Max Verstappen has qualified on pole for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix after a wet qualifying session in Montreal.
Much of the practice sessions have been hindered by rain and that theme continued on Saturday as the teams attempted to strategise around downpours of varying severity.
Alex Albon, in the Williams, was the initial beneficiary as he finished fastest in Q2, making the correct tyre choice to make Q3 for just the second time this season.
However, normal order was restored in the final 12 minutes with Verstappen leading the final 10 cars out onto an increasingly sodden track and comfortably posting the fastest time.
While his effort was aided by McLaren driver Oscar Piastri crashing and forcing a red flag, it was Nico Hulkenberg who took full advantage by clocking his second hot lap within seconds of the session being stopped.
🏁 QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION 🏁
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 17, 2023
Max Verstappen takes pole with Haas' Nico Hulkenberg alongside him on the front row! 🤩#CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/X02orJEn6X
As a result, the German will start on the front row, forcing Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton onto the second row.
Due to the incessant rain during Q3, the restart was effectively meaningless, drivers soon aborting their attempted laps having realised that faster times were impossible.
George Russell and Esteban Ocon are fifth and sixth respectively, while Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz Jr, Piastri and Albon make up the remainder of the top 10.
Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez missed out on Q3 due to a combination of their indecision over tyre choices and failure to execute hot laps under pressure as the clock run down.
