Alonso and Sainz, second and third on the grid in Canada

"I think I will attack Max in the first corner," said the Spaniard.

Saturday's qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix left Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) on pole and a stellar performance by the Spanish drivers with the rain in the background, especially Fernando Alonso, who took his Alpine to first line, while Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) will start third.

Verstappen, leader of the World Championship, dominated from Q1 to Q3 despite the suspense left by the rain and the water that gradually disappeared from the Gilles Villeneuve track. Alonso, who led the third free practice sessions in the wet, maintained his recital to be second, while Sainz also held his own for a Sunday that promises for Spanish interests.

The one from Red Bull can give one more bite to the defense of the title, since his teammate Sergio Pérez, second in the World Championship, was left out in Q2 due to an accident and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) will start from behind to change the engine, when I was coming back from touch-ups on Friday. Verstappen saw a clear path and did not fail despite the fact that Saturday invited him to do so, with a track that was drying up.

On wet, the king was Alonso. The double world champion showed it in FP3 and at the start of the qualifying session. The 'Checo' accident did not suit the Spaniard, since he stopped Q2 when it was no longer raining and there was no more forecast that it would do so. The track dried up, giving way to the intermediate tires.

With the Mexican out, the Mercedes looking for their place --Hamilton will start fourth-- and the rest of mortals without any ace up their sleeve, Sainz's panorama was clearing up like the Montreal sky. Between the two Spaniards and Verstappen seemed to be on pole, and the Red Bull man took a second from both of them at the end of Q2.

In Q3, the doubt was whether there would be time to put the dry tire in and it was resolved by George Russell, who took a risk and went off the track in the first sector, the wettest. Verstappen confirmed his dominance and, with the clock at zero, Alonso overtook Sainz to savor the front row after almost 10 years. "I think I will attack Max in the first corner," said the Spaniard in the first interview.

The option of the podium is presented to Alpine, who last Sunday in Baku became the driver with the longest career in Formula 1. Meanwhile, Sainz can change his bad streak, and that of Ferrari that ran over again to Leclerc, and return to the fight for the 'Top 3' of the World Cup.