Formula 1’s return to Montreal kicked off with an action-packed opening practice session for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, as Max Verstappen sent a statement by topping the timesheets with a late-session flyer. The Red Bull driver posted a 1m13.193s to lead the hour, just 0.039s ahead of an impressive Alex Albon, with the second Williams of Carlos Sainz rounding out a surprise top three—offering an early twist in what continues to be a fascinating 2025 F1 World Championship.
What To Know
- Verstappen on Top: Max Verstappen went fastest with a 1m13.193s, narrowly beating the Williams duo of Albon and Sainz.
- Leclerc Crashes: Charles Leclerc brought out an early red flag after hitting the Turn 4 barriers just minutes after topping the timing screens.
- Montreal Mayhem Begins: Multiple off-track moments, including spins for Colapinto and Hamilton, and near-misses at the Wall of Champions, highlighted a lively first hour.
The session began under dry skies and mild conditions, with a queue of cars eagerly lining the pit lane as Esteban Ocon led the field out. Haas marked a milestone with a retro livery for their 200th Grand Prix, while McLaren brought a fresh wave of upgrades—most notably a revised front wing design nicknamed the ‘mermaid tail’. Oscar Piastri emerged fitted with aero rakes to gather vital data, while Lando Norris ran the baseline setup, offering an early insight into back-to-back comparisons.
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Trouble wasn’t far behind. Franco Colapinto spun his Alpine at Turn 2 in the early minutes, briefly bringing out yellow flags, while Max Verstappen reported “heavy” steering—prompting Red Bull to keep a close eye on the telemetry. And then came the biggest drama of the session: Charles Leclerc crashed at Turn 4 after locking up and sliding into the barriers, prompting an early red flag. The Ferrari driver had just topped the timesheets moments before the incident and was quick to apologise over team radio after damaging both ends of his SF-25.
The action resumed with no let-up in intensity. George Russell and Norris both went off-track in separate grassy excursions, and Lewis Hamilton had a half-spin at Turn 10. Verstappen voiced his frustration with Hamilton during a close call involving the slow-moving Ferrari, while Nico Hülkenberg had a near miss with the ‘Wall of Champions’ in his Kick Sauber—a moment that will have reminded him just how quickly Montreal bites back.
The C6 soft tyre was the compound of choice for most, though only four drivers opted to run the C5 medium during the hour. As grip levels evolved, Norris continued to struggle with traction, notably running wide at Turn 10 once more. Amid the late push laps, Verstappen edged ahead of the field, demoting Albon and Sainz, who delivered an eye-catching one-two for Williams in the early classification.
George Russell slotted into fourth, just ahead of Hamilton, while Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar continued to impress in sixth. Norris managed seventh, followed by Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, and a recovering Leclerc in tenth.
Further down, Yuki Tsunoda (P11) led a midfield group that included Alonso (P12), Antonelli (P13), and Piastri (P14), while Lance Stroll made a welcome return to the cockpit after a wrist procedure, placing 15th. Gabriel Bortoleto, Bearman, Ocon, Colapinto, and Hülkenberg completed the order from P16 to P20.
With the Wall of Champions already keeping drivers honest and Montreal’s grip levels still evolving, Friday’s FP1 offered a characteristically chaotic Canadian curtain-raiser. And with the championship momentum hanging delicately in the balance, Saturday’s running looks set to add another layer of intrigue to an already electric weekend.
2025 Canadian GP FP1 Results
2025 Canadian Grand Prix FP1, 13 June 2025
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.193 | 28 | |
| 2 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.232 | +0.039s | 28 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:13.275 | +0.082s | 31 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:13.535 | +0.342s | 29 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:13.620 | +0.427s | 30 |
| 6 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.631 | +0.438s | 31 |
| 7 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:13.651 | +0.458s | 30 |
| 8 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:13.737 | +0.544s | 30 |
| 9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:13.817 | +0.624s | 29 |
| 10 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:13.885 | +0.692s | 9 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:13.927 | +0.734s | 27 |
| 12 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:13.972 | +0.779s | 25 |
| 13 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:14.002 | +0.809s | 30 |
| 14 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:14.198 | +1.005s | 28 |
| 15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:14.203 | +1.010s | 25 |
| 16 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:14.324 | +1.131s | 30 |
| 17 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.520 | +1.327s | 30 |
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:14.605 | +1.412s | 23 |
| 19 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault | 1:14.645 | +1.452s | 29 |
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:14.821 | +1.628s | 28 |
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 13 June 2025 – 15 June 2025
Race date: Sunday, 15 June, 2025
Race start time: 14:00 local time
Circuit: Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Laps: 70
Circuit length: 4.361km
2024 winner: Max Verstappen
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