George Russell ended four consecutive qualifying sessions of Andrea Kimi Antonelli's dominance by beating him by less than a tenth in the Canadian Grand Prix Sprint Shootout. Antonelli had not lost a qualifying duel since China in March. Carlos Sainz managed to reach SQ3 for the first time this year, while Lawson and Albon started the session with pre-existing damage to their cars.
The minimal margin that makes the technical difference on the Canadian track 🏎️
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve track, with its long straights and low-speed corners, demands a setup that balances aerodynamic downforce and braking efficiency. Russell's time, 1:14.890, reflects fine work in DRS configuration and traction in the slow corners. Antonelli, for his part, lost time in the final hairpin, where mechanical grip was decisive. Sainz found the sweet spot in the third sector to get into the fight.
The day Lawson and Albon showed up with their homework undone 🔧
While Russell and Antonelli battled over hundredths, Lawson and Albon watched from the garage with faces like they had forgotten their homework at home. Their cars arrived at the session with pre-existing damage, as if they had crashed in traffic on the way to the circuit. At least they saved themselves the ordeal of being eliminated in SQ1 on performance: this time it was thanks to the workshop.