10/06/2017
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.
Sebastian Vettel headed a Ferrari 1-2 in this morning's practice session, and such was the confidence of the Maranello pair they watched the final couple of minutes of the session from the comfort of the garage clearly aware that nobody was going to beat their times.
Lewis Hamilton came closest, the Briton just 0.354s shy of Vettel's best.
A late charge saw Max Verstappen split the Mercedes duo, while Nico Hulkenberg did well to put his Renault sixth ahead of Felipe Massa.
While Toto Wolff has continued to play the underdog card, it is clear, as we all knew, that there was plenty of life in the old canine still. That said, Ferrari does appear to have the edge, the SF70-H simply looking so beautifully 'planted', able to work its tyres better and quicker than the W08.
Waiting on its update from Renault, Red Bull continues to be best of the rest, though both drivers have had issues here this weekend. As a result, there is increasing pressure on the Austrian team from Force India and even Williams, in the shape of Felipe Massa.
While pole position isn't as vital here as it is at some tracks, to take it, or, better still lock-out the front row, would give Ferrari a massive psychological advantage.
As ever, tyres have played a major part so far this weekend. While the ultrasofts are the quickest, both the supersofts and softs have set some pretty impressive times. However, whether anyone is prepared to gamble and try to qualify on the supers today remains to be seen.
Of course, the tyre conundrum is largely affected here by the fact the track is constantly evolving, changing from session to session, then back again overnight.
The lights go green and in no time at all there are ten drivers on track, among them Vettel and Raikkonen. All are on the ultras bar the Ferraris which are on supersofts.
Sainz gets things underway with a 14.785, teammate Kvyat posting 15.048.
Vettel responds with a 13.787 while Raikkonen bangs in a 13.548.
Ocon and Kvyat are both warned about traffic.
Alonso goes third with a 13.974, the McLaren seemingly running on fumes.
When Grosjean reports "no grip", the Frenchman is told that "other people are struggling too". They omit to use the words "so there!".
Aa the Mercedes duo head out, Vettel improves to 13.046. That's on the supersofts remember.
Hamilton, on ultras, goes quickest in S1 as Ocon (13.622) goes third overall.
Hamilton posts 13.076 to split the Ferraris, with Bottas posting 12.864 moments later. However, both Mercedes are on the ultras.
A 13.543 sees Ricciardo go fourth ahead of Raikkonen, only to be demoted when his teammate posts 13.177.
A very impressive 13.520 sees Ocon go fifth, only to be demoted by his Force India teammate who posts 13.470.
Hamilton posts 12.692 to go quickest while Vettel remains on track on his supers.
Hamilton rein is short-lived as teammate Bottas posts 12.685.
A 13.987 sees Hulkenberg go eleventh.
With 6:13 remaining, the drop zones is comprised of Palmer, Ericsson, Magnussen, Grosjean and Wehrlein, with Vandoorne, Stroll and Sainz hovering.
Grosjean improves to eleventh with a 13.939, just behind Alonso.
Massa improves to fifth, while teammate Stroll can only manage 15th.
Sainz is unhappy with teammate Kvyat complaining that the Russian isn't respecting him by using him for slipstreaming purposes but not repaying the compliment.
"Just to let you know I'm not going to let Daniil get my slipstream," the Spaniard warns. "It's really unfair. Next time I will bite if he doesn't respect me."
Wehrlein is off at T1 and has clouted the barriers, bringing out the yellows. Which is bad news for those on a hot lap, among whom were Stroll, Vandoorne and Magnussen. Palmer having improved just before the German's little excursion.
Wehrlein appeared to touch the grass as he entered the corner, immediately losing the back end and sailing off into the barriers.
Bottas is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Verstappen, Massa, Perez, Ocon, Ricciardo, Raikkonen and Alonso.
We lose Vandoorne, Stroll, Magnussen, Ericsson and Wehrlein.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Montreal, here.
Massa and Sainz are first out for Q2, and in no time at all they are joined by all but Alonso.
Of the first wave, Massa is quickest, ahead of Perez and Ocon however, on the second lap Hamilton goes quickest with a 12.496.
As Bottas goes second (12.584), Sainz spins at T1, unlike Wehrlein however he keeps it away from the barriers and is able to continue.
Raikkonen splits the Mercedes with a 12.580.
"Traffic is a nightmare," complains Sainz, "I can't do anything. It's a nightmare." Thing is there are 5 cars less than a little while ago.
Vettel goes fourth with a 12.749 and as everyone heads back to the pits, Alonso heads out, the Spaniard looking to have the track to himself.
Posting a 13.798, which puts him 13th, Alonso complains of less power than Q1 and returns to the pits. Less power or not he is still quicker than Palmer and Grosjean.
On an almost clear track, Grosjean posts three PBs but remains 14th (13.839).
As the field heads out for the final run, Kvyat, Sainz, Alonso, Grosjean and Palmer are in the drop zone.
All are on track bar Vettel.
Despite being quickest in S1, Hamilton doesn't improve. Teammate Bottas does however (12.563) but remains second.
No significant improvements, though Palmer posts a PB in S1. The Briton posts another PB in S2, crossing the line at 14.293 to remain 15th.
Hulkenberg holds on to tenth as Hamilton goes quickest in S2.
Kvyat returns to the pits with a puncture, The Russian, and his teammate, having failed to make the cut.
Replay shows Kvyat hit the wall, hence the puncture. As he slowly makes his way back to the pits he doesn't exactly endear himself to those drivers still seeking to improve.
Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Massa, Perez, Ocon and Hulkenberg.
We lose Kvyat, Alonso, Sainz, Grosjean and Palmer.
Vettel is waiting at the end of the pitlane for the start of Q3, with the Mercedes duo not far behind.
Vettel locks-up at the hairpin, subsequently crossing the line at 12.423. Hulkenberg posts 13.310 and then Hamilton an 11.791. Unreal.
Bottas posts 12.177 to go second, while Raikkonen can only manage 12.341.
Verstappen goes fifth, ahead of Ocon, Hulkenberg, Perez, Massa and Ricciardo. Unsure what happened to Ricciardo there.
Told to go for lap 3, Hamilton immediately goes quickest in S1. Elsewhere, Ricciardo improves to sixth (12.57).
As Hamilton eases off, Verstappen posts a PB in S1. Vettel pits after that lock-up.
A poor final sector means Verstappen remains fifth.
Vettel crosses the line at 11.795, just 0.004s off Hamilton's incredible pace. The crowd roars.
Hamilton heads out for another try, again the crowd roars. Vettel back on track also. It is highly unusual to see drivers have three separate attempts in Q3.
Again Hamilton is quickest in S1 while Vettel appears to have backed off already.
Another purple in S2 for Hamilton who crosses the line at a superb 11.459, leaving 0.336s of daylight between him and Vettel.
Raikkonen fails to improve while Vettel posts a PB in S2, the German crossing the line at 11.789, missing out by 0.330s.
So much for the underdog, Hamilton takes pole ahead of Vettel, Bottas, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Massa, Perez, Ocon and Hulkenberg.
Kvyat is eleventh, ahead of Alonso, Sainz, Grosjean, Palmer, Vandoorne, Stroll, Magnussen, Ericsson and Wehrlein.
"Man, I'm so happy," says Hamilton in the post-qualifying interview. "Montreal has been good to me over the years, it was a close battle with Ferrari, but I was pushing, I was gunning, it was a sexy lap!"
"I think we have the pace," says Vettel. "I probably pushed a bit too hard on the final run."
"Lewis had a mega lap," adds Bottas. "I went too deep on my final run, but well done to Lewis and Seb."
To mark the fact that he has equalled his great hero Ayrton Senna's record of 65 poles, Hamilton is presented with one of the legendary Brazilian's helmets.
"It's not a replica," he is told, "it is given to you by the Senna family."
"I'm shaken, speechless," responds an emotional Hamilton. "Ayrton, he was why I wanted to be here today. A big thank you to the Senna family!"
Seemingly, the underdog still has teeth... but what does the Prancing Horse have in response?