F1 stewards punish Nico Hulkenberg at Canadian GP as Mercedes receive boost

F1 stewards have handed Nico Hulkenberg a three-place grid penalty after he finished Canadian Grand Prix qualifying in P2 on Saturday. The Haas driver was summoned to the stewards due to a speed limit infringement and has been dealt a punishment that boosts Mercedes’ chances.

Hulkenberg soared to secure his spot on the front line for Sunday’s Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

However, he has dropped to P5 after exceeding the speed limit under a red flag during the boisterous, ever-changing weather conditions.

Hulkenberg was the final driver to set a timed lap in Q3 as the rain started to thunder onto the track.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who had set the fourth fastest time in Q2, then lost control at Turn Seven as the conditions intensified, prompting the red flag.

It prevented other drivers from improving their lap times due to the intensifying conditions during the pause.

Max Verstappen took the 25th pole position of his career to set himself up to continue his year of F1 dominance.

After Hulkenberg’s punishment, Fernando Alonso will start on the front line with Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in third and fourth.

It was an afternoon to forget for Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez, who qualified in 10th and 12th, respectively, after being dumped out in Q2 for delaying their switch to slick tyres before the heavy rainfall.

Esteban Ocon will start in sixth, with Lando Norris seventh. Carlos Sainz took eighth but has dropped to 11th through a penalty for impeding Pierre Gasly in Q1.