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FACTS AND STATS: Alonso grabs his first front row start in a decade

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Sean Kelly
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Alonso

Qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix took place in wet conditions, which added extra drama to proceedings.

With Yuki Tsunoda and Charles Leclerc confirmed to be starting down the back of the grid thanks to penalties, it was no surprise when they both took minimal part in proceedings. But the rest braved the treacherous conditions as they flew around the track, switching from wets to inters and, in the case of George Russell, even onto the slicks.

Here are the best facts and stats from a thrilling qualifying in Montreal…

  • Max Verstappen grabbed his second pole of the season in Canada.

  • The Dutchman starts his 150th Grand Prix from P1, for his first ever front row start in Montreal.

READ MORE: Verstappen braves wet conditions to claim Canadian GP pole ahead of sensational Alonso

  • This was Red Bull’s first pole in Canada since 2013.

  • Fernando Alonso grabbed his first front row start since Germany 2012.

  • The Spaniard is the oldest driver on the front row since 43-year-old Michael Schumacher in China in 2012.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 18: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle

Verstappen grabbed just his second pole of the season in Canada

  • Carlos Sainz managed the fastest first sector on his final lap before a mistake cost him time. He’s been on the second row six times in nine races this year.

  • Lewis Hamilton’s fourth is his best qualifying of the year.

  • Kevin Magnussen’s P5 is the joint highest ever start for Haas in a Grand Prix – he qualified fourth in Imola for the Sprint.

  • Mick Schumacher was another driver to grab a best ever qualifying result with sixth.

  • This is the first time Haas have two cars in the top six in nearly four years, since Germany in 2018.

  • Esteban Ocon’s seventh is his second best qualifying of the year.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 18: Kevin Magnussen of Denmark driving the (20) Haas F1 VF-22 Ferrari in

Haas locked out the third row on the grid

  • George Russell was out-qualified by Hamilton for the first time in four races.

  • Daniel Ricciardo out-qualified Lando Norris for just the second time this season.

  • Zhou Guanyu made it to Q3 for the first time in his career.

  • Valtteri Bottas could only manange P11 – the first time he’s been lower than seventh in Canada in his entire F1 career.

READ MORE: Leclerc to join Tsunoda at back of Montreal grid after raft of power unit changes

  • Alex Albon’s P12 was his team’s best qualifying result of the season.

  • It was also his second Q2 of the season, and first since the opening race of the season in Bahrain.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 18: Alexander Albon of Thailand driving the (23) Williams FW44 Mercedes on

Despite a brief brush with the barriers, Albon grabbed his best grid slot of the year

  • Sergio Perez failed to make Q3 for the first time since Qatar 2021.

  • Norris was P14 after a power unit issue for his worst qualifying of the season.

  • Pierre Gasly suffered his third Q1 elimination of the season.

READ MORE: Tost says it’s ‘100% confirmed’ that Gasly will race for AlphaTauri in 2023

  • Sebastian Vettel exited in Q1, meaning it will be only the second time he’s started outside the top three in the last 11 Canadian Grands Prix.

  • Lance Stroll has been eliminated in Q1 in all four appearances in Montreal.

  • Yuki Tsunoda was out in Q1, making this the second time AlphaTauri have lost both cars at the first time of asking this season.

  • Charles Leclerc is starting at the back after a grid penalty – but can take solace from past results. Rubens Barrichello finished third from a pit lane start here in 2005, while Alex Wurz finished third from P19 in 2007.

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