Canada – EL1: Verstappen fastest, Alonso well placed

For Canadian fans, it's the end of a 3-year wait. There Formula 1 finally drove in Canada for the first time since 2019. And for this first test session disrupted by the strong wind in Montreal, it's Max Verstappen (Red Bull) who signed the best time, in 1'15″158, ahead of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine), author of the 3rd time on medium tires, less than 4 tenths behind the Dutch driver.

Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) complete the top 5. The Monegasque driver changed the engine but not the turbo, which means that he will not take a penalty (for the moment) on the grid. Both Aston Martin are well placed, with Stroll 7th and Hag 9th, interspersed between the two Mercedes. Daniel Ricciardo finished 10th just ahead Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman is one second behind Verstappen's best time.

While the FIA ​​technical directive regarding the rebound problem is still on everyone's lips, the first free practice session was very studious for each team. Some teams have carried out aerodynamic tests with flow-vis paint or with sensor grids. In terms of tires, everyone mainly used the medium and soft on the Quebec track.

Esteban Ocon suffered an overheating of his right front brake after 15 minutes of the session. A plastic bag got stuck in the air inlet of theAlpine. The Frenchman was able to return to his pits, at a slow pace, and left a few minutes later. The Frenchman finished the session in 15th place, almost a second behind his teammate.

Esteban Ocon limps back to the pits with a smoking front-right wheel

Debris on the circuit looks to have overheated the brakes #CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/SP5qE5sbC1

- Formula 1 (@ F1) June 17, 2022

Some drivers had minor scares in the last chicane, like Nicholas latifi or Fernando Alonso. Yuki tsunoda hit the wall at the exit of turn 9, without impact on his Alpha Tauri. The Japanese driver is using an all-new power unit this weekend and will start at the back of the grid for the Canadian Grand Prix.

The ranking of Free Practice 1: 

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