Fernando Alonso led the way in FP2 of F1 Canadian GP ahead of George Russell and Lance Stroll before the rain arrived to disrupt running.
It was drizzling for much part of the FP2 session in F1 Canadian GP when the lights went green. Drivers made it in but Alpine’s Pierre Gasly continued on which pushed others to join him on the dry weather tyres despite the drizzle in the air.
The host of cars led to huge block of traffic where drivers got into each other’s way leading to complaints on radio. There were few off moments too but none too dramatic to hurt anyone. It included a big save in the final corner from Williams’ Alexander Albon.
Once the initial phase of dry running was done, the drivers flocked onto for intermediate running to end the session. The times set initially were the ones that mattered as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso led the way with a 1m15.810s lap.
He headed Mercedes’ George Russell with the other Aston Martin of Lance Stroll up there in third. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth on the medium compound leading Visa Cash App RB’s Daniel Ricciardo and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen in fifth and sixth.
Once again Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton looked busy to be seventh from Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, Williams’ Alexander Albon and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in the Top 10. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was just outside in 11th from Williams’ Logan Sargeant.
The other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz was 13th on the medium compound, as both the Ferrari cars were complained about several times for not giving way to their rivals. His teammate is due to visit the stewards office after using the intermediate tyres before the ruling.
He ran so straight out of the box before the race control declared the circuit wet. Also to visit the steward office will be McLaren’s Lando Norris for failing to follow the race directors’ ruling. Stake F1 Team’s Valtteri Bottas was 14th from Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg.
The first McLaren of Oscar Piastri was 16th on the medium compound, as he led Stake F1 Team’s Zhou Guanyu, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Alpine’s Gasly and McLaren’s Norris – where the Brit also set his best time on the medium tyre.
The biggest loss was for Verstappen who was forced to pit due to a ERS issue, with the mechanics spending most of their time in fixing the issue.
UPDATE: Ferrari has been fined €5,000 for mistakenly using intermediate tyres before the race control’s remark. Here: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Canadian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Infringement%20-%20Car%2016%20-%20Tyre%20Usage.pdf
The stewards cleared Norris, while warned Piastri for not adhering to race directors’ note. Here: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Canadian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Decision%20-%20Car%204%20-%20Alleged%20failure%20to%20follow%20Race%20Director’s%20instructions.pdf
Here’s how FP1 in F1 Canadian GP panned out
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