The opening practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix proved difficult for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, with both drivers facing setbacks on the track in Montreal. Charles Leclerc crashed early in FP1, while Hamilton encountered trouble but avoided a major incident, highlighting the tense nature of the session.
Hamilton finished the session in fifth place, and Leclerc managed only tenth before his crash, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen recorded the top time. The unexpected presence of Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz in the top three added to the unpredictable atmosphere of the opening practice.
Details of Leclerc’s Crash and Hamilton’s Spin
About 15 minutes into FP1, Leclerc locked his brakes at the second chicane and collided with the barriers, prematurely ending his session and causing a red flag. Hamilton also faced difficulties, spinning at the Turn 10 hairpin but successfully maintaining control to keep the car on track, unlike his Ferrari teammate.
This session underlined the challenging conditions on the Montreal circuit, as even experienced drivers struggled to find optimal grip and rhythm during the practice.
Unanticipated Performances from Other Teams
McLaren’s showing was particularly disappointing for the championship leader Oscar Piastri, who only managed 14th place in the session, while teammate Lando Norris could not rise above seventh. Conversely, Williams surprised many by placing both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz within the top three times, making their strong performance a highlight of the opening practice.
Complete FP1 Standings at the Canadian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen led the field with a time of 1:13.193, closely followed by Alex Albon (+0.039) and Carlos Sainz (+0.082). George Russell secured fourth place (+0.342), just ahead of Lewis Hamilton (+0.427). Isack Hadjar, Lando Norris, Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, and Charles Leclerc rounded out the top ten drivers in FP1.
Further down the order, Yuki Tsunoda, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Antonelli, and championship leader Oscar Piastri occupied mid-field positions, while Lance Stroll, Gabriel Bortoleto, Ollie Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Franco Colapinto, and Nico Hulkenberg finished further behind.
Current Context: Verstappen’s Reign and Upcoming Sessions
Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 world champion who secured his fourth title last year, continues to demonstrate strong pace in Montreal. Practice sessions are ongoing, with FP2 scheduled for later today at 5 pm local time and 10 pm BST, while FP3 will take place on Saturday at 12:30 pm local time and 5:30 pm BST, allowing teams to refine their setups ahead of qualifying and the race.
