Formula 1 | Canada, EL1: Verstappen takes the lead ahead of Sainz and Alonso

It was in a very political context that the first free practice sessions for the Canadian F1 Grand Prix began. The FIA ​​has indeed announced measures to limit the porpoising and rebounds of the 2022 single-seaters, which will have an impact on the work, the settings, and obviously the performance of each team.

We have also seen Mercedes F1 inaugurate an impressive notch on the floor of Lewis Hamilton, a solution that George Russell did not embark on. Before the start of the weekend, the seven-time world champion had announced that he was going to test an « extreme » solution for EL1 and EL2.

The session, F1’s first run in Montreal since the 2019 Canadian GP, ​​took place under the sun at the start, and especially in the dry, with however an impressive wind. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was hit yesterday by heavy showers which had partly flooded the pit lane.

Sergio Pérez set a first benchmark in medium tires in 1’16″5. Max Verstappen improved in 1’15″799, then almost immediately accelerated in 1’15″703. Pérez regained control in 1’15 » 660, while Esteban Ocon returned to the pits with the brakes smoking. Indeed, a plastic bag was placed on its front right scoop, preventing any cooling.

Carlos Sainz then set the fastest time on the soft tyres, with a time of 1’15″404, before Verstappen regained the lead in 1’15″158, also on the soft tyres. Charles Leclerc took provisional fourth place.

Lance Stroll complained of a downshift problem, while Yuki Tsunoda, who will start at the back of the grid, lightly hit the wall with his right rear wheel. The session was studious so that the pilots could take advantage of their new finds and new settings, in order to limit the rebounds and their amplitude.

Despite complaints about his Red Bull bouncing, Verstappen kept the fastest time ahead of Sainz, who complained about destroyed rear tires at the end of his long stint on medium. Fernando Alonso placed third, with a time on medium tyres. He is ahead of Pérez and Leclerc, then George Russell, Stroll, Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo.

The first Frenchman, Pierre Gasly, is 11th ahead of Lando Norris and Alex Albon. Tsunoda follows ahead of Ocon and the Alfa Romeos, while Haas F1 drivers, Mick Schumacher ahead of Kevin Magnussen, frame Nicholas Latifi at the bottom of the standings.