Max Verstappen takes pole as Oscar Piastri crashes out of Canadian Grand Prix qualifying
Aussie Oscar Piastri has crashed out of the final part of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix in a soggy Montreal.
Rain started falling on an already damp track midway through the second part of qualifying, and was only intensifying through the break and as the final part of qualifying got underway.
A queue of cars formed at pit exit in order to make the best of conditions that would only get worse as the session went on.
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Piastri's first timed lap was some four seconds slower than that of pace-setter and eventual pole-sitter Max Verstappen. The Aussie then spun and wiped the rear of his McLaren along the wall at the exit of turn seven chasing a quicker time.
Oscar Piastri crashed out of qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, hitting the wall at the exit of turn seven. Fox Sports
"Sorry," he said over team radio. He was unharmed.
The crash brought out a red flag, virtually ending the session as the rain continued to get heavier. By the time the session resumed and cars returned to the track, drivers were reporting the track was "undrivable".
Nobody was on the track for the final two minutes of the session.
The surprise of the session though was Nico Hulkenberg, who stunned the field to put his Haas second behind Verstappen's Red Bull.
Fernando Alonso will start third, followed by the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
Piastri will start ninth after Williams driver Alex Albon lost his time for cutting the final chicane.
The Canadian Grand Prix gets underway at 4am Monday morning (AEST).
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