Sprint qualifying in Montreal produced a neat, team-by-team pattern across the first four rows of the grid for Saturday’s Canadian Grand Prix sprint. But beneath that symmetry were clear shifts in form, mixed fortunes, and a few costly setbacks.
Winner: George Russell (1st) George Russell led the way with a composed performance, edging his 19-year-old, championship-leading team-mate by 0.068s. Crucially, it halted a run of four intra-team qualifying defeats and gives Russell a platform to reignite his title bid. With the sprint and grand prix still to come, it’s a strong start.
Losers: Mercedes’ main rivals (3rd–6th) McLaren and Ferrari locked out the second and third rows, yet there was little for either camp to celebrate on pure pace. Charles Leclerc grappled with brake issues, and Lewis Hamilton sounded buoyant at Ferrari after pursuing a new set-up direction without leaning on the simulator. The stopwatch, though, suggests Mercedes and its upgraded package had clear headroom in this session.
Loser: Red Bull (7th & 8th) Red Bull’s drop-off from fighting at the front in Miami to only the fourth row in Montreal was stark. Max Verstappen reported such a severe ride problem that his feet were being thrown off the pedals. Isack Hadjar was within a tenth of Verstappen, but that closeness felt more like a reflection of Verstappen’s compromised session than a Red Bull step forward.
Winner: Fernando Alonso (16th) It might seem odd to label P16 a win after a crash that ended SQ1, but this was the most competitive Aston Martin has looked all season. Alonso appeared capable of reaching SQ2 on merit before a rare, sizeable mistake triggered the red flag that ultimately helped him advance anyway. It marked the team’s first escape from the opening segment this season, aided by two drivers not taking part, and hinted Alonso is close enough to scavenge if he stays on the limit.
Winner: Carlos Sainz (10th) After scolding Williams in Miami for the “state” of its execution, Carlos Sainz got exactly the response he wanted in Canada. “That run plan was as good as it gets,” he said on the radio after sneaking into SQ3 by usurping Nico Hulkenberg for the final spot on his last lap. He ended SQ3 a distant 10th, around eight-tenths behind Arvid Lindblad’s Racing Bulls in ninth, but the process was clean — and that was the point this time.
Losers: Alex Albon and Liam Lawson (21st & 22nd) Neither Alex Albon nor Liam Lawson could take part in sprint qualifying after practice incidents beyond their control. Albon struck a groundhog and hit the wall, causing heavy damage Williams couldn’t repair in time. Lawson’s running ended after just five laps with a suspected hydraulic issue, and his Racing Bulls car was also not ready for SQ. The sting worsened as both of their team-mates reached SQ3.
Winner: Sergio Perez (17th) Sergio Perez missed SQ2 by just 0.13s, yet still delivered Cadillac’s best qualifying result to date with 17th. His 0.86s margin over Valtteri Bottas was inflated by Bottas failing to complete a stronger lap before the SQ1 red flag, but Perez was already half a second up after the first two sectors — pointing to a likely intra-team win regardless. With Cadillac’s one-lap pace comparatively stronger right now, Perez could be a nuisance for midfield runners in the sprint.
Loser: Pierre Gasly (19th) Pierre Gasly was among those undone by the Alonso red flag late in SQ1. He sat 19th, having not had a full battery deployment on his only proper flyer, and with just 1m46s on the clock after the restart he — like many others — couldn’t reach the line in time to begin a lap. The few who did couldn’t improve anyway, leaving Gasly stuck while he battled pit-exit traffic; team-mate Franco Colapinto took 13th.
What’s next Saturday’s sprint will test whether Mercedes’ advantage holds under race conditions and if Red Bull can cure its ride issues quickly. Keep an eye on Sainz’s launch from 10th, Perez’s progress in traffic, and whether Alonso can turn Aston Martin’s small step into points. Albon and Lawson, starting from the back, face recovery missions.
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*Originally published on [News Formula One](https://newsformula.one/article/montreal-2026-canada-f1-sprint-qualifying-winners-and-losers). Visit for full coverage.*
