Russell Takes Montreal Pole, Verstappen Second

George Russell secured his first pole position of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Canadian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Max Verstappen by 0.160 seconds with a sensational final lap. This achievement marks Russell's sixth career pole and his second consecutive pole start in Montreal. The qualifying session was interrupted by a red flag in Q1 after debris from Alex Albon’s Williams scattered across the track. Recent tensions between Russell and Verstappen have heightened the front-row rivalry, with Verstappen just one penalty point from a race ban and Russell joking about his own super licence points. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start third, while Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc qualified seventh and eighth respectively. Mercedes and Red Bull are set for an intense contest in the upcoming race.