F1 Canadian GP Live Commentary and Updates – FP3 & Qualifying
Saturday's action from the ninth round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Following Friday’s mixed conditions, all eyes will be on the weather to see how it will impact Saturday’s action.
Lewis Hamilton put Mercedes on top during a dry FP3, with Max Verstappen and George Russell filling out the top three positions.
Qualifying starts at 9pm BST (4pm local time) in Montreal.
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To the top goes Alonso with a 1m14.870s. Verstappen is on a flyer at the moment though...
Bottas too makes use of some of the runoff when being somewhat baulked by a McLaren on a slow lap.
Albon just about keeps his Williams moving after having a snap of oversteer and running across the grass at the Turn 8-9 chicane. He questions if there is something wrong with the brakes as 'everything feels off'.
Perhaps highlighting that the times shouldn't be paid much attention at this stage, Magnussen moves up to P2, although 0.7s back on Verstappen.
But that has now changed, with Verstappen making the final chicane this time and crossing the line with a 1m15.495s.
Before the first laps in the resumed session land, let's just take a moment to praise Alpine for the 1-2 the team currently enjoys, with Gasly leading Ocon.
After a quick cleanup, the cars are now headed back onto the track.
While we wait for green flag running to resume, the FIA is ready to listen to team concerns about Formula 1’s 2026 car plans, and will likely make changes to the rules over the next months to improve them.
Replays show how Zhou lost the rear through Turn 1 and was helpless to avoid heading to the scene of the incident.
"I have no idea what is happening. It's just so strange. The car just locked up the rears."
That is the second red flag that Zhou has caused this weekend after striking the walls in the wet conditions on Friday.
Red flag! Zhou has lost the rear of his Sauber and has made contact with the barriers on the outside of Turn 2.
Having scrubbed their hard tyres with an installation lap, both McLaren drivers have now switched to the medium compound.
But there's Gasly! A rare moment at the top for Alpine this year as he puts in a 1m16.412s.
A snap of oversteer costs Verstappen and it is instead Perez who goes to the top of the times in the opening exchanges - a 1m18.096s is the early target.
Currently, only the two Haas drivers have been kept in the garage.
Such is the slow pace with which the drivers are exiting the pitlane, Verstappen has begun his first hot lap while some drivers are still making their way onto the track.
Medium tyres are the early favourite compound, although Piastri and Norris have opted for hard rubber.
The queue at the end of the pitlane is made up of the vast majority of the field - although it was headed by the two Red Bull drivers.
Final practice is go!
Less than two minutes to go and we will have cars on the track.
Verstappen was relegated to a spectator role for much of FP2 after a suspected electrical issue forced him back into the garage. The Red Bull driver has time to make up with McLaren and Ferrari breathing down his team's neck.
He is, however, "concerned" about the implications of the problem.
McLaren showed strong pace in FP1 with Norris topping the order. Could a second career victory be on the cards this weekend?
Continuing weather talk, there is a band of rain approaching the circuit which is due to arrive at 4pm. However, the risk of it actually striking is reducing - 20% chance is the figure currently being banded about.
Given all of the disruption to Friday's running, it is unsurprising that the fastest man of the weekend so far, Fernando Alonso, is eyeing up a "gamble" that could bring success.
Unlike on Friday, the weather for this session looks favourable, although the rain is expected to strike for qualifying.
Good afternoon and welcome to Montreal for final practice at the Canadian Grand Prix.
By: Autosport Staff
