Piastri: It is certainly not going to be a slam dunk win

Piastri will start from P3 on the grid, with McLaren teammate Lando Norris, 10 points behind in the 2025 F1 Drivers' standings after nine of 24 races, starting back in P7.

Mercedes' George Russell took pole position, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen, winner for the past three years, joining him on the front row in a repeat of 2024's qualifying top two at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Winner of five races this season and bidding to become the first Australian to take six in a single campaign, Piastri told reporters in the post-qualifying top-three press conference: "Our pace on race days is generally where we are strong.

"These two next to me [Verstappen and Russell] were very quick in the race runs yesterday, so it is certainly not going to be a slam dunk win, but I think we are definitely in the fight," added the McLaren driver.

The session, a gift for those talking up bad blood between Russell and Verstappen after a headline clash in Spain, left McLaren off the pace for once in a scrappy afternoon. It was the first time Mercedes had taken pole this season.

McLaren F1 boss Stella told Sky Sports television: "The picture changes completely for the race, that is what we have to focus on. I think in terms of race pace we should be a bit more comfortable, but let us see. This weekend could be one of damage limitation."

Norris will certainly have a battle on his hands to reach the podium, and admitted he made "a couple of big mistakes, one hitting the wall on the last lap on the exit of Turn 7 and also the first lap at the final corner. Mistakes that cost me. We have not been as quick as usual.

"It was maybe not the car to take pole position, but it should have been enough for the top three. It is a very easy track to push one percent too much and pay the price, and that is what happened today. A podium will be tough because we do not have the pace we have had over the past few races," revealed Norris.