George Russell completed a Mercedes front row lockout ahead in sprint race qualifying in Canada. Lando Norris claimed third with his teammate and Hamilton rounding out the top five.
SQ1
Once again it was the young Italian, Antonelli flying to the top of the timesheets early on. A 1.14.010 early on saw him climb ahead of Verstappen by nearly half a second.
His teammate Russell ran third, 0.742 adrift of his teammate with the two McLarens completing the top three, Piastri leading Norris.
With three minutes remaining Hamilton took to the front, a 1.13.889 leaving him 0.121s ahead of Antonelli.
The seven-time world champion got his lap in just in time before the red flag was flown for the first time as Alonso found the barriers at turn 3.
The Spaniard locked up on the approach, slamming into the barriers and causing a lengthy delay to allow for barrier repair.
Prior to the stoppage, Lindblad broke into the top five, 0.628s off of Hamilton. His fellow countryman Norris sat 0.252s ahead having moved ahead of his teammate into fourth.
Perez, Stroll, Gasly, Bottas, Albon and Lawson all sat in the bottom six ahead of the resumption.
With two minutes remaining drivers returned in a race to the line before the chequred flag.
The time proved too little for most drivers, Sainz, Hamilton and Stroll the only drivers to make it to the line with none of the trio able to improve.
SQ2
Norris was the first to set a representative lap in SQ2 before Hamilton returned to the front, 0.320 clear with a 1.13.637.
Russell quickly spoilt Hamilton’s party, heading to the front with a 1.13.466. Antonelli tucked in behind, 0.085s adrift.
After having his earlier lap time deleted, Verstappen could only manage ninth behind teammate Hadjar.
Hamilton returned to the front with two minutes remaining while Bortoleto, Colapinto, Ocon, Bearman, Hulkenberg and Alonso occupied the drop zone.
Russell took to the front once more with a minute remaining, 0.439s clear of Hamilton.
Verstappen remained unhappy, pitting and raging over the radio while living life dangerously in ninth.
The Dutchman scraped through, as Sainz left it late to relegate Hulkenberg into the slowest six.
SQ3
Hamilton once again was showing his prowess, fastest early on before his old teammate Russell moved to the front ahead of Hamilton.
With tyres not expected to last long in the final session Russell seemed set to claim pole for the sprint.
Antonelli tucked into third, 0.306s behind his teammate with Verstappen in third.
Yet Hamilton went again, setting a purple first sector on his way to a better time, but not good enough to challenge for pole. The Ferrari driver sat 0.132s adrift.
After a poor first lap, Norris moved himself up to second relegating Hamilton before Russell improved to go 0.315s clear.
Piastri tucked into third before Antonelli moved his Mercedes to within 0.068s behind his teammate. That completed the Mercedes front row lock out for Saturday’s sprint race.
Norris led Piastri with Hamilton completing the top five with Leclerc and Verstappen behind.
Hadjar and Lindblad followed with Sainz completing the top ten on the grid for sprint qualifying in Canada.
Feature image courtesy of Formula 1