Max Verstappen's Smoky Exit and Fernando Alonso's Triumph: Dramatic Start to Canadian F1 Grand Prix

Thunderstorms, Hail, and Racing Drama

The Canadian Grand Prix kicked off with an electrifying start at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, and not just because of the fast-paced cars. Thunderstorms, lightning, and even a hailstorm hammered the track shortly before the first free practice session, leaving the paddock drenched and the teams scrambling. But as the tempest settled and the engines roared to life, it was the unexpected that stole the spotlight: Max Verstappen's early exit and Fernando Alonso's sizzling performance.

Verstappen's Electrical Issue

As the reigning F1 points leader, Max Verstappen rarely finds himself trailing the pack, but an electrical gremlin sent his Red Bull car puffing smoke during the second free practice session (FP2). Just four laps into his run on dry tires, Verstappen had to return to the garage, leaving fans and rival teams buzzing with speculation. Red Bull confirmed that a battery issue was to blame.

Verstappen commented, "Unfortunately, FP1 was very affected by the weather, and we also did not get many laps out of FP2. There was a suspected electrical issue, so the team told me to box. They are investigating what the issue is in the garage now, and I’m sure we will get to the bottom of it." Red Bull's motorsport director, Helmut Marko, later added more detail during an interview with Motorsport.com, stating, "The problem is on the engine side. We have to take the engine out now to find the exact reason, but it is on the electric part of the engine."

Fernando Alonso's Stellar Performance

While Verstappen's misfortune became the talk of the paddock, it was Fernando Alonso who shone brightly, clocking the fastest lap of the day with an impressive 1 minute, 15.810 seconds in his Aston Martin. Following closely behind was Mercedes’ George Russell at 1:16.273 and Alonso's teammate, Lance Stroll, the lone Canadian in the field, at 1:16.464.

Alonso reflected on the day's conditions, saying, “It was a tricky Friday for everyone, but it could be like this for qualifying and the race, so it’s still very useful information. The right decision can gain you five seconds; the wrong decision, and you’re out of the race.”

Weather Woes and Track Mayhem

Earlier in the day, the first practice session was delayed due to the severe weather, making for an unusual start to the Grand Prix weekend. McLaren's Lando Norris managed to put in a lap at 1:24.435 once the skies cleared, followed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. The heavy rain and hail led to disrupted schedules, with Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas even attempting to form a snowball from the large chunks of hailstones that bombarded the track.

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time season champion from Mercedes, remarked on the bizarre weather, “Today was definitely an odd one. It was literally summer this morning, then it rained hailstone. I can’t even remember the last time I saw hailstone, but they were huge. Then sunny again, really hot and humid, and then raining again.”

Event organizers had to ask spectators to temporarily leave the grandstands due to the inclement weather, and police shut down the bridges accessing Notre Dame Island, only reopening the site to fans 15 minutes before the expected start time. Despite the wet conditions, ground crews worked tirelessly to clear the track, but it remained slippery and dangerous.

Incidents on the Wet Track

As the session finally got underway, the treacherous conditions led to several incidents. Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu's spin and collision into the wall at Turn 5 brought out a red flag just minutes into the session. Other drivers like Bottas and Stroll found themselves sliding off into the grass, illustrating just how tricky the track had become.

With more rain expected through the weekend, the stage is set for a thrillingly unpredictable qualifying session on Saturday, leading up to what promises to be an unforgettable race on Sunday.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.