The times when the pole position was achieved with two identical lap times
George Russell and Max Verstappen achieved exactly the same time in qualifying in Montreal. It is only the second time in the history of F1 that a pole position is set with two identical times.
With 15 drivers in the last minute twelve, these qualifications were particularly disputed and the outcome is rather crazy. George Russell took the provisional best time in 1.12:000 just before Max Verstappen completed his last flying lap in…1.12:000. Russell gets pole position because he set this time first.
Although rare, this is not the first time it has happened. In 1997, 3 F1 drivers secured pole position for the European GP, at the Jerez circuit, with the same time down to the thousandth.
Jacques Villeneuve achieves the best provisional time in 1:21.072. Michael Schumacher and then Heinz-Harald Frentzen start and complete their best lap in the same time as Villeneuve, a first in the history of Formula 1. They are separated by the regulation which states that in case of a tie, the one who achieved the best time first is credited with the pole position, the others just equaling his mark and not improving it.
Villeneuve crowned world champion
During the race, Schumacher takes a better start and finds himself in the lead for a while but on the forty-seventh lap, Villeneuve comes back and attacks him at the hairpin at the end of the straight. Surprised, Schumacher jerks the steering wheel to prevent him, but the Williams is already next to him and Schumacher’s right front wheel hits Villeneuve’s sidepod. The Ferrari goes into the gravel trap and does not come out, while Villeneuve continues his race, the Williams being undamaged.
Worried that his car might be damaged, the Canadian driver lowers his pace and eventually finishes third, a position good enough to secure him the world championship title.
