What the teams said – Qualifying at the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix | Formula 1®

15 days ago

Mercedes looked fast on Saturday, following on from a good Friday. They were seen as the favourites for pole position in the dry. The team only used one set of soft tyres to get through Q1, and were confident enough to wait until later than the other teams to take part in Q3. Russell went out first in Q3 and received some help from Albon’s Williams, which allowed him to take provisional pole position, with Hamilton in second. They waited again for the final runs, but unfortunately the weather conditions worsened and neither could improve their time. However, Russell's earlier time stood, and he secured his second pole position. It was a disappointing end to the day for Hamilton as others improved and he was pushed down the order.

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Find out more: Russell is thrilled with the progress Mercedes has made after securing pole position in Canada, and he's excited to push on race day.

George Russell came in first place with a notable time of 1 minute and 12 seconds.

What a fantastic day! The competition for pole position was intense. In the past few races, I have always been slightly behind the car in front, but today, I was finally on top! However, the third qualifying session was challenging. Although I set my best lap time in the second session, I didn't improve on my last lap in the third session. As I crossed the finishing line, I wasn't certain if I had secured pole position. Typically, the new tyre can add three to four tenths of a second to the lap time, but luckily I managed to secure the top spot with my first run on the used tyre.

This weekend, the car had performed exceptionally well. The teams at Brackley and Brixworth strived to bring out the best in the car by updating and improving its performance. The hard work has finally paid off, with the results reflecting the efforts put in. Although it's just the second race on unique circuits, the progress made to keep up with the front runners is motivational. The unpredictability of the new surface and the weather is considered for tomorrow, but the team is determined to claim victory. The driver is confident in himself, the car and ready to face anything that comes their way.

Lewis Hamilton finished in 7th place with a time of 1:12.280.

First and foremost, big congratulations to George for snagging pole position. The entire team at Brackley and Brixworth deserves praise for their hard work and dedication in advancing the car's development. They have gone above and beyond to roll out the latest updates, and the weekend has been nothing short of amazing. Despite starting from P7, I'm still hopeful for a good race. It won't be easy to pass at this track and the other cars are in close proximity, so it's definitely going to be a tough challenge. However, I am committed to giving it my all.

My side had a challenging session. We did well in FP3, however, Qualifying proved to be more difficult for me. I encountered some difficulties getting the tires to work properly, which also posed a challenge during my final lap in Q3. I'm curious to see what tomorrow will bring and if we can make any improvements.

Toto Wolff is the leader of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport team.

It's an amazing feeling to secure pole position. We've been vocal about this for some time now, but we're confident that we're heading in the right direction. We've made a lot of small but significant strides in recent races, leading to improved overall performance. This, in turn, has brought us closer to the front of the pack, and we're consistently developing a car that can consistently challenge at the front of the grid."

During the qualifying session, our drivers did not do their best during the final laps in Q3. Despite using new tires, neither driver was able to improve their performance and it was a very close call in the end. To understand why this happened, we will analyze the collected data. George was able to barely beat Max Verstappen, but unfortunately, Lewis was not as lucky. Despite this setback, both drivers displayed impressive speed throughout the weekend and we will explore our options for tomorrow's race.

Red Bull had a mixed experience in Montreal. Perez encountered difficulties with his tyres at the start of the qualifying round, causing him to leave the race early for the second race in a row. Verstappen almost followed Perez's lead and struggled to qualify throughout Q1 and Q2, but managed to make it into Q3 through the skin of his teeth. Once there, the Dutchman showed why he is a three-time world champion by flawlessly finishing his final lap. Although he shared Russell's time, Verstappen was awarded second place because he completed his lap later than the Mercedes man. Starting from second place on the grid is still a great feat considering where they started the competition.

Further information: Verstappen is content with his second place finish during a challenging qualifying session in Canada. He believes that the race will be highly entertaining.

Max Verstappen achieved an impressive second place finish with a time of 1 minute and 12 seconds.

I am thrilled to have secured a spot in the front row for tomorrow's race, especially since things didn't look as promising after the third practice session. We were aware that this track was going to be more challenging than others, and it seems like many teams are picking up their game. Our focus today was on managing the tires to avoid graining, and we made significant improvements with every lap. Our aim was to do our best, and now we need to ensure that we have a smoother weekend since we've been a bit behind so far. As for tomorrow, the weather and tire performance will likely play a crucial role in the outcome of the race. If it rains, it will make for an even more exciting race, particularly given the slipperiness of the tarmac, the chicanes, and the narrow walls. This has been a tough weekend, but overall, we did well during the qualifying round. I can't wait for tomorrow and what lies ahead.

Sergio Perez managed to secure the 16th position with a lap time of 1:13.326.

Under these circumstances, we encountered difficulty with activating the rear axle. This resulted in a lack of stability and confidence in our ability to perform during the qualifying round. Unfortunately, we experienced excessive sliding and were unable to secure a strong finish. Moving forward, we must identify and address the root cause of these challenges to ensure improvement in future races. I personally feel frustrated with our performance, but as a team, we remain focused on the upcoming race and scoring points. Luckily, inclement weather may present opportunities for a strategic advantage.

of Red Bull Racing, recently gave an interview discussing the team's performance and strategy for the upcoming races. He expressed his optimism for the remainder of the season, stating that the team has made significant improvements to their car and are confident in their ability to compete at a high level. During the interview, Horner also discussed the recent controversy surrounding the team's use of flexible rear wings. He defended the team's actions, stating that they were within the rules and that other teams were doing the same thing. Horner also spoke about the team's driver pairing of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. He praised Verstappen's talent and leadership within the team, and expressed optimism for Perez's performance in the upcoming races. Overall, Horner's interview highlighted Red Bull Racing's confidence and determination to continue performing at a high level in the remainder of the season.

Checo had a tough time in Q1 due to the lack of grip in the car's rear. Unfortunately, he missed out by a narrow margin. We need to investigate the cause so that he can have a better chance of advancing through the field tomorrow. However, we know Checo has the skills to make it happen. The track was continuously changing, and all teams were using their tire allocation quickly. Despite the previous day's challenges, Max improved significantly during qualifying and matched the pole position time. Although he missed out on the top spot, it was an impressive achievement. It's exciting to line up on the front row with George among such a great-looking grid.

During the Q1 session, Piastri had a bit of trouble with traffic on his initial push laps, causing him to rush through the session. However, he managed to make it to Q2 with a last-second effort. Once in Q2, things went more smoothly for him, and he was able to make Q3 without much difficulty. His teammate, Norris, had a much more relaxed time, and seemed to be in a good position for pole. The team took different approaches, with Piastri going out early and Norris a bit later. Unfortunately, Norris missed his chance for a hot lap, but it wasn't a major issue as the track conditions didn't improve. This was an extremely close competition, so the team locking down the second row was a great achievement, giving them many opportunities in tomorrow's race.

Lando Norris came in third place with a time of 1 minute and 12.021 seconds.

Today, the team accomplished an amazing task and kudos to George Russell for securing the pole position. The session wasn't easy, as usual in Montréal, but that's what makes it thrilling and why we enjoy it. Achieving a good lap and landing in the top three is incredibly rewarding and we have happy faces all around us.

I am thrilled to witness our performance in the upcoming race. Our car has been performing exceptionally well in the previous three to four races, and we are on an upward trajectory. Some speedy cars are ahead of us, and numerous vehicles are trailing us. Therefore, I believe we are in for an exhilarating race. We will focus overnight and strategize on improving our position on the leaderboard tomorrow.

Oscar Piastri came in fourth place with a time of 1 minute and 12.103 seconds.

P4 was an intense and challenging session, but it was also enjoyable. Lots of folks probably left thinking they had the potential to be in the top spot, and I'm definitely one of them. However, it's a good thing because it shows we have solid speed. Starting near the front is always a good thing, and having two cars together gives us an advantage when it comes to strategy. We'll have to wait and see how things go tomorrow, but we're feeling confident thanks to our consistent performance. I'm excited to see what tomorrow brings!

of the Aston Martin Andrea Stella is in charge of the Aston Martin team.

Today's qualifying session was very demanding. The competition among the drivers is increasing day by day, which makes it crucial to deliver a flawless lap while maximizing the tire performance to advance in the race. Additionally, the unique conditions of the Canadian circuit tend to contribute to the challenging nature of the race, such as sudden weather changes or the challenge of warming up the tires effectively, and this makes the discrepancies between the performance of new and used tires even more significant to succeed in the race.

Today, the drivers and team handled the difficulties successfully and therefore the result is favorable for us. Starting at the second position of the grid is advantageous, but we should be aware of the possibility of rainfall and concentrate if we aim to make the most of our excellent performance today.

Throughout the day RB made the news for two reasons. Firstly, there was an announcement about Tsunoda's new contract. Secondly, their performance on the track was noteworthy. During practice, it seemed like Ricciardo was the better of the two team mates. However, during qualifying Tsunoda was performing exceptionally well. This was until Ricciardo managed to deliver an impressive lap right at the end when all the pressure was on. This allowed him to secure the best Grand Prix starting position of the season, placing him fifth. With this position, Ricciardo has a chance to get his first points finish of the year during the Grand Prix.

OPINION: The reason why Red Bull have signed Tsunoda and not Red Bull's overlooked racers is examined, as well as the implications of the move for Ricciardo.

Daniel Ricciardo finished in fifth place with a timing of 1 minute and 12.178 seconds.

I'm thrilled with how today went. This weekend has been a blast and everything just feels right. We were so close to pole position, just two-tenths away! Even if we don't end up starting there, being on the front row is still great news. It's amazing to be competitive and comfortable in the car. During Q3, I urged the team to focus on a fast warm-up lap before the push lap and it worked perfectly. I knew I could do it when I felt this confident, so I'm not surprised at the great results. I'm glad I could give my all and show the team some appreciation for their hard work. Coming to Montréal has always been special to me and I have great memories here, like my first win ten years ago! The team feels the good vibes too, so I'm thrilled to take advantage of this great energy and amazing driving. Tomorrow, we'll start from a strong position in the top five with some talented racers around me. I'll do my best during the race and bring home a big win.

Yuki Tsunoda finished in eighth place with a time of 1 minute and 12.414 seconds.

The team did a great job and we had a successful day. Even though I struggled during practice, I managed to turn things around during qualifying and ended up in Q3 again. Unfortunately, I lost some time due to wind in Turn 2, but overall, I'm happy with the result. This race weekend has been challenging, but also enjoyable. It's always a good feeling when we can overcome obstacles and credit goes to the team for their hard work. We're hoping for good weather tomorrow and aiming to finish in the top ten with both cars to score more points.

at Renault Sport Racing, outlines how the team is working to improve the performance of its Formula 1 car, the R.S.18. In this blog post, Guillaume Dezoteux shares insights into the strategies that Renault Sport Racing employs to enhance the speed and agility of their Formula 1 race car, the R.S.18. As the Head of Vehicle Performance at the team's headquarters, he provides a detailed explanation of the team's approach towards achieving superior performance in the competitive world of Formula 1 racing. By outlining the team's efforts to improve aerodynamics, suspension, and engine performance, Dezoteux offers a fascinating inside look into the technological advancements that are powering Renault Sport Racing's success in the sport.

Today's qualifying session was amazing, with Daniel securing fifth place and Yuki in eighth. The session was intense and the team did an excellent job adapting to the changing weather conditions and track grip. We used two sets of soft tires in Q1, like most of the other cars, and both drivers improved in their last lap. Yuki did particularly well, securing second place after a difficult FP3. In Q2, we went out early due to the increasing risk of rain, and both cars did well, securing a place in Q3 with a good lap on new tires. In the final qualifying session, Daniel did a fantastic job on a used set of tires and secured P5, with Yuki finishing in eighth despite being pushed off course slightly by the wind. We're pleased that both cars are starting in the top 10 and will review our strategies to ensure that we can score some good points.

During practice sessions, it appeared that Aston Martin was performing well, so it was expected that both vehicles would easily qualify for Q3. They decided to use old tyres for their first laps in Q3, then changed to brand new soft ones. Using the fresh tyres, Alonso was able to secure sixth place on the starting grid, a few positions and tenths ahead of his teammate. Stroll claimed ninth place, which is the first time he has reached Q3 at his home race.

Fernando Alonso came in sixth place with a time of 1 minute and 12.228 seconds.

The Qualifying session was quite uncertain due to the possibility of rain, but we should be satisfied with having both cars make it to Q3 in these conditions. Previously, I hadn't advanced past Q1 in the last two events, so having a starting position of sixth gives us a good chance to gain points tomorrow. Although I don't believe I executed a perfect lap in Q3, it's disheartening to see that I was only two tenths away from pole position. Overall, the car has been feeling better this weekend, but we haven't had many lengthy dry runs, so tomorrow's race will show how well we can manage the tires and pace. If it rains, victory could be decided by mere factors such as tire changes, so we need to be prepared for any scenario.

Lance Stroll finished in 9th place with a time of 1 minute and 12.701 seconds.

It's great that we made it to Q3, but I believe we could have done better today. I bumped into the wall during Q1, and it may have affected the car's performance. Nevertheless, we're in a good position to earn some valuable points tomorrow in front of my hometown supporters. We need to prepare diligently tonight because the Montréal weather can be unpredictable, and we want to take advantage of any chances that come our way during the race.

Mike Krack, Head of the Team

We met our goal of qualifying both cars for the third session at the Montreal race today. Although rain was expected, it didn't have much of an impact in the end. We performed better at our home race, but we don't want to get too excited. The competition was tight, but it was promising that we were only a few tenths behind the pole position. Lance and Fernando did an excellent job maneuvering the changing track conditions and were able to make it through to the third session ahead of the Ferrari team by using our used tires effectively. This track suits our AMR24 cars better, and we will work hard overnight to make sure we have the best chance for tomorrow's race and give the local fans something to celebrate.

In the qualifying round, Williams performed exceptionally well. Albon once again made it to the top 10, and Sargeant managed to escape the bottom tier for the first time in 2021. The American driver did a great job by finishing at a fantastic P13 despite a nerve-racking moment in the third practice session where he almost hit a slow-moving competitor at a high speed. This could have damaged his confidence, but he managed to overcome it. On the other hand, Albon's qualifying could have gone wrong when his wheel nut wasn't properly tightened, but he made a great comeback by hitting the track in Q2 and finishing at an impressive P10.

FIND OUT MORE: Vowles has hinted that there are two drivers currently being considered for the remaining Williams seat in 2025. He also expressed his admiration for Sainz, describing him as "amazing".

Alex Albon came in 10th place with a time of 1:12.796.

My Saturday was extremely aggravating. Before the Qualifying round, we made minor adjustments to the setup of the car, which proved beneficial as the car felt fantastic right from the start. We performed brilliantly in Q1 and Q2, displaying good speed. However, in Q3, we experimented with a different run-plan, which unfortunately did not work out in our favor. Additionally, the rain shower between the sessions caused the track temperature to drop, which made it difficult for us to warm up the tyres again, thus adversely affecting our final Q3 attempt.

We might have a tough day tomorrow as two Ferraris are coming up from behind, but I believe we have a good challenge ahead of us as we'll be racing against Aston Martins and RBs too. It's great to have achieved two consecutive Q3 appearances and I'm hopeful that the rainy weather tomorrow will provide us with some favourable situations to take advantage of.

Logan Sargeant finished at the 13th position with a time of 1 minute and 12.736 seconds.

I was a bit annoyed because I was delayed during my fastest lap. I actually made an improvement of 0.15 seconds compared to my previous attempt. If I managed to complete that lap, I would have advanced to Q3, so it's quite frustrating to know that there's still room for improvement. Despite this setback, our team performed well this weekend, considering the challenging weather conditions. Our car also seemed to perform better than usual, which is a great advantage for us. I'm satisfied with my driving performance, given the equipment I had.

Starting tomorrow, we're well-prepared to put up a good fight. It's anticipated that the race might have unpredictable conditions, but we've handled it skillfully in the past and will continue to do so.

at Ajax Amsterdam, recently gave an interview where he discussed the current state of transfer fees in football. He stated that these fees have become inflated and out of control, particularly for young players who have not yet proven themselves at the highest level. Smeets argues that clubs need to start prioritizing the development of their own young talent, rather than spending exorbitant sums of money on outside players. This not only benefits the club financially, but also creates a stronger sense of identity and loyalty among fans. In addition, Smeets believes that the current transfer market fosters a sense of entitlement among players, who become used to receiving massive paychecks and treating their teams like disposable commodities. He suggests that a shift towards a more sustainable and community-based approach to football could help mitigate this problem. Overall, Smeets's comments reflect a growing sentiment among many in the football community that the current system is unsustainable and in need of serious reform. Whether or not this reform will actually occur remains to be seen, but it is clear that the conversation around transfer fees is only just beginning.

Today was expected to be difficult because of the ever-changing weather conditions, but fortunately, the rain didn't affect the P3 and Qualifying rounds. The automobile delivered exceptional performance in the chilly track temperature, and preparing the tires was crucial for advancing to the subsequent Qualifying session.

Logan did a great job and advanced to Q2 with impressive laps. Sadly, he narrowly missed out on making it to Q3 by a single tenth. Overall, Logan can be happy with his Qualifying performance. Although we had some difficult moments in Q2, Alex was able to secure a spot in Q3 with an exceptional final push lap.

We're in a favorable spot to compete for points tomorrow, even though we began at P10 and P13. However, the weather prediction anticipates rain in the afternoon, which means we'll still have a lot of work to do.

The Ferrari drivers were quite content with how their Friday went, but unfortunately, their Saturday didn't go as smoothly. Both drivers weren't too pleased with the speed of the car during the third free practice session. Leclerc even went as far as describing it as "extremely slow" over the radio. They were still optimistic, however, about making it to Q3 during qualifying, even if they weren't vying for pole position. Unfortunately, they couldn't keep up with the Red Bull duo and Albon's Williams, failing to make it to the top ten shootout. It's crucial for them to strategize and come up with possible solutions before the race starts to salvage their weekend from the two unsatisfactory grid slots.

Discover more: Leclerc is confused about Ferrari's unexpected drop in performance during qualifying in Canada.

Charles Leclerc finished in 11th place with a time of 1:12.691.

We need to assess the qualifying session and FP3 because we didn't perform up to the required standard.

The management of the tires is going to be a crucial aspect of the race, therefore our concentration should be on this and we will strive to improve our ranking tomorrow. As the weather forecast is uncertain, there may be some chances that will come up during the race; hence, we must be prepared to seize them.

Carlos Sainz finished in 12th place with a time of 1 minute and 12.728 seconds.

This Saturday hasn't been easy for us. Grip was a problem and we couldn't get the tyres working well. During the last lap of Q2, I did everything I could, but unfortunately, I messed up the final corner, which cost me the opportunity to move on to Q3.

I'm keeping optimistic about the future and trust that we can obtain favorable results. We'll exert our utmost efforts."

Fred Vasseur, the head of the team

The team is feeling quite disappointed with the outcome of today's qualifying session. We have been experiencing various issues since the previous FP3 session. Despite showing positive progress during our practice run yesterday, we have been lacking in many areas throughout today's session, regardless of the weather conditions.

I reckon that the issue with the tyres was bothering everyone, as evidenced by Russell's pole position win using an already used set. Nonetheless, we had a tougher time than the rest, and we failed to make the tyres perform when we needed them the most. It's important to reflect on what happened and examine every detail, but we shouldn't let this setback dampen our morale. After all, the points will be distributed tomorrow.

Regarding the upcoming race, we will have to remain uncertain about the weather conditions and the impact it may have. At this point, we cannot predict what will happen. I recall from last year's event that we began from a distant position, but we were able to improve our standing throughout the race.

Hulkenberg had a tough time throughout the weekend, not performing as well as his teammate. Despite his impressive performance during qualifying in the previous year, this time around the German driver failed to make it out of Q1. Hulkenberg has been strong in qualifying sessions all season, but for some reason, things just didn't click for him this weekend. Although Magnussen did manage to make it to Q2, he ended up settling for 14th position. On the bright side, it means that the teammates will be starting quite far apart from each other on the grid, which is a relief for their team following the events of the Monaco Grand Prix.

The driver named Nico Hulkenberg was able to achieve a placement in 19th position with a recorded time of 1 minute and 13.978 seconds.

In my opinion, we left for the qualifying round a little too late. I wasn't satisfied with the car's performance throughout the weekend, specifically the rear wing gave me problems. It wasn't functioning properly, which made us decide to replace it before qualifying. This alteration caused us to fall behind schedule and messed up our plan. We had to rush around, making things chaotic. To make matters worse, towards the end, someone obstructed my way and parked their car at the final chicane. These circumstances made it a challenging run for us.

Kevin Magnussen finished in 14th place with a time of 1 minute and 12.916 seconds.

Today's commute was pleasantly free of traffic. Anticipating rain during the second session, we opted for a new set of tires at the outset of the race. This strategy came with some risk, as if the predicted downpour didn't eventuate, we would not have access to our new tires towards the end of the race, when track conditions are usually optimal. Unfortunately, the anticipated precipitation never materialized, but I managed to produce a great lap time during my first run, so all things considered, I think we did the best we could with the tire choices available. My long run pace looked promising during the dry conditions, so I'm cautiously optimistic for tomorrow- whatever the weather brings, I believe we have a good chance at winning.

of Toyota Gazoo Racing recently shared some insights into their team's performance and preparations for the upcoming season. In a recent interview, Ayao Komatsu, who is the head of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team, spoke about their progress and readiness for the upcoming racing season.

Before the qualification round, adjustments were made to Nico's car as he was having difficulty with the way the car was handling during the weekend. These adjustments had a favorable effect, but due to the work done, Nico's car was unable to get out in time during Q1. His running schedule was delayed as a result, and his tire preparation was not as good as it could have been. Throughout the weekend, it seems that Nico has had a hard time, and the changes made to his vehicle were made somewhat later than they should have been. This causes a lot of pressure during Q1, and it is likely why he didn't perform as well as expected.

During free practice sessions, Kevin performed exceptionally well. In Q1, his performance was also good, which made me think that he had a high chance of getting into Q3. However, in Q2, we made a mistake in predicting the weather, and this affected Kevin's performance. While we immediately put new tires on, our opponents adopted a better strategy of using old tires first before using new ones at the end of the race, giving them an advantage. This put Kevin under pressure. If we had implemented a better tire strategy, Kevin could have made it to Q3. I am disappointed that we could not make the best use of Kevin's potential, considering how well he did this weekend, but we couldn't reflect it in the Quali race. Nonetheless, Kevin has excellent speed, and we hope to maximize his potential tomorrow and get him into the points.

Before the qualifying rounds, Ocon had a penalty that resulted in him starting from the back. As expected, he didn't qualify for Q2 and will start from the last rows. Gasly's performance was better as he qualified for Q2 and was among the fastest drivers in some sectors. However, he couldn't keep up the pace as the track got better, and he ended up in 15th position.

SUMMARY: Catch the latest qualifying round in Canada where Russell secures the top spot and Ferrari faces a surprising elimination in the Q2 round.

Esteban Ocon came in at the 18th position with a time of 1 minute and 13.435 seconds.

Today's session was very challenging, and unfortunately, we weren't able to qualify for Q2. I lost some time in Turn 6 and 7 because there was a driver in front of me, and at the beginning of my lap, I encountered some dirt after moving off the proper line during my warm-up. Our goal for tomorrow is to put forth our best effort and race cleanly, with the hope of gaining points by executing our strategy efficiently. I anticipate a tough race, but we will give it our all.

Pierre Gasly came in 15th place with a time of 1 minute 12.940 seconds.

I felt pretty good during my laps in Q1 and Q2 today, but I was a little disappointed to find out that I only qualified in P15. However, that was the best we could do with the car's current performance. It is definitely not the result we were hoping for, but we know what we need to work on for the future. For now, we just have to stay focused and use what we have. Tomorrow's race won't be easy, but we're hoping for rain and opportunities to fight for points and move up in the standings.

Renault Sport Racing Bruno Famin is the head of Renault Sport Racing's team.

In previous races, we were fast when it came to one lap. But this time, we weren't quick enough during Qualifying, and both cars didn't make it past the Q2. We need to investigate this further. Since the track surface was different and the weather was cloudy, we had to work hard to make sure the tires were operating at their best. We did preparation laps to increase our chances of advancing. Tomorrow, we will have a tough time, but we will do our best during the Grand Prix. The weather is unpredictable, so we will seize any opportunity that comes up during the race.

During FP3, Zhou caused the second set of red flags to fly after he spun off and got stuck in his car. Fortunately, the damage wasn't serious, so he could participate in the qualifications. However, his lack of previous track time, especially on a dry surface, was evident as he was unable to proceed past Q1. Kick Sauber also appeared to struggle with their speed at this historic track on that same day as Bottas.

Valtteri Bottas came in 17th place with a time of 1 minute and 13.366 seconds.

Today, we were very close to making it into the second qualifying session by just a few hundredths of a second. This has left us feeling like we could have done better. The final lap was clean and the balance of the car was decent but there wasn't much more we could do. The track was slippery at first but improved gradually. Unfortunately, we struggled a bit with single lap pace. However, we are feeling optimistic for Sunday's race as this track offers more opportunities for surprises than Monaco. The field is really competitive, so we're hoping for an exciting race. The weather could also play a role and we're hoping for mixed conditions or some rain, which could help us progress further. There will be opportunities, and we'll try our best to make the most of them.

On the 20th, Zhou Guanyu achieved a time of 1 minute and 14.292 seconds.

Today was a bit tricky as I didn't have any practice on dry laps before qualifying. In the morning, I had a problem that ended the third practice session early. Although I was able to improve my time in every lap during qualifying, I couldn't catch up on the missed session. Despite this, I don't think we're too far behind our opponents. I just couldn't find the perfect rhythm due to the lack of practice. We'll keep working hard tomorrow to try to make up some ground. The track allows for overtaking, so we'll definitely give it our best shot.

Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who represents the team, is being featured in this blog.

In today's qualifying session, it became clear that we're not performing as well as we'd like to in terms of single-lap speed. Our competitors have improved significantly in recent races, leaving us at the bottom of the midfield. Although Valtteri did everything he could and achieved a good balance, it wasn't enough to make it to Q2, missing out by less than a tenth of a second. Zhou's qualifying wasn't ideal, having missed most of FP1 and spinning in FP3, but he managed to recover and build up a decent pace. The race will undoubtedly be challenging for us, but we'll make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. While we have demonstrated better pace in the past, we can't deny that this weekend will be tough. We'll still give it our all to improve our position tomorrow.

at Pirelli, has revealed that the new formula for the 2021 F1 season will feature tires that are less prone to overheating. Isola explained that the new tire construction will be able to better withstand the high temperatures generated by the cars, which is good news for the teams and drivers. According to Isola, the new tires will allow for more exciting racing as drivers will be able to push harder and longer without worrying about tire degradation. Overall, the changes to the tire formula are set to make the 2021 F1 season even more competitive and thrilling than ever before. Mario Isola, who is in charge of motorsport affairs at Pirelli, has recently shared that the F1 season in 2021 will see a new tire formula designed to minimize the likelihood of the tires overheating. Isola has stated that, with these improved tire constructions, there will be fewer problems associated with the high temperatures produced by the race cars, which will give both the teams and drivers an advantage. These modifications will enable the racers to drive more intensely and last longer without being concerned about tire malfunction. These advancements in the tire formula imply that the F1 season in 2021 looks promising and will be more competitive and exhilarating than previous seasons.

The qualifying session was extremely competitive from start to finish as there was very little separating the times. The top two drivers managed to set exactly the same time, and there were drivers from six different teams in the top ten. The weather has been unpredictable throughout the weekend, and it seems like it will continue to have an impact tomorrow. Even though the track was dry for all of today's sessions, teams were limited in the data they collected because they could only do longer runs in the third free practice session.

As predicted, the track has been completely resurfaced since last year and is still very new. This led to obvious changes in the track conditions and there was significant graining, especially with the Medium compound which almost all drivers used for long sessions. This means that if the race is dry, a two-stop strategy using two sets of Hard tyres is likely to be the most effective option, as seven teams still have two sets of them for each driver. While a one-stop strategy using a combination of Medium and Hard tyres is possible in theory, it would be very risky. However, it is possible that some drivers may attempt to start the race using this strategy while keeping the flexibility to switch to a two-stop if needed.

What the teams said – Qualifying at the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix | Formula 1®

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