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:
LAP 48/52: Sainz, Perez, Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris
What next?!
Hamilton overtakes Leclerc around Brooklands, before the Ferrari gets the position back through Copse!
Tremendous racing! Staggering stuff!
LAP 43/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Perez, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris
LAP 46/52: Sainz, Perez, Leclerc, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris
Unbelievable stuff!
Hamilton takes advantage of Leclerc and Perez’s battle, with the stewards noting that Perez left the track at Club, and takes second!
But by the time they get back to the loop heading to the Wellington straight, Perez is back ahead of Hamilton, as is Leclerc!
LAP 45/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Perez, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris
Hamilton almost gets Perez around Brooklands!
But the Mexican keeps his podium spot. He is also gaining on Leclerc... with Sainz now 2.4 seconds ahead!
Huge chance for the Spaniard to get his first win!
LAP 43/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Perez, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris
Drama!
Sainz overtakes Leclerc round the loop - ignoring team orders to give him space on the restart - while Perez overtakes Hamilton in the same corner as they go up the Wellington straight!
What else can possibly happen?!
LAP 42/52: SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP
Leclerc knows he might be in trouble: “That’s going to be hard,” when told of Sainz and Hamilton behind on softs.
Perez, Alonso and Norris pitted too, with Norris losing a position after pitting a lap later.
Get ready for another restart - rolling of course this time!
LAP 41/52: SAFETY CAR!
Hamilton isn’t sure about tyre choice: “Ah guys, are you sure it’s the right tyre?!”
He hasn’t lost a position, nor has Sainz. Leclerc will be massively under pressure on his hard tyres come the restart...
LAP 40/52: SAFETY CAR!
Esteban Ocon has had a failure on the old pit straight - and it triggers a safety car!
Sainz and Hamilton pit, Leclerc stays out! Sainz and Hamilton go on the soft tyre, with 12 laps left...
LAP 38/52: Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, Norris, Alonso
Sainz is told that he needs to save fuel and, inevitably, the Spaniard is not happy about it!
His lap times are way down on Leclerc and Hamilton. Meanwhile, Ocon has overtaken Verstappen with DRS, to the cheers of the Silverstone crowd!
The Chamionship leader all the way down to ninth...
LAP 36/52: Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, Norris, Alonso
Hamilton complaining about coming out too far behind but Bono tells him: “Once these tyres warm up, we’ll have good pace.”
Will it be enough though? Momentum shifts back to Ferrari.
A little further back, Norris pits, meaning Sergio Perez is back up to fourth - his original position on the starting grid.
Verstappen is still down in eighth, with Ocon right on his tail with DRS...
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