint
6.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
7pm: F2 Sprint*
8.10pm: Canadian GP Qualifying Build Up*
9pm: Canadian GP Qualifying*
11pm: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.45pm: Ted’s Qualifications Notebook*

Sunday 24 May
3.40pm: F1 Academy Race 3
5pm: F2 Feature Race
7.30pm: Canadian GP Build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
9pm: Canadian Grand Prix*
11am: Canadian GP reaction: Checkered flag*
12am: Ted’s Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports main events

Formula 1 is in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1, Sunday’s race at 9pm. Stream Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime