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 21/52: Leclerc, Hamilton, Sainz, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen
Sainz pits!
Makes sense, given the pressure on the Spaniard. It’s a quick pit stop, 2.5 seconds!
He rejoins in third, just in front of Lando Norris.
Charles Leclerc takes the lead of the British Grand Prix, with Hamilton 2.6 seconds behind. Just like the end of last year’s race...
LAP 20/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen
The pattern remains the same: Hamilton fastest lap, gaining on Leclerc who is being held up by race leader Sainz, who is being urged to push...
LAP 19/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen
Tell you what, who is the one out of trouble posting fastest lap after fastest lap? Lewis Hamilton!
The Mercedes, in third, is gaining on Leclerc who is stuck behind Ferrari team-mate Sainz.
Whisper it quietly, but it’s all set up for the seven-time world champion here...
Sainz has been told, very firmly by the Ferrari pit wall, to push hard...
LAP 17/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen
Meannwhile at the front, Leclerc is right on Sainz’s tail and is complaining on team radio, insisting he can go quicker.
Will Ferrari give out a team order? Oh for Carlos Sainz’s case, I hope not...
LAP 15/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen
Verstappen’s engineer says: “It is bodywork damage - it is not critical but you will have a performance loss.”
Major blow for the Red Bull driver. A year after Copse. Wow.
Further update from Verstappen’s engineer: “You have less rear aerodynamic load... but it is not structural and we will try and work at it at the next pit stop.”
LAP 14/52: Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Verstappen
Verstappen, despite changing tyres, is still complaining about something on the car. Says the rear “does not feel good.
“The car is 100% broken.” Wow.
LAP 12/52: Verstappen has a puncture!
Sainz retakes the lead - Verstappen has a puncture!
Fortunately for the Red Bull driver, he is near the pits - he changes tyres... but is now down in sixth!
Gosh, can this race get any more dramatic?!
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