Once again, it is Mercedes who are the pre-race favourites, given their impressive showing after the sole free practice session ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. The team comes to Montreal with a slew of upgrades that include a new front wing with additional strakes designed to improve overall air flow. The duct inlet has been enlarged to increase cooling, while various slots in the floor have been rearranged to target flow conditioning as well.
The upgrades appear to have paid dividends as Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time just over a tenth of a second clear of his teammate George Russell, who suffered a spin on the exit of turn one and grazed the barrier. Having endured a middling Miami Grand Prix, Russell comes to Canada 20 points adrift of his teammate and will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s victory if he’s to get back on terms with Antonelli.
The timing screens suggest that Ferrari is set to be Mercedes' closest challenger as Lewis Hamilton secured the third fastest time, one place and 0.179s ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc. However, McLaren have also brought numerous upgrades to Montreal. The MCL-40 is sporting a new front wing engine cover as well as a revised engine cover. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were vocally optimistic regarding their team’s progress, with the latter stating that the upgrades represent a “really good sign for the rest of the year”.
Norris ended the session in sixth place, one place ahead of Piastri, whose pace on the hard tyres was of particular note. Unlike his teammate, the Australian failed to set a representative time on the soft tyres but still ended free practice with the seventh fastest time.
Max Verstappen had a troubled time in FP1. The four-time world champion reported issues with his downshifts as well as the RB 22’s overall handling. He ended the session fifth, while Arvid Lindblad (who, for the second time in two grand prix, will be tackling a circuit for the very first time) secured some useful running en route to eighth.
Nico Hulkenberg ended the session ninth, ahead of Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar. Esteban Ocon lost his front wing after crashing heavily on the exit of turn four with five minutes remaining. This incident brought out the red flag and effectively ended the session early.
Alex Albon, whose FP1 was also brought to a premature end after he collided with a marmot one hour into the session and brought out the red flag.
Carlos Sainz ended the session 15th. Having scored points with both cars in Miami, Williams will be hoping to sustain this form with their new, circuit-specific FBD geometry designed to improve brake cooling.
Elsewhere, Pierre Gasly secured the 16th fastest time ahead of Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson, who was forced to pull over with power steering issues after just five laps. Ollie Bearman took 19th ahead of the two Cadillacs of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. Franco Colapinto failed to get a time on the board and was therefore classified last.
Mercedes look set to lead the way in Canada, however, with McLaren and Ferrari in close attendance, George Russell in desperate need of a good result and rain forecast for Sunday, this year’s Canadian Grand Prix is going to be worth watching.
