Antonelli leads – Kimi Antonelli set the pace in the sole Free Practice for the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing on a 1m 13.402s after a session repeatedly interrupted by three red flags. The running came with mechanical trouble for multiple drivers, including Franco Colapinto’s
Kimi Antonelli didn’t just look quick in Free Practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He looked quick through the noise.
As soon as the pit lane lights turned green at 12:30 local time. all 22 cars headed out for the one-hour session before Sprint Qualifying later on Friday. and the track immediately handed out lessons the hard way. Within the opening five minutes. Franco Colapinto’s Alpine stopped behaving—he radioed that “my throttle is not working” after getting back to the pit lane. The team then worked to rectify an electrical issue on the power unit.
Drivers still tried to push the 2.71-mile circuit early. Lando Norris sailed into the run-off area at the final chicane. and Max Verstappen dipped a wheel onto the grass at the exit of Turn 7. Red Bull still found pace: Verstappen occupied P1 with a 1m 15.895s on the Pirelli hard tyre as the 10-minute mark approached—until a Virtual Safety Car was deployed.
Before anyone could settle into rhythm, the session started breaking again. Liam Lawson brought his Racing Bulls machine to a halt through Turn 5 with a mechanical issue. His stricken car was recovered under a short red flag, and four minutes of additional time were added.
When action resumed, there was still a clear lack of grip as the circuit remained “incredibly dirty.” Oscar Piastri skipped the final chicane, and Lewis Hamilton briefly cut across the grass through the Turn 8/9 chicane while everyone fought to find traction.
At 20 minutes, George Russell headed the order with a 1m 15.760s. Then Antonelli answered—posting a 1m 15.414s to move just over one-tenth clear of Russell. Piastri then went lower than anyone else had managed so far. dipping below 1m 15s on the hard tyre with a 1m 14.963s. But the second red flag arrived after nearly 25 minutes, stopping the momentum again.
More disruption followed. Alex Albon’s session ended on the exit of Turn 7 after hitting a groundhog. leaving significant damage to his Williams with little time for repairs ahead of Sprint Qualifying. The session was extended by a further 15 minutes due to the delay as the majority of drivers continued with the hard tyre once the track went green.
When the Mercedes drivers finally began trading quickest laps, it became a personal contest as much as a team one. Antonelli lowered the best time to a 1m 14.392s on the hard tyre. while other moments of risk continued: Norris cut across the grass at the Turn 3/4 chicane and regained the track unharmed. Verstappen also went off at Turn 8. and Antonelli went deep at Turn 1.
Russell was the first of the leading runners to use the soft tyre with just over 15 minutes remaining. He comfortably went quickest on a 1m 13.850s, and Antonelli immediately followed with a 1m 13.402s—the session-best time that kept him ahead of Russell.
But even the fastest laps came with near misses. Russell ran deep at Turn 1 with his next effort, cut the track before improving, then suffered a spin and tapped the barrier at Turn 2 before rejoining unharmed.
Esteban Ocon had the kind of crash teams don’t want to see only minutes before qualification. His Haas was left with its nose destroyed after a head-on collision with the barrier following a spin on the exit of Turn 4. A third red flag was deployed to recover debris. Ocon was also noted for passing a red light at the end of the pit lane as the session resumed for less than one minute.
When the dust settled on the timing screens, the top group reflected the Mercedes advantage: Leclerc (Ferrari), Verstappen and Norris trailed the leading cars. The top 10 was completed by Piastri, Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin.
Behind them, the midfield picture filled out quickly. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto led Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), with Ocon, Albon and the second Williams of Carlos Sainz next. The order continued with Pierre Gasly (Alpine) in P16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin). Lawson. Haas’ Ollie Bearman. the two Cadillacs of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez. and finally Colapinto. who finished last after not setting a time.
For Antonelli, it was a statement performance in a session where the track—and the timetable—refused to stay stable. For Russell, it was a close run that still left him chasing. And for everyone else. the same question hung over the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve: with only a single hour of practice and Sprint Qualifying coming. how much confidence could they truly pull from laps interrupted so many times?.
Antonelli Russell Canadian Grand Prix Free Practice Sprint Qualifying Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Mercedes Red flags Colapinto Lawson Ocon Hamilton Norris Verstappen