Fernando Alonso will start second at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday behind championship leader Max Verstappen. The Spaniard, now 40, occupies the front grid after 10 year but is sure of giving the reigning world champion, 24-year-old Verstappen, a hard time. 

Alonso jumped ahead of Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton at the qualifying on Saturday as time expired. He drew a rousing ovation from the rain-soaked spectators.

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“It is an unbelievable weekend so far for us,” said the Alpine driver. “The car was mega. I was so comfortable driving this car, and the fans pushed me to make an extra push.”

But can he convert it into his first F1 victory since 2013 on Sunday, when weather conditions are expected to be greatly improved and the track dry?

“I think we’ll attack Max in the first corner,” the two-time championship winner said, adding that he’d be content finishing fifth.

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Meanwhile, Verstappen, who was six when Alonso won his first championship, said sharing the front grid with him is a ‘nice thing’. The Spaniard is ‘a little bit old but still very fast’, the Red Bull driver quipped. 

“To be on the front row together with Fernando, I mean, I used to look at F1 as a little kid and seeing Fernando being up there and winning his races and championships and putting it on poles. So to be sharing the front row is a nice thing, you know, I mean, of course Fernando is getting a bit old but he’s still very fast. I know he starts very well you know, so I have to be ready,” Verstappen said after qualifying.

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Carlos Sainz qualified third for Ferrari, while teammate Charles Leclerc didn’t bother taking his car out after the first group. Leclerc has already been handed a 10-place grid penalty for changing his engine ahead of Sunday; Leclerc was 15th overall but will start at the back of the grid alongside Yuki Tsunoda, who also changed an engine.