After a dramatic qualifying session filled with rain, twists, turns, and penalties, the front of the grid for the Canadian GP features Max Verstappen in pole position, with Fernando Alonso alongside him and Lewis Hamilton in third. Although the world championship may be slipping out of Hamilton’s grasp, Alonso remains within his sights. The rivalry between the two veteran drivers is as intense as ever, and Hamilton is determined to outshine Alonso on race day.

In a surprising turn of events, Nico Hulkenberg initially qualified in 2nd place alongside Verstappen, but a penalty forced him to drop three grid positions. Consequently, Hamilton moved up to third, with his teammate George Russell securing fourth place. With Mercedes and Aston Martin appearing evenly matched, “I definitely think a podium is on the cards tomorrow,” Hamilton asserted confidently after qualifying.

Lewis, fueled by his desire for victory, aims to make a strong impression against Fernando Alonso. Expressing his ambitions, Hamilton stated, “I’m grateful that we’re in this great result for George [Russell] and me. Hopefully, from there, we can move forward.” While acknowledging the likelihood of Verstappen’s dominance, Hamilton remains focused on Alonso, vowing, “If I can hold on to [Fernando] Alonso and give him hell, that’s what I’ll do.”

Despite their long-standing presence on the grid together, the rivalry between the two drivers has not lost its intensity.

Read more: Lewis Hamilton Readies Arms to “Battle” With Arch Rival Fernando Alonso After Pointing Out One Make or Break Factor in the Final Showdown

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Hamilton relies on his W14 to propel him past Alonso into the first corner, but his main challenge lies in maintaining control of the AMR23 throughout the race.

Despite Lewis Hamilton’s determination, Fernando Alonso remains unfazed

Alonso, on the other hand, seems unfazed by Hamilton’s intentions. Instead of being preoccupied with defending a podium spot, he prefers to focus on challenging Max Verstappen and Red Bull for the win rather than simply fighting to secure a podium position. Alonso commented in the post-Qualifying interview, “P3, you know we will take it. It’s a good place to start. I think tomorrow we will have a chance to put some pressure on Red Bull.”

The Spaniard further emphasized that he aims to narrow the gap between himself and Verstappen, stating, “I won’t be 20 seconds away but 2 seconds away, pushing Verstappen.” This statement seemingly takes a subtle dig at Hamilton, who finished the previous Spanish Grand Prix 24 seconds behind Verstappen.

Can Alonso defend his position and turn the tables on the dominant Red Bull team, or will Rain defy all the odds? As the engines roar and the lights go out, the answers to these questions will unfold on the track, delivering an unforgettable spectacle of skill, strategy, and fierce competition.

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