Friday Report - Alonso tops second practice

Fernando Alonso
© Aston Martin Racing

Fernando Alonso set the fastest time in a wet and unpredictable second practice session (FP2) for the Canadian Grand Prix, but the main narrative of the day revolved around Max Verstappen’s unexpected reliability issue, which sidelined him early in the session.

The session began under ominous skies, with rain starting to fall as the cars rolled out. Most drivers opted for soft tires initially, trying to squeeze in fast laps before the track became too wet. However, the rain intensified, forcing everyone to return to the pits and switch to intermediate tires. This early scramble led to a chaotic session filled with traffic and interrupted laps.

Verstappen’s troubles began just four laps into his run. He was on a fast lap, likely to set the session’s best time, then asked the team to get the cooling fans ready, because “I can smell smoke”. He was instructed to pit immediately. The Red Bull team quickly identified an electrical issue with the ERS (Energy Recovery System). The car was deemed unsafe to touch for several minutes due to the electrical fault, complicating the team’s efforts to address the problem. Mechanics eventually had to cut parts of the right-hand sidepod to access the overheating components. The extent of the damage means a significant overnight rebuild for Verstappen’s RB20, with concerns that both mechanical and electrical elements have been compromised.

Despite the tricky conditions, Alonso posted the fastest time of 1:15.810. George Russell followed closely in second, with Lance Stroll in third, indicating a strong performance from Aston Martin. Notably, both Aston Martins were quickest in the final sector, suggesting they were running higher engine modes compared to their rivals, maximizing their speed on the long final straight.

Lewis Hamilton was the quickest through the first two sectors but encountered slow-moving cars on both his attempts to set a fast lap, ultimately finishing in P7. Charles Leclerc managed P4 but faces a potential penalty after starting the session on intermediate tires before the track was officially declared wet, a procedural oversight by Ferrari.

Daniel Ricciardo showed impressive pace in the AlphaTauri, securing P5, while Kevin Magnussen took P6. Yuki Tsunoda continued his consistent form with P8, ahead of Alex Albon in P9. Sergio Pérez had a subdued session, ending up in P10. Carlos Sainz struggled as well, finishing P13, while the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had a difficult time, with Piastri in P16 and Norris at the bottom of the timesheets.

Both McLaren drivers are also set to meet with the stewards for failing to follow the Race Director’s instructions after going off at the chicane. Norris and Piastri rejoined the track without taking the prescribed route, adding to the team’s woes.

The mixed conditions and unexpected incidents led to a session where many drivers found themselves out of their usual positions. The unpredictability of the weather and the challenges it brought have set the stage for an exciting weekend ahead at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

As teams work overnight to prepare for FP3 and qualifying, the spotlight will remain on Red Bull and Verstappen’s recovery efforts. With rain expected to continue affecting the sessions, the Canadian Grand Prix promises to be an unpredictable race, testing the drivers’ skills and the teams’ strategies to the fullest.