Get ready for some Canadian fireworks

George Russell on pole position, Max Verstappen alongside him on the front row needing to overtake the Mercedes to have a chance of winning the Canadian Grand Prix. You couldn’t have written a better script.

Just two weeks on from when the pair clashed in such controversial circumstances in Spain, they will go wheel to wheel again off the line in Montreal. Only this time, there’s even more at stake than just a race win.

With the underlying tension that comes with multiple incidents between the two over the past 12 months, Verstappen heads into the race knowing that one mistake could land him a race ban, as he sits on 11 penalty points. Russell knows it too, and did not take long at all to make that point after taking pole.

“I’ve got a few more points on my license to play with!” Russell said.

It’s not a topic that is far from anyone’s mind, because the incident in Barcelona is still so fresh in the memory, but also because of the precarious position that Verstappen finds himself in. It’s a position he doesn’t enjoy being reminded about.

“I don't need to hear it again,” Verstappen said. “It's really p****** me off. I mean, you were speaking about it on Thursday (in the media session). It’s such a waste of time; it’s very childish. That's why I also don't want to say too much, because it's really annoying, this world that we live in.”

Verstappen was asked later on if he feels any different heading into the race with the threat of a ban hanging over him, and simply gave a sarcastic thumbs up.

It was classic Verstappen. In many ways it suggests he will be out to silence those questions with a firm display on Sunday. That’s something Russell is also expecting, despite knowing the penalty points situation.

No one yet knows how the Canadian GP strategy will play out, so let's see if there will be pit drama, let alone what we might see on track... Mark Thompson/Getty Images

“I don’t think any driver goes out looking to crash into somebody and get penalty points on your license,” Russell said. “Max is one of the best drivers. There’s no reason for him to race any differently, and I’m not sitting here thinking he’s going to give us more room. If anything, probably the opposite to try and prove a point.

“So I’ll be keeping an eye, but ultimately, we’re all here to win. You’re not going to do something that’s going to jeopardize yourself from the race. It’s a busy season as well. If you get a race ban, you get a race ban and spend some time at home. It’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world.”

While Russell has not overly antagonized Verstappen heading into the race, there is a confidence and swagger about him starting ahead of the Dutchman. There’s an air of both wanting to prove a point on Sunday, and that often can lead to one thing…

The tension is heightened by the fact a win could be on the cards, one that would be significant for each of the drivers. Mercedes has not been in the frame for a victory despite some strong performances at times this year, while Verstappen is trying to reduce a 49-point deficit to Oscar Piastri, who starts form third on Sunday.

“Obviously we’re both fighting for the win here, and neither of us are really in a championship battle,” Russell said. “I haven’t had a win this year, so I want to get one on the board. Time will tell.

“We had good race pace on Friday, but it depends on the temperature. In practice, it was five degrees cooler than it was today, and the car was easily in its sweet spot. Now it can easily go the other way tomorrow in the race.

"If the sun comes out – it’s a 2:00 p.m. [ET] race, it was a 4:00 p.m. qualifying today – that makes quite a bit of difference, so it’s not going to be an easy race and, of course, I’ve got some really quick guys around me. We don’t know if it’s going to be a one-stop or a two-stop, so it won’t be straightforward.”

Verstappen faces a scenario where he could well take a victory that would bring him back into the championship picture to some degree, especially if Piastri can’t move forward from third. But he almost as easily could be leaving Montreal with a greater deficit and a weekend off in Austria that would drop him further behind. It’s quite the contrast.

With these two on the front row together and Verstappen already showing signs of frustration at being constantly reminded of the jeopardy when it comes to any championship hopes, Russell’s right – it really would be a surprise if anything was straightforward on Sunday.