Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Live text
Formula 1 Canadian GP

F1 Canadian GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying

Saturday’s action from the eight round of the 2023 Formula 1 season.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23

Max Verstappen leads the drivers’ standings by 53 points from Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, following his latest win in Spain coupled with the Mexican’s fourth place finish behind both Mercedes drivers.

Lewis Hamilton topped Friday practice in a Mercedes 1-2, on a mixed up day which saw first practice effectively cancelled due to a track CCTV systems issues which necessitated second practice to be extended to 90 minutes to make up for lost track time.

Final practice starts at 5:30pm BST with qualifying starting at 9pm BST.

Live Text

Sort by
With less than four minutes remaining, drivers are stopping for a fresh set of intermediates. With the track completely dry in certain areas, there must be some that are beginning to be tempted by the slick options.
An incident of impeding from Tsunoda on Leclerc has been noted by the stewards. Leclerc is currently third.
Russell has been struggling in the session so far but improves from P19 to P4 with his latest effort.
No further action against Zhou, reports the FIA. An investigation was launched following his early stoppage in Q1.
Hamilton makes amends for his earlier off with a time good enough for fourth. However, with the track improving rapidly, he is already down to sixth and falling.
Seven minutes remain as the game of cat and mouse between Verstappen - now top again with a 1m21.988 - and Alonso. 

Norris is up to third from Leclerc.
A moment for Hamilton as he takes a trip across the grass and sees his time - which was not at all competitive - deleted. Perez and Leclerc have also both made use off the runoff.
But now Alonso takes to the top - or he did, before Verstappen punches a new best of 1m22.843s!
De Vries somehow manages to exceed track limits and has his time deleted.
Perez goes second but Sargeant and Albon quickly displace the second Red Bull driver!
Purple for Verstappen through all three sectors and he goes to the top with a 1m24.106s.

Zhou asks: "Are we sure the problem is fixed?"

The answer from Alfa Romeo is positive, but only time will tell! 

Despite the wait, Verstappen and Perez have gone straight to the pit exit. This could be because rain is imminent!
While we wait for the session to resume, replays have shown that both Piastri and De Vries ran off the track at turn one before the red flags were displayed.
Zhou is now moving again and is making use of the red flag to trundle around the track and back to his garage. His session may not be over!
Zhou will start at the back of the grid on Sunday, but this is dreadful luck for the rest of the field. If rain falls now, it will be difficult to best the three drivers already on the board!
Demonstrating the lack of grip, Alonso loses the rear of his Aston Martin out of the hairpin but recovers the moment and begins his opening lap of the session.
A problem for Zhou already as he reports: "I've lost drive and power."
Albon and Sargeant lead the queue out of the pits as Q1 begins!
With the track possibly in the best condition it will be this hour, there is somewhat of a rush to get to the end of the pitlane ahead of the rest.
We are now just three minutes from the start of qualifying and the sky is getting darker. With the walls menacingly close, it is unlikely that Sainz will end the session as the only driver to have given them a friendly handshake with a tyre!
And secondly, Leclerc will now be able to wear his Gilles Villeneuve tribute helmet, after the Canadian's family gave permission. The full story is here - https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/surprised-villeneuve-family-clears-leclerc-to-use-tribute-helmet/10484229/
But it's not all doom and gloom, especially if you are a fan of Ferrari. The first positive for the Scuderia is that Sainz will take part in qualifying after repairs on his car have been completed.
A major talking point this weekend has so far been the rain. And if you were hoping for a dry session, it's bad news. Rain is expected within the next 10 minutes, with the official chance during the session at 90%!
Good evening, and welcome to Autosport's coverage of qualifying for the Canadian GP. I'm Sam Hall, and I shall be your guide through the running from a damp, cold Montreal.
With that, we'll take a breather ahead of qualifying. Join us just before 9pm BST for all the build-up for what should be a thrilling Canadian GP quali.
Here's the full report on FP3: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-canadian-gp-fp3-report/10484185/
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

All eyes will now be on the forecast for the next couple of hours to see what conditions will be like for qualifying. It is set to be a thriller!
The chequered flag is out but nobody is around to take it. So that's your lot. Verstappen tops final practice from Leclerc and Alonso.

By: Autosport Staff

Published: