F1 practice LIVE: Canadian Grand Prix updates and times as Max Verstappen goes fastest in FP1
Follow the first practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as the build-up to the Canadian Grand Prix continues
Follow live F1 coverage as the Canadian Grand Prix weekend kicks off with free practice sessions one and two in Montreal.
The big news of the week is the FIA’s decision to “reduce or eliminate” porpoising on the advice of its medical team - just days after Lewis Hamilton suffered with severe back pain in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hamilton required assistance to get out of his Mercedes after his car bounced up and down at high speed throughout last Sunday’s race.
Mercedes ran their machines close to the ground in Baku to produce lower downforce. But the move exaggerated the bouncing, and under the FIA’s new technical directive, Mercedes might be required to raise the ride height of their cars which could further slow them down.
At the front of the grid, Max Verstappen will be hoping to extend his lead over chief title rival Charles Leclerc after he took full advantage of the Ferrari driver retiring last weekend with the race victory.
Follow all the latest updates as we build towards this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix:
Lewis Hamilton admits he is ‘gutted’ with qualifying in fifth for British Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton admitted he was “gutted” that he could only qualify in fifth for the British Grand Prix after a chaotic qualifying session in the rain.
The seven-time world champion had shown promise in a highly upgraded Mercedes car on Friday and, having won eight times at Silverstone, he would have hoped for a place close to the front row of the grid as the elements played their part yesterday afternoon.
But the 37-year-old could only put his car on the third row and revealed his disappointment after showing signs of general improvement over the weekend, insisting he was “gunning for second at least”.
“From fifth is going to be tough,” he said.
More below:
Lewis Hamilton ‘gutted’ with qualifying in fifth for British Grand Prix
Hamilton – an eight-time winner at Silverstone – could qualify only fifth ahead of Sunday’s race
Meanwhile, in the Formula 2 race earlier...
A scary incident on the first lap of the Formula 2 race earlier, with Dennis Hauger being lifted up into the air via the sausage kerb and landing on top of Roy Nisanny’s car, with the halo device on top of the cockpit preventing a potentially fatal injury.
Both drivers walked away from the incident uninjured.
Lewis Hamilton does not condone Silverstone supporters booing Max Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton said his fans are still carrying the pain of last season’s championship defeat after Max Verstappen was subjected to a chorus of boos ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
Hamilton will line up in fifth place at Silverstone, three spots behind Verstappen. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took advantage of the damp conditions to secure his maiden pole in his 150th Formula One appearance.
Nearly seven months have passed since the deeply controversial season-ending round in Abu Dhabi where Hamilton was denied a record eighth world championship. But emotions are still raw for his legion of supporters.
As Verstappen emerged from his Red Bull and stepped forward to conduct his post-qualifying interview – reserved for the top-three drivers – he was subjected to a hostile reception.
Lewis Hamilton does not condone Silverstone supporters booing Max Verstappen
Hamilton will line up in fifth place in the British Grand Prix, three spots behind Verstappen.
Guess who’s birthday it is?!
Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel turns 35 today and received a rapturous welcome as he arrived at the paddock this morning.
However, he has his work cut out if he is going to get his Aston Martin into the points today - he starts from 18th.
Missed what happened yesterday?
Carlos Sainz edged out Max Verstappen to claim the first pole position of his Formula One career for Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
In the rain at Silverstone, Ferrari’s Sainz excelled to see off world champion Verstappen by just 0.072 seconds, with Charles Leclerc third in the other scarlet car in a thrilling qualifying session.
Sergio Perez took fourth, with Lewis Hamilton a full second back in fifth – one spot ahead of compatriot Lando Norris, who was sixth for McLaren. Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell finished eighth.
Carlos Sainz the surprise star of the show at Silverstone as Mercedes fail to deliver
The Ferrari driver claimed his first pole position in Formula 1 in his 150th race, while Lewis Hamilton could only qualify fifth after a wet afternoon at Silverstone
Good morning!
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone this afternoon!
Carlos Sainz is on pole for round 10 of the 2022 season, with Championship leader Max Verstappen starting alongside him on the front row.
The race is scheduled to start at 3pm (BST) - stay here for all the build-up!
Verstappen’s reaction:
He said out on track: “Q3 can always be a bit of a lottery. We have a good race car in the dry and in the wet.
“It’s not only about the first lap and also about the tyre management but yeah looking forward to tomorrow.”
As for Hamilton...
The last time Lewis Hamilton wasn’t on the front row at Silverstone was when he was on row three after a wet qualifying in 2014 in the year he won his second World Championship - but he won the race.
Clutching at straws a little? Perhaps... after a promising first few sessions for Mercedes, Hamilton 5th and Russell 8th is not the outcome Toto Wolff would’ve been looking for.
Carlos Sainz takes first career pole position for British Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz edged out Max Verstappen to claim the first pole position of his Formula One career for Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
In the rain at Silverstone, Ferrari’s Sainz excelled to see off world champion Verstappen by just 0.072 seconds, with Charles Leclerc third in the other scarlet car in a thrilling qualifying session.
Sergio Perez took fourth, with Lewis Hamilton a full second back in fifth – one spot ahead of compatriot Lando Norris, who was sixth for McLaren. Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell finished eighth.
“Thanks everyone for staying out there in this rain,” said Sainz. “Spaniards struggle with the rain, but you guys are used to it.
“I put together a lap, I did not think it was something special, but it was pole position and that came as a bit of a surprise.
“The pace has been there all weekend, but if I base myself on my practice pace, we should be in a good position to hold on to first.”
Carlos Sainz takes first career pole position for British Grand Prix
Sainz tamed the wet conditions to deny Max Verstappen top spot
Sainz on his pole position:
“A pole in the wet always feels good, it’s true I’ve always been competitive in wet conditions but so are the drivers next to me...
“Today was a good example of how tight it was between us, every lap is a fight, the balance in the wet was good, it’s all about the tyres honestly and if I can make the tyres work.”
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