Final 12 months nothing separated George Russell and Max Verstappen in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, as the 2 drivers posted equivalent occasions in Q3 on the entrance of the sector. Solely the principles, which state that the driving force who posts the time first, put Russell into pole place forward of Verstappen.
Not a lot separated the 2 drivers a 12 months later, as once more the pair will begin up entrance with Russell in P1, as his time in Q3 was simply 0.060 seconds sooner than his Pink Bull driver. Nevertheless, the Mercedes driver admitted after the session that he may need a bonus because the duo, who’ve clashed in latest weeks, head into Flip 1 on Sunday.
That benefit? Verstappen’s penalty scenario.
Verstappen entered this race week with 11 penalty factors on his FIA Tremendous License, placing him one shy of a one-race ban. Drivers who obtain 12 penalty factors in a calendar 12 months are suspended for a race, and with Verstappen’s two oldest penalty factors not coming off his FIA Tremendous License till the top of the month, the Pink Bull driver should navigate each the Candian Grand Prix and the Austrian Grand Prix with out incident to keep away from a ban.
Requested in regards to the begin of the race after qualifying, Russell joked that Verstappen’s penalty scenario may give him a bonus.
“I’ve acquired a couple of extra factors on my licence to play with, so let’s see,” stated Russell after qualifying, to the roar of the gang.
The Mercedes driver described his pole place, and the ultimate lap, as “exhilarating.”
“That final lap was in all probability probably the most exhilarating laps of my life,” stated Russell. “On my steering wheel, you’ve acquired the delta, and I simply noticed each nook, I used to be going one-tenth faster, one-tenth faster.
“I acquired into the final nook, and I used to be six tenths up, I used to be like, ‘alright, this lap’s mighty.’ Crossing the road and seeing we have been P1 was an actual shock, however I used to be so satisfied with it.”
This was the sixth pole place of Russell’s profession and the primary of the season for the Mercedes driver. He at the moment sits fourth within the Components 1 Drivers’ Championship standings … 26 factors behind Verstappen.