Fernando Alonso Surprises in Rainy Canadian GP Practice, Dominates Mercedes and Ferrari
In a dramatic turn of events at the Canadian Grand Prix, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso showcased his prowess by topping the second practice session amid challenging weather conditions. The Spaniard clocked an impressive 1:15.810s on the Soft compound, finishing with a substantial four-tenth margin over Mercedes’ George Russell just before a lighter shower hit the track.
The first practice session saw cars sidelined due to heavy rain, but as the track began to dry, slick tyres became the norm. This trend continued into the second hour, though the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve remained tricky to navigate. Alonso's top time was solidified by a looming downpour that prevented further improvements, allowing him to take the lead confidently.
Russell Splits the Aston Martins
George Russell managed to position his Mercedes between the two Aston Martins, with home-favorite Lance Stroll securing third just 0.654s behind Alonso. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured the fourth spot but faced a stewards' inquiry for running on Intermediates when the track conditions didn’t warrant it.
Daniel Ricciardo showed a promising start to his weekend, closing the session in fifth place, followed by Haas’s Kevin Magnussen who put in a stellar performance to take sixth. The top ten was rounded out by Lewis Hamilton in seventh with Mercedes, Yuki Tsunoda in eighth with Red Bull, Alex Albon in ninth with Williams, and Red Bull's Sergio Perez in tenth.
Verstappen Encounter Woes
While Perez made it to the top ten, his teammate Max Verstappen had a challenging session marred by a confirmed ERS issue that cut his participation short. Esteban Ocon, who had missed FP1 to give track time to Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan, placed 11th, with Logan Sargeant close behind in 12th for Williams.
Carlos Sainz struggled, finishing 13th in the second Ferrari, followed by Valtteri Bottas in 14th, unable to match his FP1 form. Nico Hulkenberg was 15th, marking a significant gap behind his Haas teammate Magnussen. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had a subdued session, finishing 16th and last, respectively.
Amidst the challenging conditions, Zhou Guanyu managed to keep his car out of trouble, contrasting his FP1 stint, and led the lower tier of the pack, which included Verstappen again, Pierre Gasly in the Alpine, and Norris.