Sprint Qualifying saw Mercedes take another front-row lockout, as George Russell put his car on pole for the Sprint of the F1 Canadian GP. Ahead of the start it became clear that four cars would start from pit lane. Ollie Bearman, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon all decided their cars would be better with a changed setup. A worse situation unfolds for Lance Stroll, whose Aston Martin is wheeled off the grid, but the mechanics manage to get him to start.
Mercedes nail getaway for a change
Mercedes managed to hold position at lights out, a welcome surprise for the Silver Arrows. Behind them Lewis Hamilton managed to pass Oscar Piastri for fourth. In the midfield, Nico Hülkenberg tried to hang it out around the outside with Franco Colapinto into turn 9, but the Audi driver ran out of road and lost a few spots.
Two laps later Hülkenberg takes back one position by passing Fernando Alonso. Next one passing the Spanish veteran is Liam Lawson, who failed to set a time during Sprint Qualifying.
Isack Hadjar in the meantime feels some engine issues and tumbles down the order. This somehow signals Andrea Kimi Antonelli go all out against Russell. The two touch in turn 1, forcing the championship leader through the grass. He however manages to stay close by to launch another attack into turn 9 but locks up and goes straight on. This costs him second place, and adds to the youngster’s frustration.
Threeway battle for the lead
Behind the leading duo Lewis Hamilton manages to pass Piastri and piles the pressure on Antonelli for third. Meanwhile Hadjar has gone into the pits to retire, but the team manages to fix the car and send him out for a glorified practice run.
Norris does the same to Russell as Antonelli manages to regain his composure and set the fastest lap. This makes it a three-way battle for the win. The battle for fourths is similarly close, with Leclerc chasing Piastri chasing Hamilton.
Race control reveals Hülkenberg is under investigation leaving the track and gaining an advantage, as both Albon and Alonso take to the pits. It puts the Williams driver right in the path of the leading trio, bringing them all with one second. A lap later, Alonso is forced to retire the car.
Antonelli cannot find a way past
While Gasly pits for soft tyres, Hülkenberg is delivered a 10-second time penalty. Hamilton in the meantime is under huge pressure from Piastri, forcing him to brush the Wall of Champions. A lap later he gets passed by Piastri, right as Antonelli tries to overtake Norris around the outside of turn 1. He cannot make it stick and must give the place back after cutting the corner.
This effectively gives Russell the win, as the gap to Norris is now over a second. The Briton indeed manages to take home the Sprint win, from Norris and Antonelli. Piastri comes home fourth ahead of Charles Leclerc who manages to pip Hamilton at the line. Verstappen is seventh from Lindblad, Colapinto and Sainz, as Sergio Pérez is handed a 10-second time penalty for forcing another driver off the track.
