British driver George Russell secured the first position on the starting grid for the Canadá GP of Fórmula 1. The qualifying session took place this Saturday at Circuito Gilles Villeneuve. The Mercedes representative recorded the fastest lap in the final moments of the activity. Ele edged out teammate Kimi Antonelli by a narrow margin. The dispute highlighted the strength of the German automaker’s mechanical set on the Montreal track.
The Canadian track requires technical precision and specific aerodynamic configurations. Kimi Antonelli maintained the lead on the timesheets for most of the deciding segment. The scenario changed only in the final seconds of the clock. George Russell executed a clean line and set the final mark. Pilotos from rival teams, such as Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, faced grip difficulties and will need to adopt recovery strategies in the main race.
Desempenho of Mercedes and times in Circuito Gilles Villeneuve
The clock stopped at 1:12.578 to confirm George Russell’s pole position at the end of Q3. The competitor adopted an aggressive stance in the braking zones of the first two sectors of the track. The advantage built up at the core of the circuit was sustained in the long straight before the final chicane. Kimi Antonelli ended the session shortly behind. The young Italian missed the opportunity to add another start in the position of honor to his resume in the 2026 season.
Lando Norris placed McLaren in third place overall. The Brit opens up the second row of the grid and keeps the team in direct contention for the top positions in the championship. Montreal’s layout tends to punish minor errors by touching the protective walls. Engineers worked intensely in the pits to adjust tire pressure according to the variation in asphalt temperature. Mechanical grip represented the main difference between the cars in the elite field.
Situação from Gabriel Bortoleto and challenges from rival teams
The Brazilian representative Gabriel Bortoleto will start the race in 13th place. The Audi driver reported problems finding the ideal balance of the single-seater during the fast laps of Q2. The car’s behavior in low-speed curves compromised the total lap time. Nico Hulkenberg, the South American debutant’s garage mate, also suffered from a lack of pace. The German veteran was unable to record a sufficient mark to advance to the group of the ten fastest.
Red Bull performed below expectations in the qualifying session. Current champion Max Verstappen was far from contention for the front row. The Austrian team’s car demonstrated instability on the high curbs of the Canadian circuit. Isack Hadjar, the Dutchman’s partner, dealt with the same problematic dynamic setup. Ferrari attempted to compensate for the lack of speed with alternative tire strategies. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton used new compounds at different times, but the Italian team remained behind its direct rivals.
The intermediate squad showed a high level of competitiveness. Diferenças of milliseconds defined early eliminations in the early stages of classification. The evolution of the track throughout the afternoon forced strategists to recalculate the exact moments at which the cars would be released. The intense traffic in the final sector generated complaints from some competitors. Race management monitored blockage incidents, maintaining the established order on the track.
Informações broadcast and race times at Montreal
The event organizers maintained the official schedule unchanged for race Sunday. Motorsport fans will be able to follow the 70 laps of the Canadian stage with extensive television and digital coverage. The preparation of the teams on the grid begins one hour before the formation lap. Mechanics perform the final wing and downforce adjustments directly on the track.
- Competição: Corrida GP Canadá Fórmula 1
- Data Scheduled: Domingo May 24, 2026
- Official Horário: 5pm (by Brasília’s time zone)
- Localização: Circuito Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal
- Transmissão television: sportv 3 (closed signal)
- Acompanhamento digital: ge.globo (real time with videos)
The sportv 3 channel has exclusive rights to broadcast live on pay television for Brazilian territory. The team of narrators and commentators begins work before the red lights go out. The ge portal provides real-time coverage free of charge on the internet. The digital platform offers lap-by-lap updates, telemetry data and videos of the most important moments. Audiences can access content through computers and mobile devices.
Retrospecto from the Canadian stage and current grid formation
Circuito Gilles Villeneuve’s recent track record points to unpredictable runs. Last year’s edition ended with a victory for George Russell. The Briton started from pole position and managed the advantage until the final flag. Max Verstappen crossed the finish line in second place after a tactical battle in the pits. Kimi Antonelli completed the podium in third position. Gabriel Bortoleto faced high tire wear at the time and concluded the race in 14th place.
The 2026 season features a renewed setup in the teams’ garages. Mercedes consolidates the partnership between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. McLaren is betting on the consistency of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Ferrari has the experience of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc. Red Bull seeks to maintain hegemony with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Na Alpine, Pierre Gasly shares space with Franco Colapinto. Aston Martin maintains Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
The rest of the grid reflects the mix between youth and experience. Audi develops its project with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg. Cadillac joined the category with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. The Haas aligns Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. Racing Bulls promoted Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson to the main team. Williams closes the builder relationship with Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon. The race in Montreal represents a crucial test for the mechanical setup of the cars at this stage of the championship.
