Practice 1 Report - Norris tops truncated FP1

Charles Leclerces
© Ferrari

Lando Norris set the fastest time in a truncated first practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix as severe weather conditions played a significant role, leaving teams and drivers scrambling for meaningful running time.

A heavy downpour, accompanied by hail, struck the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve just 45 minutes before the start of the session, flooding several parts of the track. This led to a delayed start, with the first 21 minutes seeing the pit exit closed, effectively shortening the session to 39 minutes.

As the session finally got underway, half the field initially ventured out on Full Wet and Intermediate tyres to navigate the still-damp circuit. However, just ten minutes in, the red flag was waved when Zhou Guanyu lost control of his Sauber exiting Turn 5. The Chinese driver collided with the wall on the left-hand side of the track, damaging both wheels and coming to a stop at the entry of Turn 6. After a brief stoppage, the track reopened six minutes later.

With conditions improving, most drivers switched to Intermediate tyres, but a dry line quickly emerged in Sectors 2 and 3. This development left teams in a dilemma between maximizing track time and conserving their Intermediate tyres for later sessions.

As the clock ticked down, Ferrari sent both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz out on slick tyres with six minutes remaining. Eventually, 19 drivers completed at least one lap on the Soft compound. Tyre warm-up proved challenging, with optimal temperatures only reached by the third timed lap. Benefiting from being among the first to switch to slicks, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz posted the session’s two fastest times.

Charles Leclerc was on course to eclipse both Norris and Sainz by over a second but encountered traffic on the final straight, forcing him to back off and settle for third. The Monegasque driver expressed frustration at the missed opportunity, as several cars occupied the full width of the track.

The final minute of the session saw a sudden burst of rain around Turns 7 and 8, causing a flurry of incidents. Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, and Logan Sargeant all went off-track, but fortunately avoided hitting the barriers, resulting in no further damage.

Despite the challenging conditions, the session provided a glimpse of the weekend’s competitive order. McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull occupied the top six positions. Pierre Gasly and Valtteri Bottas managed to break into the top ten, followed by Sergio Pérez and George Russell.

However, the session was particularly disappointing for Jack Doohan. The young Australian, stepping in for Esteban Ocon at Alpine for this session, completed only three out/in laps and did not set a competitive time. Alpine’s cautious approach to avoid damage in the tricky conditions left Doohan with little to show for his efforts.

The unpredictable weather has made it difficult to gauge the true performance of the teams, setting the stage for an intriguing weekend ahead. With more rain forecasted, drivers and teams will need to stay on their toes as they navigate the challenges posed by the Canadian Grand Prix.

As the paddock prepares for the next practice sessions, all eyes will be on the skies, hoping for a break in the weather that will allow for clearer running and a better understanding of the competitive landscape.