Nico Hülkenberg was able to make it through to the top ten shootout at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Saturday, but he felt tenth was about as good as it was going to get.
The Renault Sport Formula 1 Team racer admitted that after struggling with his RS17 for much of Friday practice, making it as far as Q3 was a good achievement, and it gives everyone some confidence heading into the race.
“I am quite pleased with P10, I think this is as good as it could get for us this afternoon,” said Hülkenberg. “Yesterday it looked like we had quite a bit of work to do, then this morning looked much better.
“Now we have to put our heads down, push hard and work for some points tomorrow.”
Team-mate Jolyon Palmer will start fifteenth after struggling to match the good lap he put in during Q1, with the Briton having complaints about his tyres that did not give him the grip or confidence that he had in Q1.
“I had a tidy lap, which I was happy with in Q1 and the car felt good,” said Palmer. “For some reason in Q2 I wasn’t able to find enough grip or get the tyres turned on and I ended up with a slower lap.
“I’m pleased to be back in Q2, but disappointed not to be further up the order. We know the tyres are pretty sensitive so we just have to get on with it in the race.
“This is a track where you can overtake and you often see safety cars so hopefully things go our way tomorrow.”
