F1 Canadian GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2
Friday's action from the ninth round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
F1 returns to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where all eyes will be on Red Bull and how the RB20 is able to ride the kerbs after Max Verstappen conceded that finding a fix would 'take time'.
With McLaren and Ferrari noticeably closing the points gap in both the drivers' and constructors' championships, the Montreal race presents a chance to add further pressure to current leaders, Red Bull.
FP1 starts at 18:30 BST (13:30 local time) followed by FP2 at 22:00 BST (17:00 local time).
Live Text
In the team boss press conference earlier, McLaren’s Andrea Stella summed up the angst: “The cars are not fast enough in the corners and too fast on the straights. These two aspects needs to be rebalanced.”
Off the track there is another storm brewing over the 2026 regulations that were published on Thursday. F1 team bosses are due to meet this weekend to discuss concerns about the incoming rules. Full story here.
If you missed the opening session, firstly, where were you?! Best catch up on all the action here.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
F1 reporter Filip Cleeren has become a part-time weatherman for us in Montreal: "Light drizzle right now, 80% chance of rain in FP2 and still heavy gusts of wind."
We're back! Did you miss us? FP2 is coming up in 15 minutes and everyone is looking to the sky with good reason...
With that, we'll take a short breather ahead of FP2 which starts at 10pm BST. See you soon!
Here's the full story on an eventful FP1 topped by Norris.
Lando Norris, McLaren MCL38
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
You've got to feel for Doohan, as his FP1 outing results in three laps: an installation lap in the wet, an out-lap and an in-lap. Not a lot would've been learned from that.
So, Norris takes the top spot glory from both Ferraris. Given the changeable conditions, it is hard to pick out too much from that session in terms of pace or who is on form. FP2 will hopefully provide a clearer picture later on.
The TV replays reveal Verstappen, Sargeant and Stroll also got caught out at Turn 8 - more drivers going off than staying on track! But thankfully no major harm done for any of them.
Ricciardo, Bottas and Verstappen have all got caught out on the damp patches in the braking zone for Turn 8, with the Sauber driver having the biggest off with a spin through the wet grass. Fortunately he stops shortly before hitting the wall.
Or not, as Norris posts a 1m24.435s to steal the show, as Sainz goes second to push Leclerc to third.
The chequered flag is out, with everyone bar Zhou on track to at least get a practice start completed in these conditions. Leclerc looks set to top the session from Hamilton.
Leclerc slides through Turn 1, hitting the wet patches, and skates over the grass to wreck his run. It is a fine line between hero and zero in these conditions.
Curious that the four race winners so far this year all headed out first. It has left most others coming out a few minutes later, meaning they'll only get three or four laps in.
Leclerc, Norris, Verstappen and Sainz break the track silence as they all switch to the soft tyres. It'll feel sketchy on these opening laps, but this will be valuable running with five minutes to go.
Latest from trackside: "We've braved a big puddle to get to the exit of Turn 2. A dry line is already starting to form as the water evaporates in a rolling steamy haze. The new surface seems very quick to dry out, so that's something to be aware of if the rest of the weekend is variable."
Not live scenes in FP1 - because everyone is back in the pits. It looks like they are all waiting for it to dry up enough for slick tyres.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Ferrari tells Sainz it expects rain in FP2 so it opts to pit both drivers in order to keep hold off its intermediate tyres. In truth, it looks almost time for dry tyres in this session.
Sainz takes over at the top with a 1m27.485s, to edge team-mate Leclerc by 0.075s. Both Aston Martins are out which means we've seen all 20 drivers on track that are taking part in this session.
Leclerc puts in a 1m27.560s to go over a second quicker than anyone else. But we are still missing lap times from nine drivers.
The times are tumbling, as Hamilton goes fastest from Sainz with a 1m29.207s. Everyone is still on intermediates.
We've got 10 cars on track but still no sign of either Aston Martin at all in this session. Come on team green!
Norris locks up at the hairpin and runs off, but with plenty of room he's able to avoid a messy situation. The sun is beating down on the track now, so it should dry up quickly.
Zhou was caught out by his car aquaplaning and despite catching the car before it hit the wall the slide was too great and so into the barrier he went. His Sauber has been recovered and off we go again.
Replays show what happened to Zhou: under power the car slipped out from his control and bolted left at Turn 5, hitting the wall with both front and rear left wheels. His car is recovered by the marshals but that's his session done.
Ah, red flag. Zhou has met one of the walls and stopped on track. That halts any further progress.
Doohan is one of the takers for an exploratory lap in Ocon's Alpine, as Bottas goes quickest with a 1m33.215s.
It is a slow pitstop for Sauber so it appears their issues haven't been fully resolved. Meanwhile, plenty more drivers are on the track as the sun pops out from the clouds.
Hamilton provides the first lap time of the day, a 1m40.077s, just the 15 seconds off the optimum pace in the wet! Norris, Zhou, Hulkenberg and Magnussen have joined the track action, while Bottas swaps his wets for inters.
Bottas joins Hamilton on an exploratory lap, but he is on the full wets. To no surprise it is still soaking wet out there, as the cars push up huge tails of spray. But this will help improve things as the session progresses.
Off we go! Hamilton is the first taker, out on the intermediate tyres. Who needs wet tyres?
Good news from the FIA: The pitlane will open in one minute! Hooray!
More from trackside: "It's starting to rain again. There's a pair of Aston Martins out on track - but not the kind we'd be hoping for. Someone get me an umbrella?"
The FIA has indicated it aims to open the pitlane in eight minutes as the water-clearing trucks return to the paddock.
As the rain returns, the conditions aren't stopping the marmots from continuing with their days, as two are spotted on the grass on the edge of the track close to Turn 13. Don't get too comfortable, little guys!
By: Autosport Staff
