Formula 1 Today: Norris Steals the Spotlight in Dramatic Canadian Grand Prix FP1
The Formula 1 calendar’s ninth round, the Canadian Grand Prix, got off to a dramatic start with a heavily delayed first practice hour at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. After arriving to blue skies, the drivers and teams were met with a sudden rain deluge, complete with hailstones, casting doubt over whether FP1 would even take place. However, the session commenced on schedule, albeit with a 22-minute delay.
As the pit lane exit remained closed, the drivers waited patiently for the green light. When it finally arrived, Lewis Hamilton, a six-time winner in Montreal, led the charge, followed by the Sauber drivers, the Haas pairing, and McLaren’s Lando Norris. The initial laps were completed on Intermediate and Wet tyres, but it wasn’t long before Zhou Guanyu’s spin at Turn 5 brought out the red flag, causing damage to his suspension.
The red flag was eventually lifted, and with the sun shining and the track rapidly drying, several drivers returned to the track on Intermediates. In the final five minutes, Charles Leclerc led the charge, opting for slick tyres, and the times began to tumble. Norris took advantage of the improving conditions, posting a blistering 1:24.435s to claim top spot, 0.328 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz in second.
Ferrari’s Leclerc completed the top three, with Hamilton fourth in the lead Mercedes. Max Verstappen rounded out the top five for Red Bull, followed closely by Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, and Valtteri Bottas. Sergio Perez and George Russell completed the top 10, while Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda placed just outside. Kevin Magnussen edged out Nico Hulkenberg in the Haas intra-team battle, and Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll placed 15th and 17th, respectively.
In a dramatic first practice hour, the drivers had to adapt to the rapidly changing conditions, making the most of the drying track. With Formula 1 qualifying and the Formula 1 tyre strategy set to play a crucial role in the race, this session was a vital precursor to the weekend’s main events. As the teams head into FP2, they will be looking to refine their setups and tyre choices to gain an edge over their rivals.
“It was a challenging session, but I’m pleased with how we adapted to the conditions and were able to come out on top,” said Lando Norris after the session.
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