This event in Canada felt like it could be another Monaco. The track is narrow and the walls are punishing. Norris was fastest in practice and his team mate and main championship rival, Piastri, hit the wall. LeClerc also had a pretty big crash in the first session, which meant he didn't get out for the second one. Stroll was back for his home race having had an operation on his wrist and recovered in a fortnight.
There was drama as we went into the first session. Tsunoda was given a ten place grid penalty for overtaking under a red flag during practice. I wonder what his excuse will be, it seems like it might be a valid mistake. With everyone having set a lap, Albon lost the engine cover on his Williams, leaving debris all over the track and the session had to be red flagged for some tidying up.
The session continued. Alonso had been in the lead when the flags were waved but Norris led his team mate when it ended. Albon, with a fresh engine cover, made it through but his team mate, Sainz went off and through the dust as he had a moment with Hadjar, who impeded him. Hadjar was through (but possibly heading for a three place grid penalty) and Sainz was out. It was Bortoleto in 16th, Sainz in 17th, Stroll in 18th, Lawson in 19th and Gasly in 20th. I don't know why Gasly was so low, other than Alpine are having an awful year and are last in the constructors championship.
The second session passed calmly. Russell was fastest, followed by Norris. Out went Tsunoda, Colapinto (8 places ahead of his team mate), Hulkenberg, Bearman and Ocon. We should have paid more attention to the performance of the Mercedes.
It was all down to the last laps in the final session. Norris could not put a lap together and will be incredibly disappointed with all the promise he'd shown earlier in the week when it didn't count. Verstappen looked like he would take pole, then Piastri put in the quickest lap, then Verstappen took it back. Behind him,
Russell had put in a purple, fastest sector and took pole. All he has been asked about this year is what he thinks of Verstappen's behaviour, surely now it is time for him to be questioned on his amazing season. Villeneuve, who did the interviews, went down this avenue. Initially, George deflected them and then joked that he had "more points on his licence to play with". The starting top ten was provisionally Russell, Verstappen, Piastri, Antonelli, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, LeClerc (who couldn't seem to find a good place to be on track all afternoon), Hadjar and Albon.
It feels like it will be a strongly contested race tomorrow. Russell and Verstappen must be in contention with at least one McLaren. We can't rule out Antonelli or Hamilton. LeClerc always seems to be in the right place if there are any lucky breaks.
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