Red Bull's Max Verstappen Wins Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying in Formula 1
The Dutchman beat Lando Norris by 0.123 seconds. The race takes place tomorrow in Montreal.
Champions in Crisis: Max Verstappen and Red Bull Lose Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying
Main Event
The Canadian Grand Prix qualifying, held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal, delivered the biggest shock of the Formula 1 season start. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull managed only sixth place, losing to pole-sitter George Russell by more than three-tenths of a second.
This result was a logical continuation of the Dutch driver's series of problems on the Canadian track. Even in the sprint qualifying held the day before, Verstappen finished only seventh, losing to the leader by more than half a second. Red Bull's struggles in Canada are no coincidence—the RB-22 car, which dominated at the start of the season, faced serious issues on this specific track configuration.
The key problem, according to Verstappen himself, was the suspension's performance over the numerous bumps for which the Montreal circuit is known. "I didn't feel the car very well, I had serious problems controlling it. Over the bumps, I couldn't even press the throttle because my foot was coming off the pedal," the world champion stated after sprint qualifying. This issue proved systemic: it prevented Verstappen from attacking at full strength in both the sprint and the main qualifying.
Isaac Hadjar, Verstappen's Red Bull teammate, also failed to deliver an outstanding result, taking seventh place. However, Hadjar was only a tenth of a second slower than the Dutchman, indicating systemic car problems rather than poor form from a specific driver. Hadjar himself admitted his result could have been better: "I'm very disappointed. Since the Miami round, I haven't been able to deliver in qualifying finals; I'm not focused enough on the final laps and I make mistakes."
The qualifying winner was Mercedes driver George Russell, who posted the best time of 1:12.578. Second was his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli (1:12.646), and third was McLaren's Lando Norris (1:12.729). Thus, the entire front row of the starting grid for Sunday's race will consist of two Mercedes cars, a serious statement of the German team's return to the elite.
Details and Statistics
The final results of the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix qualifying are as follows:
| Position | Driver | Team | 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 | Isaac 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 |
Table: Canadian Grand Prix qualifying results
It is worth noting that Verstappen's gap to Russell was 0.329 seconds—a critical margin in modern Formula 1, where battles are decided by hundredths. For comparison, in the sprint qualifying held the day before, the gap was even larger—more than five-tenths of a second. This suggests that Red Bull's engineers managed to improve the car somewhat, but could not fundamentally solve the problem.
The 2026 Canadian round, taking place from May 22 to 24, is a sprint weekend. This means a short race (sprint) was held on Saturday, the results of which determined the starting grid for the main qualifying. George Russell won the sprint, beating Kimi Antonelli in a tense battle. The sprint win earned Russell an additional eight championship points.
Context and Significance
What is happening to Red Bull at the Canadian Grand Prix cannot be dismissed as just a bad weekend. It is a symptom of deep problems that could have far-reaching consequences for the championship battle. After five rounds of the 2026 season, the situation in the Constructors' Championship and the Drivers' Championship remains tense. According to Britannica, the 2026 Formula 1 season started in March and includes 24 Grands Prix.
The early rounds of the season were dominated by Mercedes: George Russell won the Australian Grand Prix, while Kimi Antonelli (a rookie replacing Lewis Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari) claimed victories in China, Japan, and Miami. Lando Norris has a sprint win in Miami but no main race victories yet. Verstappen, accustomed to dominating in previous years, has yet to win a single race in 2026.
The Montreal track's peculiarity lies in its low speed and abundance of bumps. The Gilles Villeneuve Circuit is a street track that lacks long straights but is full of slow corners and speed bumps. For cars with stiff suspension, which Red Bull is known for, this is a nightmare.
In an interview after sprint qualifying, Verstappen was brutally honest: "I'm not surprised by this result. I didn't feel the car very well, I had serious problems controlling it." The Dutchman also admitted that the changes engineers made to the setup after free practice did not suit him. "Everything is very confusing, and the changes we made to the setup I didn't like either. A very difficult session—everything is very confusing. I have almost no words," the champion told Sky Sports.
For Mercedes, the Canadian weekend has been a demonstration of total superiority. For the first time this season, the German team locked out the front row. Russell and Antonelli are showing excellent speed on all types of tracks, and their new W17 car seems free of the teething problems that plagued the team in previous years. Russell won the sprint and then qualifying, confirming he is the main title contender this season.
What's Next / Preview
The main race of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit. The race start is scheduled for 23:00 Kyiv time. The race distance will be 70 laps, and according to weather forecasts, rain is highly likely, which could make the race even more unpredictable.
For Max Verstappen, starting from sixth place is a serious challenge but not a death sentence. The Montreal track is known for allowing overtaking, especially in the area of the "Wall of Champions." However, given the car's handling issues and the inability to attack properly over bumps, even breaking into the points could be a success for the Dutchman.
Verstappen himself hinted that chaos could reign in the race, playing into his hands. "If the race is wet, we could see chaos. We'll see, I haven't really thought about it," he said after qualifying. A wet race always levels the playing field: on a wet track, driver skill matters more than raw car speed.
The next Formula 1 round after Canada is the Monaco Grand Prix, taking place on June 5-7 on the legendary street circuit in Monte Carlo. This is another test for Red Bull, as street tracks are also full of bumps and kerbs. If the team's engineers cannot solve the suspension problem in the next two weeks, Verstappen faces another disappointment in Monaco.
Editorial Prediction
Our editorial team expects Sunday's race to be a benefit for Mercedes. George Russell, who took pole and won the sprint, is in excellent psychological and physical form. His teammate Kimi Antonelli, who at 19 has already won three races in his debut season, will apply pressure but will likely finish second, following team tactics.
The main intrigue is whether Max Verstappen can finish in the top five. Starting sixth, with two Mercedes and two McLarens ahead, leaves little room for maneuver. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, starting fifth and eighth respectively, will also be serious competitors.
Key factors for the race:
- Weather. If it rains, Verstappen's chances of a high result increase. The Dutchman is renowned for his wet-weather driving, which could compensate for the car's shortcomings.
- Red Bull's strategy. The team will likely have to take risks, choosing alternative pit-stop tactics to try to gain positions.
- Mercedes car reliability. So far, the German cars look flawless, but in Formula 1, technical retirements are always possible.
We predict that George Russell will win the Canadian Grand Prix, securing his second victory of the season after Australia. Kimi Antonelli will finish second, and Lando Norris will round out the podium. Max Verstappen will likely fight for fourth or fifth place with Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton.
As for the championship battle, this weekend could be a turning point. If Verstappen's deficit in the Drivers' standings grows to 30-40 points, recovering will be extremely difficult given Mercedes' dominance on other tracks. The 2026 season is gradually becoming a monologue of the Silver Arrows, and Red Bull faces hard work to get back into title contention.
— Editorial Team
