The Italian has won the last three races to turn the tables on his experienced team-mate and hold a 20-point advantage heading into this fifth round of the season.

Russell played down his deficit to the 19-year-old last time out in Miami by suggesting it was not a track he enjoyed but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is – having claimed pole for the last two years and winning last season.

That has heightened the pressure on the British driver to deliver this weekend and he started that mission in positive fashion by edging out his team-mate by 0.068 seconds.

“Obviously (it) feels great after a tough Miami but I never doubted myself, I knew what I can do,” Russell said.

“Miami was a bit unique but this is an amazing circuit, high grip, (it) feels like you are driving a proper F1 car around here so (I’m) glad it came together.”

Mercedes unveiled their first major upgrade package of the season as the grid’s dominant team in 2026 bid to stretch their advantage over the rest of the field.

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Their lead was significant, with McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri over three tenths adrift in third and fourth.

McLaren have also brought the second half of their upgrades package to Montreal, introducing a new front wing as part of a raft of changes aimed at dragging Norris and Piastri back into the championship picture.

Lewis Hamilton enjoyed an impressive qualification for Ferrari, finishing first and second in the opening two sessions respectively, but could not match the pace on the final run.

He will start Sunday’s 23-lap dash from fifth ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Alex Albon was unable to take part in sprint qualifying as a result of crashing into the barriers after hitting a groundhog in practice.

Williams confirmed that the 30-year-old could not avoid the local inhabitant as he rounded turn seven and the damage was too extensive for him to compete in the weekend’s first competitive session three hours later.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve sits in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Montreal’s Isle Notre Dame and groundhogs on track have become a regular feature during race weekends over the years.

Lewis Hamilton was “devastated” after hitting one during last year’s race.