Verstappen leads Albon in first Canadian GP practice

Max Verstappen went fastest in the first practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix that was punctuated by a crash for Charles Leclerc less than 15 minutes into the hour.

Leclerc hit the brakes late into the Turn 3-4 chicane and locked up but remained committed to trying to make the corner. But on the dusty and low-grip surface his Ferrari sailed wide across the grass and smacked the outside barrier, breaking both left-hand wheels. The Ferrari clattered back onto the road at the exit of Turn 4 before coming to rest, causing a 10-minute red flag.

“My bad,” he radioed. “I should’ve gone straight. I thought I would just make it, but I clipped the wall.”

The rest of the session continued without another major incident, and Verstappen powered to top spot with a best time of 1m13.192s. The reigning world champion was just 0.039s and 0.082s respectively ahead of Williams teammates Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.

Albon ended the hour with the fastest first and last sectors. Although Williams was clearly running with a different program relative to others, the team still expects Canada to be a strong weekend, with a return to the points anticipated.

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Lewis Hamilton got the second Ferrari home in one piece despite a spin at the hairpin on an early push lap, having just set what at the time had been a purple middle sector. The seven-time Canada winner was 0.427s slower than Verstappen.

Isack Hadjar was 0.011s slower in sixth for Racing Bulls, one of only two teams to sample the medium tire during the hour. Pirelli has brought the new C6 tire as the soft compound this weekend, and most teams are not yet convinced whether that or the medium C5 compound will be preferred in qualifying, leading to most holding back their sets until later in the weekend.

Lando Norris was the quickest McLaren driver, the Briton lapping 0.458s off the pace and doused in flow-viz paint as he evaluated the team’s new front wing and front suspension. The car looked like a handful several times at the limit, including a moment at the hairpin that saw Norris understeer almost into the barrier on exit, but was quickest in the middle sector.

Liam Lawson was eighth in the second Racing Bulls car ahead of Pierre Gasly and the crashed-out Leclerc.

Yuki Tsunoda was 0.734s off the pace of his session-leading teammate in 11th ahead of Fernando Alonso and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Title leader Oscar Piastri was 14th after complaining over radio about traffic on all his laps. The returning Lance Stroll was 15th ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and Haas teammates Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon.

Franco Colapinto spun his car at Turn 2 on his very first push lap just minutes into the session. He ended the hour 19th and 1.452s off the pace ahead of only Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg at the back 0.176s off the back of the pack.