Announcement of the Second Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix: Verstappen Starts from Pole, Hamilton Second
The race will take place this evening at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Rain is expected, which could mix up the field and give Mercedes a chance.
2026 Canadian Grand Prix: Russell Takes Pole, Verstappen Sixth. Rain and the 'Wall of Champions' Ready to Spring Surprises
This evening, the fifth race of the Formula 1 season will be held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. George Russell on Mercedes sensationally claimed pole position, ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli. Max Verstappen on Red Bull managed only sixth place. The weather forecast promises rain, which could completely reshuffle the field and give a chance to Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari.
Montreal, Canada. The Île Notre-Dame, home to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, is gearing up for one of the most unpredictable Grands Prix of the 2026 season. Qualifying, which took place on the night of May 23-24, delivered the first batch of surprises: the Mercedes duo locked out the front row of the grid, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen could only manage sixth place.
But the main intrigue of today's race, which starts at 8:00 PM local time (3:00 AM Moscow time on May 25), lies not only in the starting grid order but also in the weather reports. Forecasters predict a high probability of rain throughout the race. 'Montreal rain' is a cliché in Formula 1 that always means chaos, edge-of-the-seat battles, and unexpected winners. Combined with the legendary 'Wall of Champions' (the wall at the exit of the Turns 6-7-8 chicane), bad weather could upend any predictions and deliver a spectacle that will go down in history.
Main Event: Mercedes One-Two and Russell's Tactical Victory
Qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix this year had a special status: for the first time in history, the Formula 1 weekend in Montreal followed a sprint format. This meant teams had only one practice session to find the perfect setup before Saturday's qualifying. The dominance of the Silver Arrows is all the more surprising.
Already in the first segment (Q1), it became clear that the fight for pole would be intense. Qualifying began with trouble for both rookies and veterans. Aston Martin came under investigation by the stewards for an unsafe release of cars from the pit lane, while Sergio Perez in the Cadillac and Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari were noted for impeding on track. The shock of Q1 was the elimination of Esteban Ocon in the Haas – the Frenchman lost out by just seven hundredths to Gabriel Bortoleto and finished 17th. Following him out were Alex Albon, the legendary Fernando Alonso (19th), Perez, and the Aston Martin duo with Lance Stroll, who brought up the rear in front of his home crowd.
The second segment (Q2) confirmed Mercedes' status as the main force of the weekend. However, the biggest surprise was McLaren's slump and the brilliance of the rookies. Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull produced a phenomenal lap, topping the Q2 timesheets, making his famous teammate Max Verstappen nervous. Missing the top ten were Nico Hülkenberg (11th, missing out by just 0.029 seconds), Liam Lawson, and Pierre Gasly, whose qualifying was marred by a collision with a groundhog – the Frenchman damaged the floor of his car after hitting the rodent that ran onto the track.
The decisive Q3 segment turned into a battle between Lando Norris and the Mercedes duo. Norris, who led for most of the session, seemed to have pole within his grasp. But just when it seemed time was running out, George Russell worked his magic. The Briton, who had cut the wall at Turn 4 on his first attempt and nearly crashed, put together a perfect lap on his second run. His time of 1:12.578 could not be beaten by Norris or his teammate Antonelli.
Kimi Antonelli, the rapidly improving rookie, posted the second-fastest time (+0.068), securing a front-row lockout for Mercedes. This is an important psychological moment for the Italian, who leads the championship but was outperformed by his more experienced teammate on Saturday. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri occupied the second row, rounding out the top four. Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari was fifth, while Max Verstappen could only manage sixth. The Dutchman looked disappointed after qualifying: Red Bull continues to suffer from a lack of downforce on low-speed tracks that require good suspension performance over kerbs.
Details and Statistics: Qualifying Numbers and the Start of the Championship Battle
Qualifying in Montreal gave us a unique starting grid. For the first time this season, Mercedes completely dominated on a Saturday. Russell took his second pole of the season and his first in Canada. For Mercedes, this is a double success reminiscent of their glory days in the hybrid engine era.
Final Starting Grid for the Canadian Grand Prix (Top 10):
| Position | Driver | Team | Q3 Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:12.578 | — |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:12.646 | +0.068 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:12.729 | +0.151 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:12.781 | +0.203 |
| 5 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:12.868 | +0.290 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:12.907 | +0.329 |
| 7 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:12.935 | +0.357 |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:12.976 | +0.398 |
| 9 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:13.280 | +0.702 |
| 10 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:13.697 | +1.119 |
Data: Qualifying results.
Championship Standings Before the Race
Ahead of the fifth round of the season, Kimi Antonelli leads the Drivers' Championship by a significant margin, having already secured three wins and a sprint victory on Saturday. However, the championship intrigue is only growing: Ferrari and McLaren are breathing down the necks of the Constructors' Championship leaders.
Championship Standings (Top 7 after Sprint):
| Position | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 131 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 88 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 75 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 72 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 58 |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 48 |
| 7 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 43 |
Data: Standings after the sprint.
Context and Significance: Rain and the 'Wall of Champions' as Factors
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a unique venue on the calendar. It is not a modern track with kilometer-long runoff areas, but an old street circuit laid out through a park. Here, the asphalt can change its characteristics from session to session, and the walls are dangerously close to the track.
The track's main landmark is the 'Wall of Champions'. It earned its name after the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix, when three reigning world champions – Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, and Michael Schumacher – all crashed their cars at the same spot. Since then, this wall has annually claimed its tribute from those who lose concentration at the exit of the final chicane.
Tonight, the danger of this section will increase manifold. If it rains, the chicane before the finish straight will turn into an ice rink. Drivers will be forced to attack the kerbs, which become slippery as glass. A mistake here will cost not just seconds – it will send the car into the wall and almost certainly bring out the Safety Car.
Another factor is the physical strain. The race in Montreal is one of the shortest in distance but the most intense in terms of time. Due to low speeds and constant braking, drivers experience up to 5G forces on each of the 70 laps. In the rain, this is compounded by vibration from wet tires and constant battle with aquaplaning. This is a race of endurance, where the experience of veterans like Hamilton or Alonso can be worth more than the raw speed of younger drivers.
What's Next / Race Preview
The main race of the Canadian Grand Prix starts today at 8:00 PM local time (Montreal, UTC-4). For viewers in Moscow, this means the race starts at 3:00 AM on May 25. For fans in Kyiv, it's 3:00 AM. In Astana, the race will begin at 5:00 AM.
The weather forecast predicts cloud cover and air temperatures around +18°C. The probability of precipitation is 70%, with rain possibly being either prolonged or brief. This puts teams in a difficult strategic dilemma: whether to start the race on full wet tires or intermediates. A mistake in tire choice at the start could cost drivers several positions before they even cross the start line.
Bookmakers and experts have revised their predictions after qualifying. Initially, Verstappen was considered the favorite, but his sixth place on the grid and Red Bull's instability in wet conditions have pushed the Dutchman back to the third row. Now, bets are being placed on a win for George Russell, who excels in changing conditions (remember his victory in Brazil 2022). Lewis Hamilton, starting fifth, also has a reputation as the 'Rain Master' – his victory at Silverstone 2008 in a downpour became legendary.
Editorial Prediction
The main intrigue of the race is whether Max Verstappen can fight back from sixth place in wet conditions. History suggests yes. In 2024 in São Paulo, he started 17th and won the race, but back then his Red Bull was a dominant car. Now, in 2026, the Bulls' advantage has evaporated. On straight-line speed, Red Bull is still good, but in the slow chicanes of Montreal, the car looks nervous. Most likely, Verstappen will fight for a podium, but not for the win, unless the rain comes down in sheets, equalizing engine power.
The key duel of the race will be the showdown between Russell and Antonelli. Mercedes has found the perfect balance on this track. Russell needs this win to close the gap to his teammate in the championship (43 points), while Antonelli wants to prove that his sprint win on Saturday was no fluke. We expect a tough but fair fight within the team, which could end in contact if the rivals are not careful.
Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari is the dark horse of this Grand Prix. The seventh title is in the past, but the Briton's motivation is enormous. He loves Montreal (a record 7 wins on this track) and is the best rain driver in history. If a downpour comes, the smart money is on him. Hamilton starts 5th, but overtaking is possible in Canada, especially if the Safety Car mixes up the field.
Editorial Prediction: Kimi Antonelli will win, continuing his impressive winning streak (four Grands Prix in a row?). However, the most exciting spectacle will be the battle for third place between Verstappen, Norris, and veteran Fernando Alonso, who starts only 19th but is capable of miracles in the rain. Don't miss the start – the first two laps in Montreal in the rain usually decide everything.
— Editorial Team
