Live text
Formula 1
Canadian GP
F1 Canadian GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.
Live AppleTV Race Audio
Max Verstappen took his 25th career pole position by fending off Fernando Alonso and the two Mercedes drivers.
Nico Hulkenberg ended Q3 on Saturday in a surprise second place but will start from fifth after being docked three positions for speeding under red flag conditions.
Carlos Sainz was another to suffer the wrath of the stewards on Saturday, dropping to 11th but promoting team-mate Charles Leclerc to 10th. Sergio Perez missed out on a Q3 berth for the third race in succession and starts 12th.
The race starts at 19:00 BST.
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
Live Text
Sort by
Aston Martin entered the weekend with Lawrence Stroll setting his drivers the target of a double podium. While Alonso is doing his job, Stroll is outside the points in P12. It's another disappointing drive from the Canadian so far.
Quote
"Sainz will not attack you," Leclerc is told over team radio. That means the Spanish driver will be a rolling roadblock against Perez, who is setting fastest laps to close the gap on the Ferrari pair.
Pit stop
Verstappen does dive into the pits - it is a no brainer as it is a free pitstop - and he comes out around 5s clear in the lead.
No further action, is the decision. No penalty for either De Vries or Magnussen.
Pit stop
And, as expected, Alonso pits next time around to cover off Hamilton. Can we have a full Mexican wave of pitstops with Verstappen in the next time around?
Twitter
Pit stop
Hamilton pits for the second time in the race, taking on fresh mediums, and retains third thanks to the gap created behind him by the pitting Ferraris.
The incident between De Vries and Magnussen is now under investigation. Given De Vries locking up was what took the pair off the track, there is surely only one way any penalty would go.
Pit stop
At the end of lap 39 Leclerc pits, also swapping his mediums for hards like Sainz, and rejoins in fourth ahead of Sainz - just as Perez clears Albon.
Pit stop
Sainz pits to cover off Perez, keeping him in fifth on fresh hards, with Albon splitting him from the Mexican.
Penalty
A five-second penalty for "unsportsmanlike behaviour" for Norris. Given he has already stopped twice, he is likely to have that added to his overall race time.
Pit stop
Perez pits for the first time in this race, dipping in from sixth, to swap his hards for fresh mediums and comes out in seventh.
While that de Vries vs Magnussen tussle unfolded, the Ferrari mechanics scampered into the pitlane to pre-empt a safety car but nothing doing so Leclerc and Sainz continue to pound around on 38-lap old mediums.
Russell is now P9. Granted, these positions have been gained through the stops of others, but what a job from the Mercedes driver!
Magnussen stops at the end of the lap and fits mediums. That goes against the strategy employed by most so far.
The stewards have noted the incident between the Haas driver and De Vries.
The stewards have noted the incident between the Haas driver and De Vries.
Yellow flag
Yellow flags cover the region as the two drivers return to the track. The pair had previously collided at Turn 1, allowing Russell to pass both.
A yellow flag as Magnussen and De Vries tangle and slide off the track on the entrance to Turn 3.
Gasly has been stopped the gain some clear air. Hard tyres go on again.
As a result of those stopping, Russell is now up to P14. Could points really still be on the cards after his earlier crash?
As a result of those stopping, Russell is now up to P14. Could points really still be on the cards after his earlier crash?
Uh oh! Norris is now officially under investigation for driving unnecessarily slowly behind the safety car.
But Verstappen's pace is reflecting his comments, as on the last lap alone he pulled out 0.7s on Alonso.
Hulkenberg's stop has triggered others in the midfield to do so. Zhou drops to P19.
"Grip is getting better," Verstappen follows up. Make up your mind, Max.
A second stop for Hulkenberg to free himself from the DRS train. He is now P19 but will have no issue in getting to the end of the race on this set of tyres.
Verstappen complains about tyre life again but his lead has grown to 4.5s. Is this a bit of radio airways games or a genuine concern for Red Bull?
Ferrari strategy, part III, as the team appears keen to pull Sainz into the pits but he overrules them looking to go longer.
Albon takes Magnussen for P11 along the pit straight.
Quote
"I have no grip on this tyre," Verstappen reports over team radio. He's got a 3.5s lead over Alonso, but isn't flying away just yet.
From P16, Lance Stroll takes a second trip through the pits. A direct switch of hards for fresh hards. That moves Russell up one position from the foot of the order.
The Ferrari strategy is a curious one (not for the first time). They need to go long and quick on the mediums to find a gap in the pack to pit and switch to the hards to attack late on.
"We want a clean and fast stint, Sainz will not attack you," Leclerc is told over team radio. Leclerc remains fourth, 2s off Hamilton, but both Ferraris still need to pit again.
P10 and into the points for Piastri. With DRS on the main straight, Magnussen drops to P11.
Alonso has already nipped out of DRS range of Hamilton to cement his second place. Verstappen, meanwhile, as grown his lead to 3.4s.
But hold on, Norris has now been noted for driving unnecessarily slowly! Will he escape this one?
As all that happens, Albon is monstered by Piastri through the final chicane. P11 for the McLaren driver.
Great news for McLaren fans, as the stewards deem that no further action is required on Norris' potential unsafe release.
The crumb of comfort for Hamilton is the stewards will take no further action on his pitlane incident with Alonso.
Alonso, with DRS, makes his move on Hamilton to take second place! The Aston Martin driver goes up the inside of the Mercedes into the final chicane and makes the move stick, keeping the inside line on the main straight and into Turn 1.
As a result of the drivers and teams sorting out their positions following the safety car restart, the stewards have declared no further investigation is required on the safety car infringements involving Bottas, Ocon and Magnussen.
Knowing he has a potential penalty hanging over him, Norris is going for it. He moves up to P9 with a bold move on Magnussen.
Verstappen, just as he was doing earlier before the safety car, is pulling a gap on Hamilton, as his advantage stretches to 2.1s at the end of lap 21.
By: Autosport Staff
Published:
Lap:
