McLaren's Lando Norris Tops Rain-Affected First Practice Session in Montréal
McLaren's Lando Norris led the timesheets in a rain-disrupted opening practice session for the 2024 FIA Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.
A heavy hailstorm prior to the session's start led to a delay, as track workers cleared standing water from the newly resurfaced Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Though the session began on time, the pit lane remained closed for the first 21 minutes.
Once the pit lane opened, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton ventured out on Intermediate Pirelli tires, soon followed by Sauber's Valtteri Bottas on full Wets. Bottas quickly switched to Intermediates as conditions improved. However, the session was soon red-flagged when Bottas' teammate, Zhou Guanyu, aquaplaned off at Turn 5, hitting the wall and damaging the rear left corner of his car.
As the session resumed, light rain returned briefly but then cleared, allowing a dry line to form. Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull initially led the timesheets before Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc alternated at the top.
In the final minutes, with the track drying quickly, Leclerc set a benchmark time on Soft tires. However, Norris outpaced him with a lap of 1:24.435 to secure P1. Sainz then surpassed his teammate, with Hamilton in fourth and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in fifth. Oscar Piastri, in the second McLaren, finished sixth, followed by Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Bottas. Sergio Pérez, who recently extended his Red Bull contract, finished ninth, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the top ten.
20. **Alexander Albon** (Williams/Mercedes) - No Time
Post a Comment