Leclerc crashes, Russell top in Canadian GP practice
MONTREAL :George Russell set the pace for Mercedes in the second Canadian Grand Prix practice on Friday after Red Bull's Formula One champion Max Verstappen led the opening session at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc sat out the later session after crashing in the first, leaving mechanics plenty of work to repair the car.
Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, who missed the previous race in Spain due to hand and wrist pain, crashed at turn seven in second practice for his home grand prix and smashed the front left suspension.
Russell's time of one minute 12.123 seconds compared to Verstappen's earlier afternoon effort of 1:13.193.
The pair qualified on the front row last year with identical times, with Russell on pole but Verstappen going on to win the race for a third year in a row.
They also clashed in Spain two weekends ago, with Verstappen left on the brink of a ban after driving into the Mercedes.
The Dutch driver was only ninth in Friday's second practice, behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, with McLaren's Lando Norris the closest to Russell and only 0.028 slower.
"The car is jumping like crazy in the rear, like the ride is terrible," reported Verstappen over the radio.
Mercedes' strong form was emphasised by Russell's rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli setting the third best time, 0.288 off the pace.
Runaway championship leaders McLaren had made a comparatively slow start to the weekend until Norris' lap, with Australian Oscar Piastri seventh and sixth and testing upgrades including a new front wing.
Piastri leads Norris by 10 points after nine of the season's 24 rounds.
Williams' Alex Albon was second and fourth in the sessions, but strangely missed his garage when pitting in the second and had to go around again, with teammate Carlos Sainz third and seventh.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso ended the day fifth.
Leclerc brought out the red flags when he hit the wall at the second chicane with 45 minutes remaining, causing extensive damage to his Ferrari. Ferrari said the survival cell needed to be replaced.
($1 = 0.8662 euros)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Former F1 racer Derek Warwick suspended as Canadian GP steward
FIA steward Derek Warwick in conversation on Canadian Grand Prix media day in the paddock on June 12 at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. PHOTO: EPA-EFE MONTREAL – Formula One's governing body suspended former racer Derek Warwick as Canadian Grand Prix steward on June 13 for unauthorised media comments about current drivers. The FIA did not specify what the 70-year-old Briton, who raced from 1981 to 1993, had said but media reports said he had been quoted by a betting platform talking about the Spanish Grand Prix. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen was handed three penalty points in Spain for a collision on June 1 with Mercedes George Russell, a sanction that left the Dutch driver one point away from a ban. 'Following recent unauthorised media comments, the FIA has taken the decision to suspend Derek Warwick from his duties as driver steward for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix,' the governing body said in a statement. 'He will be replaced by Enrique Bernoldi, who will be officiating from the remote operations centre in Geneva for the remainder of the event. 'After discussion Derek acknowledges that his comments were ill-advised in his role as an FIA steward and has apologised. Derek will resume his duties as a steward in the forthcoming Austrian Grand Prix.' Warwick is the second steward to be dropped this season for unauthorised comments, with compatriot Johnny Herbert suffering that fate in January because his work as a media pundit was declared incompatible with the role. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Straits Times
Former F1 racer Warwick suspended as Canadian GP steward
MONTREAL - Formula One's governing body suspended former racer Derek Warwick as Canadian Grand Prix steward on Friday for unauthorised media comments about current drivers. The FIA did not specify what the 70-year-old Briton, who raced from 1981 to 1993, had said but media reports said Warwick had been quoted by a betting platform talking about the Spanish Grand Prix. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen was handed three penalty points in Spain for a collision on June 1 with Mercedes George Russell, a sanction that left the Dutch driver one point away from a ban. "Following recent unauthorised media comments, the FIA has taken the decision to suspend Derek Warwick from his duties as driver steward for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix," the governing body said in a statement. "He will be replaced by Enrique Bernoldi who will be officiating from the remote operations centre in Geneva for the remainder of the event. "After discussion Derek acknowledges that his comments were ill-advised in his role as an FIA steward and has apologised. Derek will resume his duties as a steward in the forthcoming Austrian Grand Prix." Warwick is the second steward to be dropped this year for unauthorised comments, with compatriot Johnny Herbert suffering that fate in January because his work as a media pundit was declared incompatible with the role. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur launches scathing attack on Italian media reports
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has called on the media not to be too harsh on his team members. MONTREAL – Ferrari team chief Fred Vasseur on June 13 launched a scathing attack on Italian media amid speculation that threatens to undermine him and stability at the scarlet Scuderia. Speaking at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where Ferrari have a been a focus of attention ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix after a disappointing start to the season, he was defiant and made clear his feelings on stories that claim his future is in doubt. 'First, I have to stay calm because (if not) I will have to talk to the stewards,' he said. 'It's some Italian media. It's not all Italian media. And it's not all about myself, I think, because this, I can manage. It's more about the people of the team. To throw their name like this, I think it's just disrespectful for them, for the family.' He added: 'It's really hurting the team. At one stage, it's a lack of focus. When you are fighting for the championship, every single detail makes a difference.' Vasseur agreed that as Ferrari team principal he knew he would be exposed to scrutiny. 'I knew when I joined, when I took the position, that you are exposed, this I think it's quite easy to manage, but for me it's more for the people of the team,' he reiterated. 'They are working very hard – to decide one day that this one will be replaced, that one will be replaced, this one is useless... 'Honestly, it's very, very harsh because these journalists – and I'm not putting everybody in the same basket – they have to consider that these people, they have family. 'They have wives, they have kids, and this is completely unrespectful. Now, I don't want to speak any more about this stupid (subject).' Vasseur's outburst followed a similar reaction from seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton on June 12, when the British driver gave his complete backing to Vasseur and Ferrari, and came only minutes after Red Bull team boss Christian Horner had quashed rumours he was moving to Ferrari. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Horner said: 'There are so many rumours, but I'm not going anywhere. 'I'm fully committed to Red Bull. We've got so much good stuff coming through the pipeline. We're on the verge of launching our own engine for 2026 which has been a massive project and undertaking. 'Of course, it's always flattering to be associated with other teams, particularly teams like Ferrari, but I'm not going anywhere, not even to Alpine!' Meanwhile in other news, Max Verstappen sees no need to change the way he goes racing despite the threat of a race ban hanging over him at the Canadian Grand Prix. Red Bull's four-time world champion is a penalty point away from triggering the automatic ban after a controversial collision with Mercedes rival George Russell at the previous Spanish Grand Prix. Speaking to reporters, Verstappen said the situation changed nothing for him. 'Why should I?' he said, when asked about racing differently. 'I mean, I cannot just back out of everything. I'm just going to race like I always do. I trust myself,' added the Dutch driver, who has recognised what he did in Spain was wrong and should not have happened. 'Everyone makes mistakes in life. Everyone learns from them and we just move on from it,' he added. Asked whether he deserved to be on the brink of exclusion, a situation he recognised as 'not ideal', Verstappen shrugged. 'What is fair? Is it fair that I'm on 11 (penalty) points? I don't know. But at the same time, life is not fair. If you look at it like that, I don't worry about it,' he said. 'I just come here to race, and I will always race hard, race how I think I should race and then we go on to the next race.' AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
