Max Verstappen topped an unusual first practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix as McLaren were left off the pace after appearing to use the session to experiment.
Verstappen’s time of 1:13.193 saw him finish ahead of Williams duo Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz in a session interrupted by an early crash for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, which limited the Monegasque to less than 15 minutes of track time.
McLaren have dominated the opening nine rounds of the season and rarely been outside of the top positions during any session, but world championship leader Oscar Piastri was only 14th, with team-mate Lando Norris seventh on this occasion.
Highlights from Friday’s first practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix.
McLaren, who lead the Constructors’ Championship 197 points, brought a new front wing, front suspension and rear wing to Canada, and were clearly experimenting as they used aero rakes and flo-vis paint as they compared their new parts with older versions.
Their apparent choice to use the session for testing purposes perhaps reflects huge confidence after winning seven of nine grands prix this season, and it would be a surprise if they were not back at the top of the timesheet come second practice later on Friday, live on Sky Sports F1 at 10pm.
Leclerc had just gone fastest but then appeared to carry too much speed into the second chicane and slammed into the barrier at Turn 4, causing heavy damage to the entire left side of his car.
Red Bulls Max Verstappen drives on the grass to avoid a slow Lewis Hamilton
It was the latest blow in what has been a hugely underwhelming start to the season for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton also showing signs of discomfort as he spun on his way to finishing fifth, almost half a second back from Verstappen.
George Russell was fourth for Mercedes, while Racing Bulls maintained their impressive form with Isack Hadjar sixth and team-mate Liam Lawson in eighth.
Ferraris Lewis Hamilton spun out during first practice at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The session was made more unusual by the almost exclusive use of soft tyres, with only four drivers – Hadjar, Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Nico Hulkenberg – using the medium compound, with the hard completely absent.
Tyre supplier Pirelli have once more brought their softest C6 compound to a race, the potential short shelf life of which appears to have many teams weighing up the possibility of saving their limited sets of the medium compound for Saturday’s qualifying.
With the surface at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve set to further ramp up through the day, Friday’s second session should provide a more accurate picture of the pecking order heading into the weekend.
Sky Sports F1’s Canadian GP schedule
Friday June 13
8pm: The F1 Show
9pm: Team Principals’ Press Conference
9.30pm: Canadian GP Practice Two (session starts at 10pm)
11.25pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
A look back at some of the most dramatic moments from the Canadian Grand Prix
Saturday June 14
2.10pm: F1 Academy Race One
5.15pm: Canadian GP Practice Three (session starts at 5.30pm)
7.30pm: F1 Academy Race Two
8.30pm: Canadian GP Qualifying build-up
9pm: CANADIAN GP QUALIFYING
11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 15
3.50pm: F1 Academy Race Three
5.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Canadian GP build-up*
7pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX*
9pm: Chequered Flag: Canadian GP reaction
10pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes live on Sky Sports F1 with the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.
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