F1 Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying Full of Surprises: Verstappen fastest, Haas and Alonso thrive

Max Verstappen has a golden opportunity to pull further clear of his Formula 1 title rivals after cruising to pole position for the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.

Reigning champion Verstappen stayed out of trouble throughout a rain-filled qualifying hour at a chilly Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to secure top spot for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

It marked Verstappen’s second pole position of the season.

“It was just very tricky out there, you were really on the edge with the grip in Q1, then it started to be more and more enjoyable when the track started to dry,” he said. “In Q3 it is all about putting in a banker lap but then you have to follow the track, luckily it all worked out.”

Verstappen’s predicament was aided by misfortune for his two closest title rivals. His Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez slid wide at Turn 3 in Q2 and hit the tire barriers. Perez tried to reverse out of the accident but his front wing became lodged under the barriers and he was unable to extricate the RB18 from the scene.

It means Perez, 21 points behind Verstappen, will line up from 13th place on the grid.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will meanwhile start the Grand Prix from 19th spot. Ferrari equipped Leclerc’s F1-75 with several fresh power unit components ahead of Saturday’s final practice session.

Under Formula 1 regulations each driver is only permitted three power unit components each season and Leclerc has now exceeded that limit. As a consequence, he must start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid, ahead only of AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda, who copped the same sanction.

It is highly unlikely to be the final grid drop that Leclerc faces this season given Ferrari’s recent reliability setbacks and the number of races remaining in 2022. Ferrari has suffered several technical issues in recent races, with Leclerc retiring in Spain and Azerbaijan, a race which Sainz also failed to finish.

It was a strong day for some other drivers who have had a tough time of late.