Red Bull and Max Verstappen proved once again that they are the team to beat in Canada with the Dutchman producing the standout time in damp conditions of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to be first on the starting grid for the 2023 Canadian GP.
It looked as if Nico Hulkenberg would be lining up second on the starting grid in Canada, but the Haas driver failed to keep to the FIA delta time under red flag conditions and was handed a three place grid drop. That means Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin will be on the front row alongside Verstappen.
Mercedes look to be contenders for the podium, as Lewis Hamilton will start third on the grid, alongside teammate George Russell. Hulkenberg is in fifth.
Esteban Ocon in the Alpine lines up sixth on the grid, with the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, seventh and eighth, respectively. Alex Albon in the Williams and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari round out the top 10 on the starting grid.
Canadian GP starting grid 2023
| Pos | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 5 | Nico Hulkenberg* | Haas |
| 6 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine |
| 7 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 9 | Alex Albon | Williams |
| 10 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 11 | Carlos Sainz* | Ferrari |
| 12 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull |
| 13 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas |
| 14 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo |
| 15 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 16 | Lance Stroll* | Aston Martin |
| 17 | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri |
| 18 | Logan Sargeant | Williams |
| 19 | Yuki Tsunoda* | AlphaTauri |
| 20 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo |
- Hulkenberg – 3 place grid penalty – Failed to stay above the minimum time set by the FIA ECU during a red flag
- Sainz – 3 place grid penalty – Impeding another driver
- Stroll – 3 place grid penalty – Impeding another driver
- Tsunoda – 3 place grid penalty – Impeding another driver
