> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.the-race.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Russell denies Antonelli Canadian GP pole - URL: https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/russell-denies-antonelli-canadian-gp-pole/ - Published: 2026-05-23T21:14:44.000Z - Updated: 2026-05-23T21:21:04.000Z - Description: George Russell denied Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli a fourth straight GP pole by 0.068s in Canada - Author: Samarth Kanal - Tags: Formula 1, #george-russell, #mercedes, #canadian-grand-prix, #image-top-center George Russell took pole position for Formula 1's 2026 Canadian Grand Prix and denied Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli a fourth-straight pole by 0.068s. The pair ignited their rivalry with a fierce battle in the sprint race earlier on Saturday. Russell aborted his first Q3 lap and his first proper lap, with 2m30s remaining, put him a provisional third. A last-gasp salvo secured his third consecutive pole in Montreal, while Antonelli ensured a front-row lockout for Mercedes. McLaren locked out the second row with Lando Norris third - having held provisional pole before the Mercedes improved - and Oscar Piastri improving to fourth, just 0.05s behind. A trip through the grass cost Lewis Hamilton but he still managed fifth for Ferrari, three-tenths off pole. His team-mate Charles Leclerc only narrowly avoided a Q2 elimination as he complained of a lack of clean air then could only manage eighth in Q3. Max Verstappen avoided being outqualified by Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar but struggled to sixth, while Hadjar was just 0.03s behind in seventh. Verstappen had previously remarked in Q2 that it was like “driving on ice” as he grappled with getting the tyres into their operating window. Arvid Lindblad added to his sprint point with ninth in the Racing Bulls, while Franco Colapinto put in another good performance in 10th for Alpine. Audi's Nico Hulkenberg missed out on Q3 (to Colapinto) in 11th. Liam Lawson took 12th for Racing Bulls and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto was 13th. Pierre Gasly, 14th, complained of a lack of speed on the straights and a lack of traction. Carlos Sainz was 15th for Williams. Haas's Esteban Ocon was eliminated in 17th and Williams's Alex Albon, who suffered a crash in practice, was 18th and out in Q1 for the third time this season. Neither Aston Martin nor Cadillac made it through Q1\. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso (19th) was caught out by a slow-going Cadillac of Sergio Perez (20th) at the final corner while 21st-place Lance Stroll avoided a trip into the barriers with a sharp save. Valtteri Bottas rounded out the timesheets for Cadillac, having gone off at Turn 1 on his last lap. ## Results 1 George Russell 2 Kimi Antonelli, +0.068s 3 Lando Norris, +0.151s 4 Oscar Piastri, +0.203s 5 Lewis Hamilton, +0.290s 6 Max Verstappen, +0.329s 7 Isack Hadjar, +0.357s 8 Charles Leclerc, +0.398s 9 Arvid Lindblad, +0.702s 10 Franco Colapinto, +1.110s **Out in Q2** 11 Nico Hulkenberg, +0.029s to Q3 12 Liam Lawson, +0.040s 13 Gabriel Bortoleto, +0.214s 14 Pierre Gasly, +0.330s 15 Carlos Sainz, +0.416s 16 Ollie Bearman, +0.559s **Out in Q1** 17 Esteban Ocon, +0.070s to Q2 18 Alex Albon, +0.076s 19 Fernando Alonso, +0.421s 20 Sergio Perez, +0.654s 21 Lance Stroll, +1.420s 22 Valtteri Bottas, +1.497s