Formula 1 in Canada: Verstappen was the fastest and Alonso gave the surprise

While in the Montreal pitlane there is only talk of complaints about the rebound of some drivers – including those of Mercedes – which could cost everyone dearly, because the FIA ​​analyzes the cars of those who cannot counteract the effect by raising 10 millimeters. would lower their performance), the Canadian Grand Prix, the ninth round of Formula 1, started with Red Bull in front of everyone.

With intense wind and a latent threat of rain, Fernando Alonso slipped into the fight between the Austrian team and Ferrari. Although Max Verstappen was the fastest (1m15s158), with Carlos Sainz relegated to second place at 246 thousandths, the other F1 Spaniard was third with the Alpine with medium tires, ahead of Sergio Pérez (4th) and Charles Leclerc (5th).

The business started with Sainz in the lead but Verstappen overtook him and Hamilton is second too, like in the old days. They were simply first-time tests. But then everything fell into place, with Red Bull leading the qualifiers before 10 minutes of free practice number 1, with the champion ahead of Mexican Checo Pérez. Behind were Charles Leclerc, the only one with the top poker soft rubber and two of the 20 (the other, Fernando Alonso) until then, and Carlos Sainz, with Ferrari.

At 15 ‘Esteban Ocon comes out with an Alpine with problems in the area. The right front wheel steaming from a plastic bag that fell on the track from the stands was what forced him to go to the mechanics of the French team, luckily for the driver who was able to get back on track quickly despite finishing 15th in the standings, a lot away from teammate Alonso.

Meanwhile, Pérez and Sainz did the opposite of what is indicated in the “manual of good conduct” of a number two driver, beating Verstappen and Leclerc respectively, even if the Red Bull 1-2 and Ferrari 3-4 did not change, including Alonso was identified, temporarily, and also the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel.

Just after half an hour of racing, Ferrari was able to be competitive against the Red Bulls. First because Leclerc came within 47 thousandths of Pérez and then because Sainz finally flew to the Montreal track and set the best time (1m54s541), 178 thousandths faster than Checo, all on soft tires.

Verstappen still needed to show his power. The champion didn’t take long to beat those times, despite Sainz’s first and second sector records. But the Dutchman accelerated in the last part and slowed the clock in 1’15’158, 246 thousandths better than the Spaniard’s record to return to the pits. And another Spaniard came very close: Alonso, at 373 in third place and with the medium tire.

Russell and Hamilton, among those who most complained about the rebound that the new ground effect is generating, were sixth and eighth respectively, with Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel escorting each of them and Daniel Ricciardo, closing the top ten, with a McLaren that performed better than that of the jewel Lando Norris (12th) in the circuit of Gilles Villeneuve.

On a bad day for Haas, the worst of the first free practice was Kevin Magnussen, two places behind Mick Schumacher (18th), while Nicholas Latifi was 19th, almost a second slower than his Williams teammate Alex Albon (13 °).

After a day culminating in the second free practice sessions, the activity will continue on Saturday, with the third tests (at 2 pm) and the classification (at 5 pm), while the race will be on Sunday at 3 pm.