Verstappen Leads in Canada After Leclerc Crash
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed out of the first practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen topped the timesheets.
Leclerc, who had been leading the session at the time, lost control approaching Turn Three after locking up under braking.
Attempting to cut through the grass instead of going straight, he clipped the barrier, causing significant damage to the left side of his car and forcing an early end to his run. “I’m sorry.
I locked up and should have gone straight. I thought I could make the corner but I hit the wall,” Leclerc told his team over the radio.
Verstappen set the fastest time of the session, edging out Williams’ Alex Albon by just 0.039 seconds, with Carlos Sainz in third, 0.082 seconds behind. Mercedes’ George Russell followed in fourth, ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Racing Bulls’ rookie Isack Hadjar, and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve appeared slippery and dirty, contributing to several off-track moments. Norris, who ended the session 12th, struggled with stability and went wide at Turn One and the hairpin.
McLaren is testing a new front wing and a modified suspension aimed at improving front-end feel—an issue that has plagued Norris throughout the season. His teammate, championship leader Oscar Piastri, finished 14th.
Rounding out the top 10 were Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Leclerc, despite his crash. Gasly’s teammate, Franco Colapinto, spun early in the session at Turn Two but avoided damage, finishing 19th.
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda placed 11th, trailing teammate Verstappen by over seven-tenths of a second, while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso slotted into 12th.
Verstappen Leads in Canada After Leclerc Crash