Canadian Grand Prix: Verstappen fastest in FP1

verstappen_fastest_in_canada_fp1

Upgraded motor does the trick for Red Bull Racing in FP1

Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen led the way in the opening Canadian Grand Prix free practice, heading Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes by just 0.088sec.

Monaco winner Daniel Ricciardo claimed third in the Red Bull, as Renault introduced it upgraded motor – believed to be worth an extra 20bhp. The Australian had been expected to be handed a grid penalty following his problems at Monaco, but will instead run parts previously used this season to avoid the grid drop.

Sebastian Vettel was the fastest of the Ferraris in fourth ahead of the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas. Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate Kimi Räikkönen finished the session a tenth further back in sixth.

Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne spent the early session near the top of the timesheets, eventually dropping down the order as the times began to lower. Alonso finished the session in seventh, with Vandoorne ninth.

Carlos Sainz of Renault split the two McLarens in eighth, with the Spaniard two-tenths slower than Alonso. His Renault team-mate Nico Hülkenberg slowed to a stop on the hour mark, unable to select a gear, and that brought out a red flag just as the two McLarens had jumped to the top of the timesheets.

Pierre Gasly of Toro Rosso rounded out the top 10 ahead of Force India’s Sergio Pérez.

Romain Grosjean claimed 12th ahead of the two Saubers, with Marcus Ericsson surviving a spin to pip Charles Leclerc by half a tenth.

The under-pressure Hartley, who would have lost his seat to Lando Norris had McLaren not blocked the move, set the 16th-fastest time behind Kevin Magnussen.

Lance Stroll picked up a puncture with around 25 minutes remaining in the session when he hit the ‘wall of champions’, crawling back to the pits and out of the session down in 18th place. His team-mate Sergey Sirotkin went one better in 17th, 0.5sec faster than Stroll, but spun into the barrier in the closing stages at Turn 6.

Force India development driver Nicholas Latifi ended his debut session 19th, 3.8sec adrift and last of those who set a time.

Canadian Grand Prix Free Practice 1 classification

1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1min13.302sec
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.088sec
3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull +0.216sec
4 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari +0.272sec
5 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes +0.315sec
6 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari +0.425sec
7 Fernando Alonso McLaren +0.598sec
8 Carlos Sainz Jr Renault +0.814sec
9 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren +1.009sec
10 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso +1.702sec
11 Esteban Ocon Force India +1.769sec
12 Romain Grosjean Haas +1.817sec
13 Marcus Ericsson Sauber +2.084sec
14 Charles Leclerc Sauber +2.137sec
15 Kevin Magnussen Haas +2.277sec
16 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso 2.454sec
17 Sergey Sirotkin Williams +2.466sec
18 Lance Stroll Williams +2.957sec
19 Nicholas Latifi Force India +3.843sec
20 Nico Hülkenberg Renault No time set

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