Max Verstappen led FP1 in the F1 Canadian GP weekend with a 1:13.193, with Alex Albon in second and Carlos Sainz close behind.
F1 was back after the first leg of the European leg. With a break heading back to North America, for the Canadian GP. Lance Stroll, the home hero, was racing after missing the Spanish GP regarding issues with his wrist injury from 2023.
With close walls and a prominent kerb, and a huge grip differential from Barcelona, it poses a challenge to the drivers, making the Practice session time all that bit more significant.
Green light
Teams wasted no time getting out on track, desperate to make the most of all the track time. Max Verstappen in his Red Bull led the charge, preparing for his early runs.
Not far behind were the Ferrari’s, with Canada being one of Lewis Hamilton’s most successful circuits. Hamilton desperate for a good result in a season that has been struggle after struggle.
An early yellow flag was waved with Colapinto sideways on the track after starting his push lap. The yellow flag was short-lived as Colapinto got going again and out of the way of the track.
Max Verstappen was putting on a push lap crossing the line with a 1:16.067. Pierre Gasly slipped into second, but both times were beaten by Charles Leclerc who crossed the line to take first.
However, the time was immediately displaced by Isack Hadjar who put his RB first by 0.4 tenths on the medium compound tyres.
As the track wore in, times dropped, with Alex Albon taking the top spot. Norris started a fast lap, setting a purple sector 1. However, he suffered a rear lock which left him seventh as he crossed the line.
Charles Leclerc crossed the line first in a weekend important to Ferrari. With rumours swirling around the team regarding Vasseur and Leclerc’s future.
A yellow flag was brought out when Charles Leclerc hit the wall in turn three and four. He touched the barrier as he carried too much speed, destroying his left wheel and front suspension. Leclerc went on the radio to say he was okay, his SF-25 less so.
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari was unable to move off the track and a red flag was waved. The session was halted, so marshals could clear the track.
Back on track
Track action resumed, and Max Verstappen wasted no time getting back in the action. Verstappen’s push lap put him at the top of the times with a 1:13.863.
The track was constantly improving, and George Russell crossed the line to push Verstappen down to second. Russell’s time of 1:13.535 a healthy three tenths ahead of the Red Bull.
Additionally, drivers up and down the grid were struggling for grip, with Hamilton, Norris and Russell spinning or taking runs through the grass. But keeping their cars out of the wall.
Max Verstappen embarked on another push lap, taking three tenths out of Russell’s time and move to the top of the timings. Carlos Sainz in his Williams slid in behind Verstappen, putting in an impressive time of 1:13.275.
The Spanish GP weekend was one to forget for the Spaniard, finishing his home race in a disappointing 14th place. Although Williams knew Barcelona wouldn’t suit the FW47, they had higher hopes coming into the Canadian GP.
Albon made it a Williams double, slotting ahead of his Spanish teammate, slipping just 0.043 seconds ahead of Sainz. Falling just behind Max Verstappen.
The majority of the grid had opted for soft tyre running, with it looking like teams were looking at using the medium compound in qualifying. Something that we saw crop up consistently throughout the triple header.
Final 10 minutes
The McLaren’s were running in a surprising 12th and 14th, with Norris leading the papaya charge. Although the McLaren’s were further down the order than expected, in such an early session the team didn’t seem worried.
Piastri went on the radio to ask for space on track to put in a fast lap. While his teammate Norris crossed the line in seventh, his lap compromised by running wide on his push lap. Oscar Piastri struggled to get a competitive lap time on the board, finding himself further down the order as the session came to a close.
The chequered flag waved, with Max Verstappen topping the session ahead of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
Full Results:
- M. Verstappen
- A. Albon
- C. Sainz
- G. Russell
- L. Hamilton
- I. Hadjar
- L. Norris
- L. Lawson
- P. Gasly
- C. Leclerc
- Y. Tsunoda
- F. Alonso
- K. Antonelli
- O. Piastri
- L. Stroll
- G. Bortoleto
- O. Bearman
- E. Ocon
- F. Colapinto
- N. Hülkenberg
