Sprint qualifying for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix had plenty of drama, where Lewis Hamilton had an impressive session for Ferrari, but Fernando Alonso experienced a large crash and disqualification from the event early on.
Lewis Hamilton’s run in the early stages of qualifying was also strong, with several drivers from both teams below him on the grid stalling before reaching, or having some mechanical issues that kept them stuck behind other cars.
Lewis Hamilton Starts Strong For Ferrari
The seven-time world champion made an eye-catching start by setting the two fastest laps during Sprint Qualifying 1.
However, things became more difficult in SQ2, where Hamilton finished nearly half a second behind George Russell. Despite that, he still managed to outperform Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli during the session.
Fernando Alonso Crashes Out During Sprint Qualifying 2
Fernando Alonso’s qualifying session ended dramatically after the Aston Martin driver locked up heavily with under two minutes remaining in SQ1 before crashing into the barriers.
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The incident brought out a red flag and prevented Alonso from taking part in SQ2 altogether.
Despite the crash, the session still offered some encouragement for Aston Martin, as Alonso became the first Aston Martin driver this season to progress beyond SQ1 in 2026.
While Alonso showed improved pace compared to previous weekends, his mechanics now face a major overnight rebuild ahead of Saturday’s sprint race.
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The team will need to repair significant damage after the heavy impact during qualifying.
Alex Albon And Liam Lawson Miss Out
Alexander Albon is set to start from the back of the grid after Williams mechanics failed to repair damage caused by his earlier collision with a marmot and the barrier during practice.
Liam Lawson will also line up near the rear after suffering mechanical problems during the session.
Drivers Eliminated in Sprint Qualifying
| Eliminated in SQ2 | Eliminated in SQ1 |
|---|---|
| Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) Franco Colapinto (Alpine) Esteban Ocon (Haas) Ollie Bearman (Haas) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) |
Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) Pierre Gasly (Alpine) Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) Alex Albon (Williams) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) |
Formula 1’s updated 2026 format now includes 22 cars on the grid, meaning six drivers are eliminated in both SQ1 and SQ2 instead of five.
Sprint qualifying session lengths remain unchanged, with SQ1 lasting 12 minutes, SQ2 running for 10 minutes, and SQ3 lasting eight minutes.
Also Read: Canadian Grand Prix 2026: Racing Bulls Hit With Major FIA Penalty After Serious Rule Violation
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