Winners and losers from Canadian GP qualifying

It was a case of sink or swim in a wet qualifying session for the Canadian GP, and there was a bit of both throughout the field…

Torquing Point: Max Verstappen reminds Sergio Perez who’s number 1

Torquing Point: F1 finally returns to Montreal

These were the big winners and losers in our eyes:

Max Verstappen

With Charles Leclerc starting from the back of the grid and qualifying taking place in wet conditions he thrives in, Verstappen headed into it as the big favourite, and he lived up to his billing.

The Dutchman’s pole position was quite frankly never in doubt – he was fastest in Q1, Q2 and Q3 with nobody anywhere near him in the latter two sessions.

To make matters even better for him, two of the three drivers that have the machinery to challenge him – Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez – are starting towards the back of the grid and the other one – Carlos Sainz – wasn’t able to join him on the front row.

As a result, Verstappen now has a huge opportunity to truly take charge in the title fight for the first time this season, and it would take a brave man to bet against him doing so.

Fernando Alonso

FERNANDO ALONSO PUTS IT ON THE FRONT ROW!

(Max Verstappen on pole, by the way!)#CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ME1zB9YzPp

— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) June 18, 2022

P1 wasn’t the only spot occupied by the same driver in each qualifying session in Montreal, with Alonso taking P2 in each of them to secure his first front-row start in a decade.

The Spaniard was at his glorious best and arguably the driver of the day, mastering the conditions to go quicker than a number of rivals who had faster cars than him.

If it’s a dry race, he may not have the pace to stay inside the top three, but he has nevertheless given himself an excellent