Key events
It sounds like a rave out there on track, as the drivers get ready for the off. Rain is going to cause some trouble here.
It’s soggy out there.
It will all change in 2026 – with no DRS.
The Red Bull wobble that gives the rest hope.
Saturday’s events covered here.
Preamble
Mercedes on pole? It’s been a long wait, since 2022, for a Merc win, and George Russell, as he will do from next season, carries the flag. Max Verstappen was denied by having set the same time later so it’s not as if he’s off the pace despite a couple of doubts creeping in. Let’s see how we go in Montreal, where Mercedes feel in the ascendancy for the first time in a while, and Red Bull a little more doomy about prospects.
Starting grid:
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1) George Russell
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2) Max Verstappen
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3) Lando Norris
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4) Oscar Piastri
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5) Daniel Ricciardo
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6) Fernando Alonso
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7) Lewis Hamilton
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8) Yuki Tsunoda
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9) Alex Albon
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10) Lance Stroll
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11) Charles Leclerc
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12) Carlos Sainz
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13) Logan Sargeant
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14) Kevin Magnussen
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15) Pierre Gasly
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16) Sergio Perez
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17) Valtteri Bottas
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18) Nico Hulkenberg
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19) Zhou Guanyu
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20) Esteban Ocon*
