Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc faced difficulties during the opening practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, as both drivers failed to find top positions on the timing sheets. Hamilton finished in fifth place while Leclerc ended up tenth after a crash prematurely stopped his run. These struggles highlight ongoing challenges for Ferrari and Hamilton as they prepare for the race weekend.
Details of the First Practice Session and Driver Performances
The initial practice session saw Max Verstappen set the fastest lap, outperforming the pack with a time of 1:13.193. Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz created a surprise by securing the second and third fastest times respectively. Hamilton managed to place fifth, just 0.427 seconds off Verstappen’s pace, while Leclerc’s crash at the second chicane 15 minutes into the session cut his qualifying effort short after locking up and hitting the barriers, triggering a red flag.
Despite his tight margins, Hamilton experienced his own setback by spinning at the Turn 10 hairpin, but he avoided contact with the barriers and stayed on track. Meanwhile, McLaren underperformed compared to expectations; championship leader Oscar Piastri dropped to 14th, and teammate Lando Norris finished only seventh.
Complete Practice Session Results from the Canadian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen led the session, followed by Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, who surprisingly took the next two podium spots in FP1. George Russell secured fourth place ahead of Hamilton in fifth. Other notable positions included Isack Hadjar in sixth and Lando Norris seventh. Charles Leclerc finished 10th despite his crash, while McLaren’s Piastri and Norris ended 14th and 7th respectively.
The full top ten lineup from FP1 was: 1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 2) Alex Albon (Williams), 3) Carlos Sainz (Williams), 4) George Russell (Mercedes), 5) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 6) Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), 7) Lando Norris (McLaren), 8) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), 9) Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and 10) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).
Current Champion and Upcoming Practice Schedule
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, who secured his fourth drivers‘ title last year, once again demonstrated strong form during this session. Practice sessions will continue with FP2 scheduled later today at 5pm local time, followed by FP3 on Saturday afternoon, allowing teams further opportunities to fine-tune setups ahead of the race.