Verstappen Paces Challenging Canadian GP FP1 Session Marked by Leclerc Crash

Formula 1's Canadian Grand Prix weekend began with a dramatic and tricky first practice session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where world champion Max Verstappen ultimately set the fastest time. However, the session was notably affected by a slippery track surface, leading to multiple incidents and a red flag. The lack of grip on the cool Montreal circuit caught out several drivers early on. Alpine test driver Franco Colapinto experienced an early spin, setting the tone for a session where finding the limit proved difficult. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was an unfortunate casualty, locking up and colliding with the wall at Turn 3 just fifteen minutes into the session. The accident damaged his car and brought out a red flag, ending his running prematurely after he had briefly held the top spot. Leclerc later described it as a driver error. Beyond Leclerc's significant incident, drivers across the field were seen struggling. George Russell and Lando Norris both took excursions onto the grass, while Lewis Hamilton had a full spin at the hairpin. Despite these moments, most drivers managed to keep their cars out of serious trouble. Following the red flag interruption, the battle for the top of the timesheets intensified. Mercedes' George Russell initially went fastest on the softest tyre compound, before Carlos Sainz briefly moved ahead. Max Verstappen then responded, setting a lap time of 1m13.193s which would ultimately stand as the fastest of the session. Remarkably, Alex Albon placed his Williams second, just 0.039 seconds behind Verstappen, showcasing unexpected pace from the Grove-based team. However, team principal James Vowles indicated that Williams was running a different programme, suggesting their true competitive position might be different later in the weekend. Carlos Sainz finished the session in third, with Russell fourth and Hamilton fifth, despite his earlier spin. The session also saw promising runs from the RB drivers, with Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson finishing sixth and eighth respectively. Pierre Gasly was ninth for Alpine, while Leclerc rounded out the top ten based on his early lap before the crash. Other drivers experiencing minor moments included Oscar Piastri and several rookies participating in the session, such as Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Oliver Bearman. Overall, the opening practice session provided a stern test for the teams and drivers on the low-grip surface, hinting at a potentially challenging weekend ahead in Montreal.