Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the first free practice for the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday. In Montreal, most drivers completed a different program than usual, because rain is expected for the second free practice.
Normally the drivers do short stints in the first practice, but now the long series of laps were tied together that are usually the fixed menu of the second practice. Verstappen did set a fast time, and did so in 1.15.158. This made the Limburger the fastest in a first free practice for the first time in 2022.
Carlos Sainz was second in the Ferrari, 0.246 seconds behind the World Cup leader. Fernando Alonso clocked the third time in the Alpine, three tenths of Verstappen. Remarkably enough, the Spaniard did that on the medium tires, while the drivers around him did their fastest lap on the soft tires.
The training did not go smoothly for Verstappen. First, the Dutchman had to come in because one of his front wheels came off the ground in some corners. That was remedied by an adjustment in the suspension of the car.
Then Verstappen complained about ‘clipping’, which means that the hybrid system on the straight stops spinning earlier than intended.
Top ten first free practice
- 1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1.15,158
- 2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): +0.246
- 3. Fernando Alonso (Alpine): +0.373
- 4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull): +0.461
- 5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.508
- 6. George Russell (Mercedes): +0.664
- 7. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): +0.719
- 8. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): +0.719
- 9. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin): +0.883
- 10. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren): +0.925
New engine for Leclerc
Teammate Sergio Pérez was fourth, more than four tenths behind the Red Bull leader. Charles Leclerc, who has a new engine in Canada, clocked the fifth time.
The training went without major incidents. Esteban Ocon suffered a braking problem early in the session after a plastic bag had blown into his cooler.
A woodchuck escaped death in a frantic attempt to cross the track. The animal was barely hit by the onrushing Ferrari of Sainz, but reached the other side safely.
The second free practice in Canada starts at 11 PM Dutch time.