Max Verstappen has described the ongoing questions about a potential race ban as 'very childish' ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who qualified second, is set to start alongside pole-sitter George Russell of Mercedes. Verstappen is just one penalty point away from a race ban following an incident at the Spanish Grand Prix where he deliberately drove into Russell.

At a press conference in Montreal, Verstappen expressed his frustration: 'I don't need to hear it again. It's such a waste of time. It's very childish. So, that's why I also don't want to say too much because it's really annoying, this world that we live in.'

Russell, who secured his first pole position of the season, acknowledged Verstappen's predicament with a smile, stating, 'We're mates so it's all good. I have a few more points on my licence to play with, so let's see.'

Verstappen has maintained that the threat of a ban will not alter his racing style. 'I cannot just back out of everything,' he said. 'I'm just going to race like I always do. I trust myself.'

The tension between Verstappen and Russell is not new. The two drivers have had several public disputes, including a notable row at the end of last season and a collision in the sprint race at the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Russell described his pole lap as 'probably one of the most exhilarating laps of my life' and expressed his determination to make amends for last year's performance in Canada. 'Last year was a poor race for me,' he said, 'and I felt it could've gone differently. So obviously I'll be doing my best to make up for last year's losses.'

Mercedes' improved performance in Montreal is attributed to the cooler temperatures and a low-abrasion track, which helps keep tyre temperatures down. However, Russell remains cautious about the race conditions. 'We had good race pace on Friday, but it depends on the temperature,' he noted. 'It's not going to be an easy race.'

Meanwhile, McLaren has struggled with the track characteristics in Montreal, with Lando Norris qualifying seventh and admitting to mistakes in the final qualifying session. 'It's just very low grip,' Norris said. 'And therefore the car balance just never comes together as much as what it does in other tracks.'

Norris was testing a revised front suspension layout designed to improve the feel from the front axle, but he remains uncertain about its effectiveness. 'This track, everything just feels different,' he said. 'So I think it's something we'll have to wait and see on the next few races.'

Team principal Andrea Stella expressed optimism about the new suspension setup. 'From Lando's point of view, there were no downsides,' Stella said. 'We think that the experimentation of the front suspension is a successful one.'

As the Canadian Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Russell as they continue their rivalry on the track.