George Russell tops Canadian GP practice, as Charles Leclerc crashes out
George Russell Tops Second Practice at Canadian GP as Charles Leclerc Faces Setback
Mercedes' George Russell delivered an impressive performance in the second practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix, edging out the competition with a fast lap time of 1:12.123 at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc endured a frustrating start to his weekend, crashing heavily in the first session and sitting out the second as his team scrambled to repair the car.
Russell Shines, Leclerc’s Weekend Starts Poorly
The day began with reigning world champion Max Verstappen setting the pace for Red Bull in the opening session with a time of 1:13.193. However, in the afternoon, Russell made his mark, securing the fastest time and showcasing Mercedes' potential ahead of Sunday’s race.
Leclerc's hopes for a strong weekend took a hit when his day ended prematurely after he collided with the wall at the second chicane in FP1, bringing out red flags. The impact caused substantial damage to his Ferrari, with the team later confirming the survival cell would need to be replaced. The incident meant Leclerc missed valuable track time ahead of qualifying.
Stroll Struggles at Home GP
Friday was also not smooth sailing for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who returned for his home grand prix after sitting out the Spanish GP due to hand and wrist pain. Stroll endured a torrid second practice session after crashing at Turn 7 and damaging the front left suspension of his car.
Mercedes’ Confidence Grows
Russell’s performance underlined Mercedes’ growing confidence. His rookie teammate, Kimi Antonelli, added to the Silver Arrows' strong showing by registering the third-fastest time, only 0.288 seconds slower than Russell.
Verstappen Voices Concerns
On the other end of the spectrum, Verstappen struggled in the second session, finishing ninth and voicing concerns about his car over team radio. "The car is jumping like crazy in the rear, like the ride is terrible," Verstappen reported, suggesting Red Bull may still have work to do in fine-tuning their setup.
Strong Showing from McLaren
McLaren’s Lando Norris came closest to toppling Russell in the second practice session, finishing just 0.028 seconds behind the Brit. Norris' teammate, rookie Oscar Piastri, also performed well, finishing seventh and sixth across the two sessions as McLaren tested new upgrades, including a highly anticipated front wing.
Highlights from the Midfield
Williams’ Alex Albon had a solid day, finishing second in the opening session and fourth in the second. However, Albon endured a peculiar moment during FP2 when he missed his garage while attempting to pit, forcing him to complete another lap before returning.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso showed promise for Aston Martin as well, placing fifth in FP2, though Stroll’s crash added to the team’s challenges heading into Saturday.
Historical Rivalry: Russell vs Verstappen
Russell and Verstappen’s shared history at Montreal served as an intriguing backdrop to Friday’s events. Last year, the two qualified with identical times, with Russell securing pole position, only for Verstappen to claim a third consecutive victory at the Canadian GP. Tensions remain high between the pair after their clash in Spain two weeks ago, which left Verstappen narrowly avoiding a race ban.
Expectations for Qualifying
With Mercedes showing strong early form and McLaren proving competitive with their upgrades, the stakes for qualifying on Saturday are high. However, questions remain over Ferrari's ability to bounce back following Leclerc’s crash and Red Bull’s progress in addressing Verstappen’s concerns.
As the midfield tightens and the top contenders continue to battle for supremacy, the Canadian GP is shaping up to be another unpredictable and action-packed weekend in the Formula 1 season.
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