Max Verstappen takes Canadian F1 GP pole in wet with Leclerc near the back

Relentless in both reliability and form of late, Max Verstappen can only expect to leave the Canadian Grand Prix with what is swiftly becoming an ominous championship lead after claiming pole position in Montreal. However, Formula One’s young charger will have fierce company off the start line from the old guard, with Fernando Alonso showing all his experience and class to claim second place in treacherous wet conditions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Certainly Verstappen’s lap was a magnificent performance for pole but Alonso, at 40, 16 years senior to the Dutchman, also delivered a masterclass, an object lesson when a wet track proved the great leveller over car performance. Alonso was last on the front row in Germany in 2012 and knows his Alpine will not be able to challenge for the win but was clearly revelling in showing off his sublime touch during qualifying.

“It feels great, it was an unbelievable weekend so far for us,” he said. “The car was mega and the fans pushed me to make an extra push. I think we’ll attack Max on the first corner.”

Verstappen remains strong favourite over race pace but admitted he would take nothing for granted alongside the Spaniard. “I used to follow Fernando as a kid, he’s getting a bit old but I know he starts really fast so I will have to be ready,” Red Bull’s lead driver said, smiling.

His title rival Charles Leclerc, however, can hope at best only to minimise the damage this weekend as he was compromised by penalties that will see him start his Ferrari from 19th. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez, second in the title standings, crashed in Q2 and will start 13th.

For Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes a weekend of experimentation on their car delivered no progress but the team at least