21:40
Hold on, Hadjar is now top with a 1m12.975s! Where did that come from?
Hamilton in Canada
© XPB Images
F1 Canada LIVE: Russell takes pole with last-gasp effort to deny Antonelli
Live coverage of Saturday at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Russell wins after a tense battle with Antonelli
- Antonelli subdued by Wolff in heated radio exchange
- Russell snatches pole with a last gasp effort
The racing action got underway at the Canadian Grand Prix with the sprint race.
George Russell started from pole position with team-mate Kimi Antonelli behind, but the Mercedes drivers made contact several times in the matter of a single lap, leading Antonelli to demand a penalty for Russell.
The tension continued in the post-race press conference, after Toto Wolff had been forced to go on the team radio in an attempt to cool Antonelli's temper.
McLaren and Ferrari have been locked in battle all weekend, with Lewis Hamilton showing strong pace, but finishing last of the quartet in the sprint race, after a brush with the Wall of Champions.
Alex Albon was the major casualty of practice, with the left-hand side of his Williams destroyed after he struck a groundhog and pitched into the concrete wall on the exit of Turn 7. He took no part in sprint qualifying, but started the race from the pit lane.
Driver futures have been a topic of discussion already, with Haas forced to bat away suggestions that Esteban Ocon was headed for the exit door, and Max Verstappen's future - both in F1 and the Red Bull team - has been a topic of continued speculation.
2026 Canadian Grand Prix Friday schedule
Qualifying: 9pm BST - 10pm BST
23 May 2026
21:39
That's much more like it from Russell, as he goes third fastest, but Hamilton jumps to the top with a 1m13.041s.
21:38
An error under braking for Russell at Turn 1, and he flies off the track and across the runoff. He's only in P8, so is in a spot of bother.
21:38
Colapinto finds a decent chunk of time, but only improves one place. He's outside the top 10, but is right on the fringe.
21:36
A quick tyre change, and these laps will be the ones that count.
In the drop zone right now are Colapinto, Sainz, Bortoleto, Bearman, Gasly, and Lawson.
21:32
Where has Leclerc's pace gone? He's improving slightly, but is in P11 after the first runs. Colapinto is just in the top 10, as Hadjar goes to P2.
21:31
This is very interesting! Antonelli puts in a 1m13.076s to top the pile, as Russell can manage only P5.
21:30
Hamilton finds half a second to take over in P2. The Mercedes pair are on the way.
21:30
Here we go...Norris finds three tenths from Q1, with a 1m13.235s, as Piastri goes two tenths shy in P2.
21:29
Hadjar is going to be the first meaningful time here, and he puts in a 1m13.623s. He's found just 0.031s on his Q1 time.
21:28
All 15 cars are on the track at the moment, and all are on fresh rubber. Double warm-up laps appear to be the order of the day.
21:24
Q2 begins
Q2 begins, and we have action once more. Confirmation that Hamilton will be investigated for blocking Gasly.
21:21
Antonelli set the pace in Q1, with Russell down in P8. After the close battling earlier, maybe Mercedes won't be too upset about that.
21:20
Q1 bottom six
In the bottom six are Ocon, Albon, Alonso, Perez, Stroll, and Bottas.
21:19
Bortoleto improves! Ocon is back in the bottom six, and that's all she wrote.
21:19
Hulkenberg goes to P14 and Albon drops down. The Williams driver not being on a lap, means he is out.
21:18
Ocon improves out of the bottom six. Alonso improves, but only to P18, so is out.
21:18
Beyond Bottas, all drivers in the bottom six are improving their times.
21:17
Bottas is in the pits and out in P22.
21:17
The final minutes ticks away, and these are the final times of Q1.
21:16
Red Bull and Mercedes remain in the pits for the closing stages, with all four cars safely through. McLaren and Ferrari continue to search for more pace, although neither team is in any danger.
21:15
After being blocked twice by Hamilton - the incident has now been noted by race control - Gasly finally sets a meaningful time, and climbs to P11.
21:11
Leclerc's time is not deleted this time, as he goes up to P9, one position behind Hamilton.
21:10
Alonso, Julkenberg, Bottas, Stroll, Gasly, and Leclerc are in the drop zone. The latter two have both had times deleted for track limits.
21:10
And scrap all that, as Antonelli and Hadjar take the top two spots. The benchmark is now 1m13.380s. These times are falling rapidly.