Last year nothing separated George Russell and Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, as the two drivers posted identical times in Q3 at the front of the field. Only the rules, which state that the driver who posts the time first, put Russell into pole position ahead of Verstappen.
Not much separated the two drivers a year later, as again the pair will start up front with Russell in P1, as his time in Q3 was just 0.060 seconds faster than his Red Bull driver. However, the Mercedes driver admitted after the session that he might have an advantage as the duo, who have clashed in recent weeks, head into Turn 1 on Sunday.
That advantage? Verstappen’s penalty situation.
Verstappen entered this race week with 11 penalty points on his FIA Super License, putting him one shy of a one-race ban. Drivers who receive 12 penalty points in a calendar year are suspended for a race, and with Verstappen’s two oldest penalty points not coming off his FIA Super License until the end of the month, the Red Bull driver must navigate both the Candian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix without incident to avoid a ban.
Asked about the start of the race after qualifying, Russell joked that Verstappen’s penalty situation could give him an advantage.
“I’ve got a few more points on my licence to play with, so let’s see,” said Russell after qualifying, to the roar of the crowd.
The Mercedes driver described his pole position, and the final lap, as “exhilarating.”
“That last lap was probably one of the most exhilarating laps of my life,” said Russell. “On my steering wheel, you’ve got the delta, and I just saw every corner, I was going one-tenth quicker, one-tenth quicker.
“I got into the last corner, and I was six tenths up, I was like, ‘alright, this lap’s mighty.’ Crossing the line and seeing we were P1 was a real surprise, but I was so chuffed with it.”
This was the sixth pole position of Russell’s career and the first of the season for the Mercedes driver. He currently sits fourth in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings … 26 points behind Verstappen.
