Sebastian Vettel proved Saturday afternoon (June 9) at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal that patience is a virtue. The German forgot his troubles from the day before, posting a fastest lap of 1:10.764 to take the pole for Sunday’s Formula One Canadian Grand Prix.
Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes took second, while Max Verstappen, who had dominated this weekend’s practice sessions, had to settle for third.
“Yesterday, we were in a bit of trouble,” Vettel recalled afterwards. “I was not really happy with the car and I could not get the rhythm. Today was switched on, and what a day, the car was incredible.
“Thanks to the team, thanks to the crowd. A lot of Ferrari fans here. A very good day.”
Vettel topped the timesheets with just under seven minutes to go in the last session, following fast laps by both Bottas and Lewis Hamilton. All the final 10 drivers selected super soft tires, putting them on even footing during the final moments.
Hamilton could not keep up his reputation of being inside the top three in one of his favorite races. He wound up fourth quick, while Kimi Raikkonen could only manage fifth. Monaco winner Daniel Ricciardo could not do as well as his Red Bull teammate and had to settle for sixth. Midfield runners Force India and Renault finished off the top 10. Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez of Force India took eighth and tenth while Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz Jr. ran seventh and ninth, respectively.
Further back in the field, American Haas F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean was a first round elimination. He suffered a power failure in his car and stopped on the side of pit lane exit. Marcus Ericsson scrapped the wall in the same opening session at turn seven and also did not advance.
During the second session, Vettel was frustrated as traffic clogged up his qualifying attempt. Among the slower drivers was the other Haas F1 pilot, Kevin Magnussen, who could do no better than 11th. Joining the Dane in failing to advance were the McLaren duo of Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne.
CANADIAN GRAND PRIX STARTING LINEUP
- Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1min 10.764secs
- Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:10.857
- Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:10.937
- Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:10.996
- Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:11.095
- Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:11.116
- Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:11.973
- Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 1:12.084
- Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:12.168
- Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:12.671
- Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:12.606
- Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:12.635
- Charles Leclerc (Mon) Sauber-Ferrari 1:12.661
- Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:12.856
- Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 1:12.865
- Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:13.047
- Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 1:13.590
- Sergey Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:13.643
- Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:14.593
- Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 No Time
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Going to be close at the top of the field today. And once again McLaren fails to prove that it was all the Honda engine to blame for their problems.