QUALIFYING: Palmowski dominates from the outset to seal Montreal pole

Alisha Palmowski ran the show in Montreal Qualifying, leading from the start to seal both pole positions for the Opening Race and Feature Race.

The Red Bull Racing driver was untouchable throughout the 30-minute session, taking the top spot by almost four tenths with a 1:38.466. Rookies Payton Westcott and Megan Bruce completed the top three fastest times on their debuts at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Palmowski was the first to get back out on track for the evening session, with the conditions much changed from the early morning Free Practice. Her initial effort was quickly beaten as Ella Lloyd posted the first competitive lap with a 1:40.316.

Palmowski immediately responded, taking over the top spot on a 1:39.395 to go 0.4s clear of Rafaela Ferreira, before heading to the pit lane for a tyre change.

Alba Larsen and Megan Bruce then closed the deficit down to two tenths as they moved into P2 in turn, while Rachel Robertson narrowly avoided an early end to Qualifying after the PUMA driver banged the wall out of Turn 9.

Out front, Palmowski continued to assert her hold over the top of the timesheets, steadily dropping the time to beat from 1:38.806 down to a 1:38.526. However, the Briton wasn’t done yet, posting one final improvement in the closing minutes of running with a 1:38.466.

Behind her, Ferreira, Westcott and Bruce squabbled over the second spot on the front row. The Mercedes driver eventually snatched P2, 0.390s down on Palmowski’s best effort, with Bruce finishing in third.

There was late drama for several drivers with Ella Lloyd and Esmee Kosterman narrowly avoiding hitting the wall, with the McLaren driver in particular struggling to handle the #20 car.

Felbermayr put it all together on her final lap, jumping up from seventh to fourth at the chequered flag. Aston Martin's Mathilda Paatz secured fifth ahead of Larsen, Ferreira and Countryman, as the Haas driver claimed pole position for the Reverse Grid Race on Saturday afternoon. Nina Gademan was ninth-fastest and Lisa Billard rounded out the top 10 for Gatorade.

Consistency paid off for Campos Racing, as Palmowski and Bruce’s second-fastest times ensured a front row lockout for the team on the Opening Race grid, with Westcott moving down one place in P3. Felbermayr and Paatz matched their positions in fourth and fifth, respectively. Ferreira will line up in sixth ahead of Larsen, Billard, Countryman and Gademan.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Palmowski will line up on pole for the first of two races on Saturday, with the Opening Race set to take place at 09:45 local time (UTC-4).