Formula One leader Oscar Piastri stayed hopeful after a qualifying session that had McLaren boss Andrea Stella talking of damage limitation in Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

Australia’s Oscar Piastri has qualified third for Monday morning’s Canadian Grand Prix, a result that still boosts his chances of extending his lead in the Formula One world championship.

F1 championship leader Oscar Piastri will start from the second row for the Canadian grand prix, as George Russell takes pole ahead of Max Verstappen in Montreal.

Formula 1 title hopefuls Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri conceded they had issues during the opening two practice sessions in Montreal

Lando Norris lapped fastest in final Canadian Grand Prix practice on Saturday as Formula One leader and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri hit Montreal's wall of champions.

Piastri is leading his teammate and championship contender Lando Norris by 10 points in the drivers' rankings right now, and has built a distance of 49 of them with reigning world champion Max Verstappen,

Motorsport commentator Greg Rust believes Oscar Piastri has a mental edge over his teammate Lando Norris as the F1 season approaches the mid-way point.

Oscar Piastri could stand alone after Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix as the only Australian to win six or more races in a single Formula 1 season, but the 24-year-old has bigger and better statistics in his sights.