The Canadian Grand Prix saw one of the most grueling qualifying sessions that has ever been observed at the circuit – with Kimi Antonelli Frustration almost getting a sensational pole position. On the contrary however, George Russell, an experienced team-mate gave him the break he needed when he needed it most, delivering a master stroke final lap win, to secure a victory on the grid and deny Antonelli the print saloon.

It was a real classic of the old reliable Formula 1 at qualifying when a plain of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was lighted. The order kept shifting  a number of drivers had the potential of being on pole throughout the racing session  and it wasn’t certain on the top of the leaderboard until the last moments. Antonelli went on to celebrate, but a considerable amount of post-session discussion revolved around the speed of the now-19-year-old, who looked like he had plenty of potential to get big this weekend as he had plenty of pace throughout the weekend.

Antonelli seemed to be well under control during much of that session. The Mercedes novice was continually providing competitive lap times and becoming more comfortable as they progressed. With minutes now ticking down, he finished with a terrific lap of 1:12.646 to briefly be the leader; that mark appeared to bring his future victory in sight.

In Formula 1, though, sometimes drivers who give their best when pushed do so and get awards for it! Russell accomplished just that. Peter North and the car didn’t always seem to be moving at the same speed but the Brit once found the flow, when it needed it most. Antonelli came up just short of him on his final time of 1:12.578 to clinch yet another vital Mercedes pole position record.

Former W Series champion Jamie Chadwick pointed out the reason for the mixed feelings Antonelli may have in his vehicle this week. The young Italian will get a front row start, but Chadwick says he’ll be feeling disappointed as he was the fitter of the Mercedes drivers the majority of the time.

Chadwick thought that “with everything that happened in qualifying, nobody expected Russell to get off the pole lap. “Antonelli showed me more consistency of pace over the weekend and he seemed more confident in getting more from the car,” she said.

That is what many watching the races saw in qualifying. Antonelli was both serious and fierce. He mounted an assault on the circuit with a degree of self confidence and was regularly to be found among the top speeds on course through the pit falls and hurdles. It was another big sign of his thriving abilities against some of the top drivers in the world.

The trouble is that, he was only a step away making something special. In Formula 1, the start of an event is anything but guaranteed  especially when the drivers are young, just getting used to the sport. The opportunities could fly like they appear every second, and the feeling of missing by even a single point can be very disheartening though the overall score might be good.

But there are a lot of things that Antonelli should see as positives on race day too. Russell took pole, and Chadwick said that Antonelli’s race pace has been really strong all weekend. In a race where strategy, tire usage and handling, as well as the way the race is executed, is such a major factor, you need to be consistent over the course of the race rather than just fast at day’s end.

Of course, Mercedes is going to be encouraged by retaking the front row. This is an important development for the team, who have been strong contenders this season, not only with McLaren, but with Red Bull and Ferrari as well. With both players up front, the team can move forward and play with some flexibility, which should help them make sure they get a good result.

There is no doubt McLaren is in there, but not in front of the Mercedes two. Champion contender Oscar Piastri will sit fourth whilst Lando Norris is in third. The wait for a win is still wide open, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton completing the top-five as Mercedes’ domination at qualifying meant that the race was never in doubt.

The Canadian Grand Prix will give Antonelli the chance to make the best of their worst situation. Headlines: he won them with a qualifying. Race: he won them here. His race pace is a form of which will likely be as competitive as it did at the practice and qualifying sessions – and therefore from the front row will give him a better chance of getting on in for a win.

So, the bottom line is that Mercedes has a new star amongst their ranks. Antonelli’s 0.9sec under par may sting on the day but it provided the silver lining that proves that he’s one of the brightest young talents in Formula 1. His speed, confidence and consistency indicate that good moments will be around the corner.

Songs will be playing as the lights fade in Montreal and all eyes will be on the possibility of defeating Kimi Antonelli Frustration. His weekend shape is a sign that no matter what he does he has the likelihood of becoming successful.

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