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At the final practice in Montreal, Lando Norris came out on top after what he called’s McLaren’s Friday the “worst” of the season.
His late-session time of 1:11.799 on soft tyres was quickest, although McLaren’s rivals remained close behind.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – returning to the track after his big crash in yesterday’s first practice session – finished within a tenth of the lead McLaren. Mercedes’ George Russell, Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen were all in close contention by the end.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was one of three drivers to hit the Wall of Champions, getting an instant puncture after smacking it with the right-rear wheel of his car. The debris on the track brought out the red flag and the F1 leader may have damaged the suspension on his McLaren. Nico Hulkenberg and Oliver Bearman later hit the wall hard too.
There is tension in the Ferrari camp as Fred Vasseur, whose position as team principal is under scrutiny, says criticism of his team is “clearly hurting” their chances of fighting for the world championship.
I knew when I took the position as team principal I would be exposed, but for the people in the team who are working very hard to read that they will be replaced and they are useless, it is very harsh and it should be considered that these people have family, they have wives, they have kids and it is disrespectful. And I don’t want to speak about it any more.
Ferrari are already 197 points behind McLaren in the constructors’ standings.
FIA steward Warwick suspended for media comments
The former grand prix driver Derek Warwick has been suspended from his role as a steward at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA unhappy with “recent unauthorised media comments”.
He is being replaced by the Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi, who would be “officiating from the remote operations centre in Geneva for the remainder of the event”.
The FIA says: “After discussion, Derek acknowledges that his comments were ill-advised in his role as an FIA steward and has apologised. Derek will resume his duties as a steward in the forthcoming Austrian Grand Prix.”
Warwick is being punished for expressing a negative opinion about Max Verstappen at the Spanish Grand Prix after the Dutchman apparently deliberately collided with Mercedes’ George Russell, saying the decision was “right” to hit the Red Bull driver with a penalty.
On a gambling website, Warwick doubled down by saying: “Should he have done what he did, in Turn Five with George Russell? Absolutely not. Did he get a penalty for that? Yes. It seems to me that, although he dove in, he then did turn away from George, but momentum pushed him against George. It is absolutely wrong and the FIA was right to give him a penalty.”
Preamble
Bonjour and welcome to qualifiers of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, eh. The overhanging trees at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve give the track with a lot of slow-speed corners a great feel. The drivers will be tested with unforgiving run-off areas and the series of tight, alternating turns at the end.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris – both of McLaren – lead the driver standings with the defending champion Max Verstappen in third. The Dutchman is under pressure this weekend as he is just one penalty point from a race ban after colliding with George Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix.
Join me for the buildup and news before we get to the 9pm BST / 4pm EST qualifiers. And, as always, feel free to send your predictions, questions and concerns via email.
