After the Miami GP, the Formula 1 circus lands in Canada. Just like in Florida, the drivers face a sprint weekend again. At this treacherous Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, George Russell sets the fastest time during the sprint qualifying, ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris. Max Verstappen only manages P7.

Relive the sprint qualifying for the Canadian GP below:

SQ1: Hamilton fastest on track

The circuit is released and the first cars head out on track. The sprint has its own shortened qualifying procedure, divided into three sections. SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3 last 12, 10, and 8 minutes respectively, with seven minutes break in between. Moreover, drivers are required to use new rubber in each session; medium tires in SQ1 and SQ2 and soft tires for SQ3.

We get going with only twenty drivers. Both Alex Albon and Liam Lawson are not participating. The Williams mechanics could not repair the damage sustained after the collision with the marmot in time.

In the opening phase of the session, the top drivers are quite evenly matched. Ferrari is quick with Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel, followed by Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen. The trio is separated by only one tenth.

Fernando Alonso goes straight on and finds his Waterloo in the tire barrier. Less than two minutes remain, so the drivers cannot do much more. Because the car is awkwardly positioned on the track, the red flag is shown and the session stops.

When the field is released again, the track becomes crowded. Drivers in the danger zone have only one chance to secure themselves. Especially warming up the tires is extra difficult in such a short time. Hamilton ultimately ends the session as fastest, followed by Antonelli and Verstappen

Eliminated SQ1: Lawson, Albon, Bottas, Gasly, Stroll, and Pérez.

SQ2: Russell beats everyone

We continue with sixteen drivers on paper, but Alonso is not participating in this session due to his crash in SQ1. Again, Hamilton sets a very fast time, but the Brit is quickly overtaken by both Mercedes drivers. Verstappen tries to keep up but remains stuck in P9.

Then Russell sinks his teeth into the steering wheel and snatches more than four tenths off the fastest time. This while the top of the field is relatively close together. Arvid Lindblad surprisingly stays ahead of both Red Bull cars and settles in P7. Carlos Sainz also manages to get everything out of his Williams and impressively drives to P10.

Eliminated SQ2: Alonso, Bearman, Ocon, Colapinto, Bortoleto, and Hülkenberg.

SQ3: Who will take the sprint pole?

The tension rises in the final session of the sprint qualifying. Only ten drivers remain, but the fight for P1 seems mainly between Russell, Hamilton, and Antonelli. But like a devil out of a box, the McLarens suddenly rise to the top. They are just not fast enough to beat the Mercedes team but claim the entire second row. The top four consists respectively of Russell, Antonelli, Norris, and Piastri.

At Ferrari, they scratch their heads. Hamilton was involved throughout the sprint qualifying but ultimately finishes in P5. Verstappen will also not be satisfied and ends the session in seventh place.