‘Maximum attack’ – Fernando Alonso wants to fight for the win at the Canadian Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso says he will fight for an unprecedented victory at the Canadian Grand Prix after qualifying on the front row of the grid for Sunday’s race.

In treacherous, wet conditions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took pole position ahead of Alonso, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. P3 and Sir Lewis Hamilton an impressive P4 in his Mercedes.

It is the first time in 10 years that Alonso will start on the front row and while his Alpine lacks the pace of the frontrunners, that won’t stop the two-time world champion from trying to win his first Formula 1 race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.

‘They’re [Red Bull and Ferrari] in a different league for sure,’ the Spaniard said after qualifying on Saturday.

‘It was not in our wildest dreams to be on pole position, so we take the first row for sure, and that’s maybe better than any expectations.

‘The goal is to lead the race in Lap 1. Turn 1, maximum attack, and then after that they can go and they can fight, but it would be nice, sweet, to lead the race.

‘I’m not sure what the possibilities are for tomorrow, realistically. We have a very good starting position, but we know our limitations and we saw in many races already that Ferrari or Red Bull are starting last or having a puncture in Lap 1 or whatever, they still finish with a good margin in front of us.

‘So, I think the top four places are locked. So, fifth is like a win for us and that’s probably the spot we should aim for.’

Alonso’s heroics weren’t the only major talking point on Saturday with Verstappen’s championship aspirations receiving a massive boost after his main title rivals endured a dismal day.

Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull crashed out in Q2 and will start the race in P13, while