After a weekend break to recover from the triple-header, the Formula 1 returns to the track in Canada for FP1; free practice that saw Verstappen close the session in front of everyone followed by an excellent Williams with Albon and Sainz. Not a productive session for Leclerc, who after 15 minutes ended up in the wall damaging his car. McLaren, on the other hand, struggles, with a new front wing, with Norris only seventh and Piastri 14th.
Back on track in Canada: FP1 begins
The first session of the weekend in Canada is on track with FP1 and there are immediately many cars wanting to try out the track. Piastri's McLaren comes out of the pits with "rakes" on the front of the car in view of some front wing updates brought to Montreal. In Canada, most of the drivers are on track in this FP1 with red tyres, including the two Ferraris, Verstappen and Norris.
After just over two minutes, the first yellow flag was shown due to Franco Colapinto's spin, without consequences, in turn 2. Not the start to the session that the Argentine was hoping for, still looking for the best sensations in this 2025.
The track, with little grip up to this point since it is not used during the rest of the year, improves as the drivers lap. After just over 10 minutes from the start of FP1 Leclerc is in front of everyone, followed by Russell and Norris, while Piastri is slower, having in the meantime freed himself from the rakes.
Leclerc hits the wall after 15 minutes: Ferrari damaged
The Monegasque driver, however, was the protagonist of an accident between turns 3 and 4. Leclerc braked late, locking his tires and arriving long in the right-hand bend. Instead of going into the escape route, he decided to cut through turn 4, passing through the grass, and at that moment he hit the wall with his front left: session over for the Ferrari talent.
With just over 35 minutes to go in the session, the red flag comes out and the drivers can get back on track. The track, as already written, with little grip causes difficulties for many drivers: Russell and Norris go long, cutting across the grass, while Hamilton's Ferrari spins at turn 10 before the long straight.
In the second half of FP1 Verstappen takes the lead
At half time Russell, who is equipped with a new Power Unit as well as a brake air duct specifically for Canada, is in first place, behind him in this FP1 Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris and Sainz. Noteworthy is Piastri in eleventh position and Hamilton only sixteenth. The Englishman thus sets off for a new fast lap, climbing to sixth position, almost 7 tenths from the first time set by his former teammate at Mercedes.
The drivers continue to try fast laps with the red tyre and so, thanks to the track that slowly begins to rubberize, the times drop. Max Verstappen climbs to first position stopping the clock at 1.13.193, while the two Williams complete the provisional top 3 with Albon and Sainz separated by less than a tenth. Hamilton climbs to fifth position and Hadjar to sixth.
The two McLarens are missing from the roll call, outside the top 10. The Woking team, first with rakes on Piastri's car and then with paint on Norris's, seem only interested in having answers regarding the new updates rather than setting an interesting time.
In the final minutes there is time to test the race pace and so the times are not further lowered, with the exception of Norris who pushes up to seventh position. The session in Canada of FP1 ends with the following top 10: Verstappen, Albon, Sainz, Russell, Hamilton, Hadjar, Norris, Lawson, Gasly and Leclerc.
The next appointment is with the second free practice at 23:00 Italian time.
