P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The F1 championship leader was off the pace on Friday in Montreal as George Russell led the way.
In FP2, Oscar Piastri finished in a lowly sixth place, marking the first time this season the Australian failed to reach the top three. Fernando Alonso surprised everyone by securing fifth place, which was a positive development for Aston Martin following Lance Stroll’s crash.
Mercedes continued to show strong performance with George Russell leading the way, closely followed by Kimi Antonelli and Alex Albon. Russell’s leading time set him up as a potential contender for pole position in the Canadian Grand Prix, with Lando Norris in close pursuit.
Unfortunately, Charles Leclerc missed the session after damaging his Ferrari, requiring a new chassis. McLaren also faced challenges, with Norris only making it to P2 at the end of the session on soft tires.
Max Verstappen’s leading time was quickly surpassed in ideal conditions, showcasing the competitiveness of the field. Lance Stroll’s session ended prematurely due to damage on his car, leaving him at the bottom of the standings without setting a lap time.
Overall, George Russell’s strong performance hinted at a potential back-to-back pole position, while McLaren faced unexpected struggles during the Friday session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
