Kimi Antonelli showcased his impressive racing skills by leading the practice session at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. He was closely followed by his Mercedes teammate George Russell, establishing a strong one-two finish for the team. However, the session was marred by incidents, including a collision involving Alex Albon’s Williams and a groundhog.
Practice Session Highlights
The session witnessed several disruptions, with the first red flag caused when Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson experienced a steering failure and halted his car on the track. The second incident involved Alex Albon, who crashed heavily after hitting a groundhog at the exit of Turn Seven. This collision resulted in substantial damage to his vehicle.
The final red flag occurred when Esteban Ocon lost control of his Haas and collided with the barriers after spinning at Turn Four.
Top Performers
- Kimi Antonelli: Fastest with a time 0.142 seconds ahead of Russell.
- George Russell: Struggled slightly but managed to come close to Antonelli’s time.
- Lewis Hamilton: Finished third, 0.774 seconds off the pace.
- Charles Leclerc: Followed closely in fourth, just 0.179 seconds behind Hamilton.
- Max Verstappen: Placed fifth, 0.964 seconds slower than Antonelli.
McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, completed the top seven positions, showcasing their improved performance due to recent upgrades. This race weekend also includes a sprint race, with qualifying for this event scheduled for Friday at 21:30 BST (16:30 local time).
Significant Upgrades
Mercedes introduced a major upgrade package for this event, significantly enhancing their performance. Norris made headlines by becoming the first driver to defeat a Mercedes in a competitive setting during the previous race in Miami.
The top ten in the session were rounded out by the rookie driver Arvid Lindblad from Racing Bulls, as well as notable performances from Nico Hulkenberg of Audi and Fernando Alonso, who utilized an unconventional tire strategy, opting for softs earlier than most competitors.
Overall, the practice session set the stage for an exciting Canadian Grand Prix, with teams eager to capitalize on their upgrades and improve their standings.
