Report: Split Sprint qualifying fortunes in Canada

Carlos was the only Atlassian Williams F1 Team driver able to qualify for Sprint

Published

22 MAY 2026

Est. reading time

2 min

Formula 1 staged its first ever Sprint Friday in Montreal as the sport returned for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix.

For Atlassian Williams Formula 1 Team, that disappointingly translated to only one FW48 taking on the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve in the quick-fire qualifying, however.

Carlos Sainz will start Saturday’s 100km Sprint in P10 after a day of red flags, but Alex Albon was unable to join his teammate after an early exit from FP1.

An incident involving wildlife on track saw the team requiring a change to Alex’s car’s gearbox and PU after the pit crew’s best efforts to repair the car.

For Carlos as the sole remaining Williams, his 1:14.536 effort was enough to see him take a fifth-row position after he reached SQ3 in the second disrupted session of the day.

Fernando Alonso found the barriers in SQ1 to halt the session, and our No. 55 headed the field out of the pit lane in the rush to set a lap in the 1:46 remaining on the clock.

Yet it was the high-pressure lap in SQ2 where Carlos really made it count. He squeezed into the top-10 shootout after being the final car over the line before the chequered flag flew, and grabbed P10 from Nico Hulkenberg by just 0.048s.

Although only having one car in Sprint qualifying was disappointing, there were some signs worthy of encouragement as both drivers setting competitive FP1 times in their time on track.

A red flag stoppage for Liam Lawson brought out a red flag, but the two FW48s were on the pace with times quick enough for the top-10 positions as the 11 teams sought to maximise limited the Free Practice time.

Alex’s 1:16.642 effort was only 0.018s quicker than Carlos’, and despite bringing out the second red flag stoppage, Alex ended the session in P14, with Carlos P15.

Esteban Ocon brought out a third and final red flag period late in FP1, but Carlos still managed to set the joint-highest lap tally by completing 36 tours of the circuit.

Those laps will provide crucial data for the team to dissect ahead of Saturday’s two competitive sessions, with Sprint and qualifying in store for Carlos and Alex.

Available now

Canada 2026

Collect this badge by tuning in during the Grand Prix weekend.

Full reaction to follow.

Essentials

Latest

Carlos reflects on his Montreal Friday