F1 Canadian GP live commentary and updates - sprint qualifying

Hamilton gets a dab of oppo through Turn 2, and then some traffic through Turn 5. His first sector is still better than Leclerc thus far, as is the second, and he sets a 1m15.459s. Probably will need another go, as Leclerc backs off. 

Medium tyres for SQ1 and 2, and they might need a second prep lap.

Both Liam Lawson and Alex Albon will not take part in sprint qualifying following their respective issues and crashes in practice.

It also looks like the delay chatter was a bit off-base, it had come up in race control earlier but looks like we'll get going on time.

Not too far off for sprint qualifying now, it'd usually start in five minutes - no word on the length of the delay just yet.

Here's a thing to read in the meantime.

Formula 1

How McLaren’s early years set the team on the path to success

On the 60th anniversary of McLaren’s world championship grand prix debut, we look back at how an ambitious young driver and a hand-picked group of friends took on the world’s best

Sprint quali delay

There will be a small delay to ensure that F1 teams get the full three hours between practice and SQ1. 

Time was added back onto practice, following Lawson's and Albon's red flags.

Racing Bulls hoping to get Lawson out for SQ1

Liam Lawson lost most of free practice due to a hydraulic problem, with the team summoned to the stewards for a potential technical infringement - as his neutral button did not work when the marshals tried to move his car.

VCARB team principal Alan Permane confirmed the issue, and hoped that the team was able to solve it before sprint qualifying begins.

"It's very frustrating. And especially in a sprint weekend, it’s tough to lose the car so early on. Hydraulic leak. As I came up here, we didn’t have the car back yet, so I don’t know how serious it is.

"It could be something very simple and we’re out comfortably for the next session, or it could be something a bit more terminal. So, yeah, watch this space.
 
"If we can get him out for sprint quali, I think we would then turn the weekend, as we have done a little bit with both cars. It’s very difficult for us to score points in a sprint. 

"We managed it in Shanghai with a nice strategy for the sprint, with a nice tyre strategy. But I think with the way that the top four cars are, that locks out all the points. So what we had said, and I had said it especially to Arvid, we should treat P1, sprint Qualifying and the sprint a little bit like P1, P2 and P3, and make sure we’re absolutely nailed on ready for qualifying on Saturday evening."

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Mekies 'not concerned' Verstappen could follow Lambiase to McLaren

With silly season open for service for 2027's contract cycle, Laurent Mekies was asked if Max Verstappen could realistically leave Red Bull - and join his McLaren-bound race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

Mekies refuted that idea.

"No, I’m not concerned with Max following GP. We always have this joke. We are not going to ask Max every week if he’s going to stay. Max is telling us he’s happy at Red Bull.

"He is involved in every strategic decision we are making. He is at the heart of the project. He is pushing with us and we both want the same thing: getting back to a more competitive package. And he is central to that."

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal

Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Sprint Qualifying in Montreal: coming soon!

Hello again! In just an hour's time, sprint qualifying will be up and running in Montreal. 

And, after an interrupted practice session, it's still not entirely certain where everyone stacks up...except Mercedes, presumably.

George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images