Max Verstappen took F1 Canadian GP pole after rain ruined any chances of a solid Q3 show, with Nico Hulkenberg in P2 and Fernando Alonso in P3.

Q1:

It was wet start to the first part of F1 Canadian GP qualifying with everyone on intermediate tyres from the get go. But there was immediate stoppage where Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu was facing power issue. He came to a halt while trying to reboot.

Just when the red flag was waved, he managed to get going into the pits with only the Williams pair and Guanyu’s teammate Valtteri Bottas managing to set a lap time. The Chinese racer did manage to hit the track with Q1 seeing an interesting end.

At the front, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen led the way with a 1m20.851s lap from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the Top 3. It was messy towards the end with traffic causing mayhem where drivers were running slowly.

AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda – who will be looked at for impeding Charles Leclerc – was 16th eventually after his 1m22.746s lap. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly (1m22.886s) lost out in that late traffic when Carlos Sainz impeded him with Tsunoda infront of the Spaniard.

The Frenchman was only 17th from AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries (1m23.137s), Williams’ Logan Sargeant (1m23.337s) and Guanyu (1m23.342s) to round out the 20 runners. Post-session showed replay of Tsunoda involved in another impeding of Nico Hulkenberg.

Q2:

It was getting dry for second part of F1 Canadian GP qualifying with Williams’ Alexander Albon opting for slicks for his first run while everyone else were on the intermediate. But the rest started to come in after setting a lap with few staying out on intermediate still.

It was getting confusing with rain starting to fall as the slick and intermediate gamble continued on. There was a huge moment early on for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll who nearly hit the wall after an early spin on the intermediate tyre.

The heroics from Albon delivered him a top spot in Q2 with a 1m18.725s lap as Verstappen was second with McLaren’s Lando Norris in third. The gambles didn’t work with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc knocked out in 11th after his 1m20.615s lap.

The rain didn’t help him and also Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (1m20.959s), with Stroll (1m21.484s) in 13th from Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m21.678s) and Alfa Romeo’s Bottas (1m21.821s) to round the Top 15 runners.

Q3:

The rain started to come down heavy for the start of the final part in F1 Canadian GP qualifying where Red Bull’s Verstappen set the pace after two quick laps with a 1m25.858s lap. He had Aston Martin’s Alonso to give him company in the fight.

But the session was red-flagged after a crash for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Turn 7. Just before the red flag, Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg set the second best time with a 1m27.102s lap, with Alonso unable to complete his second lap when the session was stopped.

It rained heavy during the red flag and the conditions didn’t seem to be improving. They didn’t even go a flying lap as Verstappen came in with F1 Canadian GP pole secured for the Dutchman from Hulkenberg (1m27.102s) and Alonso (1m27.286s).

The Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton (1m27.627s) and George Russell (1m27.893s) were fourth and fifth, with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m27.945s) sixth ahead of McLaren’s Norris (1m28.046s), Ferrari’s Sainz (1m29.294s), McLaren’s Piastri (1m31.349s) and Williams’ Albon, where the Thai racer didn’t set a lap time.

UPDATE: Sainz has been handed a 3-place grid drop for F1 Canadian GP for impeding Gasly where he has been wholly blamed for the incident which is likely to drop him to 11th. The note states: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2023%20Canadian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2055%20-%20Impeding%20of%20Car%2010.pdf

UPDATE 2: Tsunoda has been cleared for impeding Leclerc as the Monegasque noted that he already backed-off. The note states: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2023%20Canadian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Decision%20-%20Alleged%20impeding%20of%20Car%2016.pdf

In another impeding investigation for Tsunoda, the Japanese has been handed a three-place grid drop for impeding Hulkenberg which is likely to drop him to 19th. The note states: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2023%20Canadian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2022%20-%20Impeding%20of%20Car%2027.pdf

UPDATE 3: In line with the impeding penalties, Stroll has been handed a 3-place as well for impeding Ocon which is likely to drop him to 16th. The note states: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2023%20Canadian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2018%20-%20Impeding%20of%20Car%2031.pdf

The big change happened with Hulkenberg losing his front-row start after getting a 3-place grid drop for red flag infringement. Even though the German tried to do enough but he did break the rule. A usual penalty is of 10-place drop but in this case, due to the situation, he gets a lower one which is likely to drop him to fifth. The note states: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2023%20Canadian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2027%20-%20Qualifying%20Red%20Flag.pdf

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