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Formula 1
Canadian GP
F1 Canadian GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.
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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.
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A good start for Piastri who is up to P7, and is currently lapping ahead of team-mate Norris. McLaren has not scored a point in Canada since Button and Magnussen both finished in the top nine in 2014.
DRS is enabled but it won't be available to Hamilton for now as he's already one second off Verstappen.
After banging wheels all the way around on Lap 1, Sainz has retaken P11 from Perez.
Verstappen, as expected, has bolted at the front. At the end of the first lap he is 0.8s clear of Hamilton who is keeping an eye on Alonso behind him.
Into the wall goes Magnussen at the final chicane. He manages to avoid serious danger and continues in P15.
Ocon also got ahead of Hulkenberg at the start to take fifth. But all very clean and friendly through the first few corners.
A good start for Leclerc who jumps Albon for P9 at the start. Perez also jumps Sainz.
Lights green
Verstappen keeps his lead but Hamilton bolts into second ahead of Alonso into the first corner!
Zhou lines up, and we're ready to go!
No issues for all 20 starters, as Verstappen lines up the pack on the starting grid. Here we go...
Green flag
The formation lap is under way - here we go!
In short, 12th-14th hard, 15th soft, everywhere else it is the medium. Gasly starting on the softs is bold, given that tyre isn't predicted to last too many laps on heavy fuel.
Tyres! Perez, Magnussen and Bottas start on the hards, Gasly starts on the softs and everyone else in on the mediums.
What are your predictions for the race? Given how 2023 has gone so far it is hard to look past Verstappen enjoying another Sunday stroll, but you never know...
With the pre-race grid ceremonies taken care of, the drivers are putting on their earpieces, balaclavas and helmets. Just under 10 minutes to go until lights out.
It is time for the national anthem and Canada has gone for a sombre rendition of its favourite tune. That is, until Queen comes blasting over the PA system immediately after.
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The official word from Ferrari about Leclerc's car: "We changed part of the plank on Charles’ car since it got damaged on the way to the grid."
Albon's car was also undergoing some minor work, with the engine cover off on the grid, but all is well for the Williams driver.
It doesn't look too serious as Leclerc's car is lowered back down and things calm down between the Ferrari mechanics. And breathe.
Leclerc hasn't had the best of luck recently and it appears it isn't getting any better, as on the grid his car is up on the jacks and the floor plank is being worked on.
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Breaking news
Due to the disrupted practice and qualifying running, there's a mix of tyre options available up and down the grid. Mercedes is a potential outlier that will be one to watch out for:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mercedes-a-potential-strategy-outlier-as-f1-tyre-sets-returned/10484688/
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/mercedes-a-potential-strategy-outlier-as-f1-tyre-sets-returned/10484688/
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After the rain deluge that spiced up Saturday, Montreal is dry and warm and is set to stay that way. So that means no switching between dry and wet tyres today, but there are a few interesting strategies set to be in play...
This is no disrespect to Hulkenberg and Haas fans, but the upshot to his penalty is it puts Alonso on the front row alongside Verstappen, which always perks up interest for the start. Add Hamilton into the mix from third and this won't be one to miss.
Penalty
Hulkenberg isn't the only one, with Sainz, Stroll and Tsunoda each earning a three-place grid drop for impeding incidents during qualifying. As a result Sainz starts 11th, Stroll is 16th and Tsunoda is 19th.
Some of you may have finished yesterday marvelling at Hulkenberg putting his Haas on the front row of the grid. But a red flag infringement in Q3 saw him slapped with a three-place grid penalty and so he is dropped to fifth.
The F1 drivers are on their way to the grid and things look very different to yesterday for many reasons.
Green flag
Hello there! Who is ready for the Canadian GP eh?
By: Autosport Staff
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