After an action-filled FP1 session, it’s time to set the F1 grid for the 2026 Canadian Sprint Race. See the full report from the 2026 F1 Canadian GP Sprint Qualifying session here.
Following his earlier collision with a groundhog, Williams’ Albon did not start the session, as extensive reparations were still undergoing on his challenger. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto took up the second Energy Store unit of his 2026 season.
Liam Lawson as well did not take part in the grid session setting, following his earlier technical problems which had caused the first red flag of the American weekend. In addition to that, Racing Bulls received a 10,000 EUR fine for failing to promptly remove his car from the track.
The only team to have never managed to have a driver advancing thus far to SQ2 is Cadillac, will the star-stripes team succeed today?
SQ1: Green flag for the F1 Canadian Sprint Qualifying
The remaining 20 drivers immediately began their out laps, with reigning F1 champion Lando Norris leading the way.
With five minutes left on top, Kimi Antonelli set the fastest lap time in 1:14.010. Shortly after, Hamilton moved up to the top spot, setting a 1:13.992. A red flag was issued with 1:46 minutes left in the session, as Fernando Alonso has hit the wall!
The Aston Martin driver locked up at the exit of Turn 3, making contact with the barriers and damaging his suspensions. Alonso, who was running in P14 at that time, was unable to restart for the remainder of Sprint Qualifying. He confirmed later on during the session that he was ok, just disappointed about the earlier end to his afternoon.
Perez, Stroll, Gasly and Bottas were the drivers that didn’t advance to the next Canadian Sprint Qualifying segment.
Replays show championship leader Antonelli on a fast lap getting stuck behind a much slower Ollie Bearman, with the former bringing up the potential impeding matter on the radio.
The session restarted at 16:59 local time, with several drivers lining up eager to return on track. Antonelli, Verstappen, Norris, Lindblad, Hadjar, Piastri, Russell, Leclerc and Huleknberg opted for remaining into the pits, saving rubber for the next steps.
Hamilton in P1 tried to complete a lap, but he didn’t get to the start line in time. Stroll and Sainz were the most hopeful for a positive result, however neither of them could improve their previous benchmarks.
Out in SQ1:
- Sergio Pérez
- Lance Stroll
- Pierre Gasly
- Valtteri Bottas
- Alex Albon (No Time Set)
- Liam Lawson (No Time Set)
SQ2: Mercedes continuing their strong form
At the beginning of SQ2, Mercedes led the way with George Russell, set on completing a double out lap to set the correct tyre temperature. Hamilton find quite some pace, appearing at ease with his Ferrari challenger as he set a 1:13.670.
His P1 didn’t last for long as both Mercedes drivers slotted in to fill out the first two steps of the podium.
Hülkenberg had a lap time deleted for track limits at Turn 4, but he situation didn’t affect his provisional P14. Surprisingly, Verstappen’s first significant lap time was only good enough for P9, leaving the four times world champion dangerously close to the bottom.
Both former teammates Hamilton and Russell shaved off several tenths of seconds from their benchmarks, as Verstappen mentions lack of feeling with his rear tyres.
With 0.01s left in the session Hülkenberg bumped out of the top ten his teammate Bortoleto. The latest driver to complete SQ2 was Sainz, attempting to find the speed to try and advance on to SQ3. He was successful, setting a lap 0.048s faster than the experienced German driver.
Ultimately, neither Audi nor Haas were able to feature a driver in the pole deciding segment of the F1 Sprint Qualifying for the Canadian GP, with Colapinto separating the two driver duos.
Out in SQ2:
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Franco Colapinto
- Esteban Ocon
- Ollie Bearman
SQ3: F1 Cars are on track for the final time of the day
The advanced drivers competed for the coveted starting spot on soft tyres, having completed the earlier two sessions on mediums. Hamilton, a driver who was rapid in pace in Friday’s sessions, was the first to exit the pits. His first attempt was a 1:13.411, with Norris taking only P9, Verstappen in P4 ahead of Lindblad and Antonelli in third place.
Norris struggled at Turn 1 and Leclerc had to lift on the final straight in order to avoid contact with the wall. Hamilton then went on to set the fastest first sector, trying to best the Brits’s 1:13.194, but he is unsuccessful although is is able to improve his earlier effort.
In spite of his earlier mistake, Norris was able to provisionally slot it in P2, as Leclerc failed to out pace his teammate. Piastri and Norris finished above the two Ferraris, appearing more performant in the softer tyres.
Antonelli joined Russell on the first row for the third consecutive Mercedes front row lockout in a Sprint Race. Less than a tenth split the two teammates in F1 Sprint Qualifying for the Canadian GP, potentially signalling a great fight between the two of them in the upcoming race.
Full reults from the Sprint Qualifying at the 2026 Canadian GP here.
