F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers as Ferrari star CRASHES

F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton suffers as Ferrari star CRASHES following d… read more

The opening practice session (FP1) at the Canadian Grand Prix proved to be a tough outing for both Lewis Hamilton and the Ferrari team, with unexpected incidents and underwhelming performances shaping the start of the race weekend in Montreal. The challenging conditions at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve caught out several drivers, most notably Charles Leclerc, who suffered a crash that cut his session short and brought out a red flag.

Just 15 minutes into FP1, Leclerc found himself in trouble after locking up at the second chicane. The loss of control sent him sliding into the barriers, effectively ending his session early and raising concerns within the Ferrari garage. The crash highlighted the tricky grip levels and potentially unpredictable surface that drivers were contending with during the first outing of the weekend.

Leclerc’s accident not only disrupted Ferrari’s plans for setup and data gathering but also capped off a frustrating session in which he could only manage the 10th fastest time before his crash. Meanwhile, his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz managed to post a surprisingly strong lap, ending the session third-fastest in an impressive showing for the Spanish driver, who was sandwiched between two Williams cars at the top of the time sheets.

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion and frequent front-runner in Montreal, also experienced difficulties during the session. Hamilton could only set the fifth-fastest time, well off the pace of session leader Max Verstappen, who topped the standings comfortably. Verstappen appeared in control from the start, continuing Red Bull’s dominance and setting a strong benchmark for the rest of the grid.

Adding to Mercedes’ woes, Hamilton’s teammate George Russell also had a moment of misfortune, reportedly hitting the barriers early in the session, although he was able to continue. The incident raised further questions about the team’s car setup and performance, especially on a circuit where Hamilton has historically enjoyed significant success.

In an unexpected twist, Alex Albon of Williams secured the second-fastest time of the session, further underlining the unpredictability of the day. His performance, alongside Sainz’s, hinted at a potentially more competitive weekend for teams outside the usual top three.

As teams regroup and assess the data from FP1, the early signs point to a weekend that may be anything but straightforward. With Leclerc’s crash and Hamilton’s struggles setting the tone, the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix could deliver some surprises — both in qualifying and the race itself.