Russell Tops Practice for 2025 Canadian GP

(Image credit: @F1)

Mercedes’ George Russell topped Friday Practice for 2025 Canadian Grand Prix. 

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished quickest in FP1 as McLaren struggled for pace, but Russell ultimately set the quickest pace as he topped FP2 on the medium tyres, as McLaren rebounded back in the latter session.

 

FP1

Ready to celebrate their 200th race weekend in F1, Haas were first to hit the track with Esteban Ocon ahead of championship leader, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri although the pair pitted at the end of their outlaps.

Verstappen meanwhile set the early pace with 1m 16.067 but Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar briefly displaced him, before he responded with 1m 14.478 then 1m 14.305 on his next two fliers.

Leclerc however produced 1m 13.885 to go quickest on the soft tyre in the 13th minute, but he spun out at Turn 3 just two minutes later after a lock-up on entry, which sent his Ferrari sliding across the track as he clipped the outside barrier and spun backwards into the inside barrier.

The red flags were subsequently deployed and the session resumed in the 24th minute with Mercedes’ George Russell first back out, whilst Leclerc subsequently was ruled out of FP2 due to the extensive damage to his car.

Verstappen however continued to set the pace as he found 0.022 seconds to go quickest with 1m 18.863 at the half-way mark.

Russell and Sainz shortly afterwards displaced the reigning four-time champion but Verstappen responded with 1m 13.193 in the 38th minute to top the session, as Williams’ Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz found themselves second and third with the top three split by 0.082s.

Position Driver Team Time
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1m 13.193
2 Alex Albon Williams + 0.039
3 Carlos Sainz Williams + 0.082
4 George Russell Mercedes + 0.342
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari + 0.427
6 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls + 0.438
7 Lando Norris McLaren + 0.458
8 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls + 0.544
9 Pierre Gasly Alpine + 0.624
10 Charles Leclerc Ferrari + 0.692
11 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull + 0.734
12 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin + 0.779
13 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes + 0.809
14 Oscar Piastri McLaren + 1.005
15 Lance Stroll Aston Martin + 1.010
16 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber + 1.131
17 Oliver Bearman Haas + 1.327
18 Esteban Ocon Haas + 1.412
19 Franco Colapinto Alpine + 1.452
20 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber + 1,628

 

FP2

Bearman and Hamilton were the first drivers to venture out but it was Colapinto who set the benchmark time of 1m 17.262 but Piastri, Tsunoda, Hamilton and Albon quickly bettered his lap time, before Russell posted 1m 13.482 to go top in the sixth minute.

Moments after Russell had set his fastest lap, Stroll parked up behind the barriers near the entry of the hairpin, having hit the outside wall at Turn 7 which caused his left-front tyre to partially detach itself and end his session after seven minutes.

Verstappen and Norris shortly afterwards went fastest until Albon on the soft tyre posted 1m 13.135 to go top in the tenth minute, but Russell responded with 1m 12.887 just moments later.

Russell eventually lowered his benchmark time to 1m 12.123 on the medium tyre to top the session from Norris by 0.028s as the latter and Antonelli set their quickest laps on softs in second and third positions, whilst Albon finished fourth on the medium tyre.

Verstappen meanwhile finished ninth on medium tyres and 0.543s off the pace behind Alonso, Piastri, Sainz and Hamilton who filled positions 5-8 respectively, as the majority set their quickest lap times on the soft tyre.

Position Driver Team Time
1 George Russell Mercedes 1m 12.123
2 Lando Norris McLaren + 0.028
3 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes + 0.288
4 Alex Albon Williams + 0.322
5 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin + 0.335
6 Oscar Piastri McLaren + 0.439
7 Carlos Sainz Williams + 0.508
8 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari + 0.530
9 Max Verstappen Red Bull + 0.543
10 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls + 0.628
11 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls + 0.676
12 Pierre Gasly Alpine + 0.751
13 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber + 0.773
14 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber + 0.791
15 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull + 0.816
16 Oliver Bearman Haas + 0.957
17 Esteban Ocon Haas + 1.052
18 Franco Colapinto Alpine + 1.775
19 Lance Stroll Aston Martin No Time
20 Charles Leclerc Ferrari No Time

1 Trackback / Pingback

  1. Russell Urges Caution After “positive” Friday Practice at 2025 Canadian GP – Sport Grill

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.