Chaotic FP1 in Canada: Antonelli Leads as Crashes Disrupt Sprint Weekend

The first and only practice session of the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix delivered exactly what everyone expected from a Sprint weekend in Montreal: limited running, relentless interruptions, and a Circuit Gilles‑Villeneuve that punished even the smallest mistakes. By the time the chequered flag fell on a heavily extended FP1, teams had plenty of data—but also plenty of headaches.

A Chaotic FP1 at the Canadian Grand Prix

Early Trouble and Lost Running

The first major setback came almost immediately for Franco Colapinto, who reported a throttle issue and lost power before completing a single timed lap. Alpine later confirmed a power unit change, ruling him out of the rest of the session.

Walls Strike Back in Montreal

The Circuit Gilles‑Villeneuve lived up to its unforgiving reputation. Alexander Albon caused the second red flag after brushing the wall hard enough to break his front suspension. While he walked away unhurt, Williams lost valuable track time.

Later in the session, Esteban Ocon spun after taking too much kerb and hit the wall head‑on, shedding his front wing. Haas performed an impressively quick repair, but Ocon’s troubles weren’t over—Race Control noted him for leaving the pit lane on a red light, an incident now referred to the stewards.

Even the frontrunners weren’t immune. George Russell spun at Turn 1 and lightly tapped the barriers, escaping without damage but highlighting just how fine the margins were all afternoon.

Antonelli Sets the Benchmark

Mercedes Flex Their Muscle

Despite the chaos, one story stood out clearly: Kimi Antonelli is the man to beat. The championship leader capped off a superb FP1 by setting a 1:13.402 on soft tyres, topping the timesheets for Mercedes.

While Russell looked sharp early on, it was Antonelli who appeared more confident when the grip came up, pushing closer to the walls and extracting more from the upgraded Mercedes package. The gap was telling—Russell ended the session 0.142s adrift, with Lewis Hamilton a further 0.774s back in third for Ferrari.

Mercedes’ extensive upgrades—covering the front wing, floor, diffuser, and brake ducts—clearly worked, giving the Silver Arrows a healthy advantage over the rest of the field.

Antonelli’s form continues a remarkable purple patch, and once again the field faces the same question: how do you stop him?

Ferrari, McLaren and the Chasing Pack

Ferrari quietly impressed, locking out third and fourth with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, despite both drivers struggling with lock‑ups and flat spots. Hamilton, in particular, showed strong pace at a circuit where he boasts an outstanding record.

McLaren endured a messier session. Oscar Piastri suffered significant flat spots after a lock‑up, while Lando Norris fought track limits and grip issues, leaving them sixth and seventh respectively.

One of the standout surprises was Arvid Lindblad, who finished eighth for Racing Bulls. Running a new floor, the rookie continued to impress with a composed and mature performance—especially important with Lawson sidelined.

What FP1 Tells Us Ahead of Sprint Qualifying

This FP1 may not have been clean, but it was revealing. Mercedes look comfortably ahead, Antonelli remains relentless, and the margins behind are tight. Several drivers—Albon, Lawson, and Colapinto in particular—now head into Sprint Qualifying on the back foot with minimal preparation.

With low grip still a factor and confidence in short supply, Sprint Qualifying promises to be just as dramatic as a wild opening practice in Montreal.