George Russell took an extraordinary pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix – tied on 1min 12.000sec with Max Verstappen.

The Brit takes the honor of leading the race off, having set his time first.

So, a breakthrough for the beleaguered Mercedes team, and now the possibility of victory at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve tomorrow. ‘There’s no reason I can’t keep Max behind,’ declared a delighted Russell after stepping out of his car to huge cheers.

It was a dramatic qualifying session with the threat of rain lingering and occasionally falling. Everyone had to be right on their toes – a point underlined to Russell when he just hung on to his sliding car at Turn 4 during Q2.

Lando Norris will start third, an agonising.021sec off the pace, a place ahead of his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

+3
View gallery

George Russell took pole at the Canadian Grand Prix in extraordinary scenes on Saturday

+3
View gallery

Max Verstappen posted the same time as Russell but the Brit takes pole as he set his first

+3
View gallery

Russell vowed to keep Verstappen behind him during the race itself on Sunday in Montreal