Results First Free Practice 2024 Canadian F1 Grand Prix

Event: Canadian F1 Grand Prix
Track: Gilles Villeneuve circuit

Weather: wet/dry  18.5°C
Tarmac: wet/dry  28.1°C
Humidity: 85%
Wind: 3.2 km/h South

Norris Tops a Challenging First Practice Session in Canada

The opening practice session for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve was an eventful affair, marked by wet conditions that gradually improved as the session progressed. Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver, navigating the tricky track with a best lap time of 1m 24.435s, three-tenths ahead of Carlos Sainz.

Early Struggles with Weather

The session started under a cloud of uncertainty as heavy rain and hail had left the track saturated. Teams and drivers had to wait for the pit lane to open, which was delayed as marshals worked diligently to clear standing water. The rain persisted early on, leading to cautious laps and a preference for intermediate and full wet tires.

Incidents and Interruptions

Zhou Guanyu was the first major casualty of the session, crashing out after aquaplaning through Turns 3 and 4. His Alfa Romeo skidded uncontrollably, eventually hitting the wall at Turn 6. Fortunately, Zhou was unharmed, but his car suffered significant damage, posing a challenge for the Sauber team to repair before FP2.

Several drivers struggled with the conditions, including Daniel Ricciardo, who ran wide and kicked up a large puddle, and Valtteri Bottas, who spun off across the wet grass. Max Verstappen also had an "off-road excursion," as he described it, highlighting the difficulty of the track's drying but still treacherous surface.

Transition to Dry Running

As the session progressed, the track began to dry, leading to a shift from wet to slick tires. Charles Leclerc was one of the first to switch to soft compounds, soon followed by Norris, Verstappen, and Sainz. This change allowed for faster lap times and more competitive running towards the end of the session.

Norris Sets the Pace

Lando Norris capitalized on the improving conditions to set the fastest time just as the checkered flag fell. His lap of 1m 24.435s was nearly nine-tenths faster than Sainz’s best on intermediates, with the Spaniard ultimately finishing 0.328s behind Norris after switching to soft tires.

Carlos Sainz showed strong pace throughout, consistently near the top of the timesheets, while Bottas, despite his earlier incident, managed to recover and set competitive lap times. Lewis Hamilton also had a brief stint at the top of the leaderboard, showcasing his adaptability to the changing conditions.

Looking Ahead to FP2

With FP2 scheduled for 16:45 local time (20:45 UTC), teams will be hoping for more consistent weather to maximize their running and gather valuable data. The forecast suggests the possibility of more rain, which could again play a crucial role in the session’s dynamics.

Last time the quickest lap time of FP1 was a 1:18,7288 min, set by Valtteri Bottas with the Alfa Romeo driven on a set of soft compound tyres.

FP1 Times Table 2024 Canadian GP

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