Alonso navigates turbulent rain practice session.
During the Formula 1 practice in Canada, Fernando Alonso shined through the rain and hail. Meanwhile, the world number one Max Verstappen dealt with technical issues on his Red Bull vehicle, making it impossible for him to stay competitive with the Spaniard.
In the rainy pre-Canadian Grand Prix training session, Fernando Alonso stormed ahead as the leading driver, clocking a time just under half a second faster than George Russell in Mercedes. Lance Stroll ranked third on the Aston Martin. Unfortunately, Max Verstappen encountered problems with his Red Bull's energy recovery system, placing him 18th overall. Nico Hulkenberg, driving for Haas, finished at the 15th position.
As the Canadian race weekend commenced, the weather played a significant role in the schedule. Before the initial training session, heavy rain and hail fell around the Île Notre-Dame track on the Saint Lawrence River. The temps dropped approximately 15 degrees with illuminated skies and thunder. For a moment, it seemed like the first practice session would be postponed, but training continued. The wet surface slowed the drivers' progress for a considerable amount of time. Similarly, the second training, set in the afternoon, also saw showers. Risky attempts to drive with dry tires were quickly halted due to multiple interruptions.
Heading into the ninth race of the season on Sunday evening (8 p.m./Sky), Verstappen took the lead in the overall standings with 169 points, edging past Ferrari's Charles Leclerc (138)—who recently triumphed in Monaco—as well as Lando Norris (113) of McLaren in third place.
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In the face of challenging weather conditions during the Formula 1 practice in Canada, Fernando Alonso once again demonstrated his expertise, maintaining his lead over the field. Despite the hiccups with his energy recovery system, Max Verstappen's Red Bull was not able to match Alonso's pace, with the Dutchman finishing significantly behind the Spaniard.
