Canadian GP FP1 Report: Antonelli Leads Mercedes One-Two In Montreal
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Kimi Antonelli made the perfect start to the Canadian Grand Prix weekend by topping the only practice session in Montreal, as Mercedes opened the Sprint weekend with a strong one-two at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Antonelli set the pace with a 1:13.402, finishing 0.142s ahead of George Russell, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc followed in third and fourth. Max Verstappen completed the top five for Red Bull in a session that was more chaotic than clean, with three red flags interrupting the running.
FP1 Result: Top 10
| Position | Driver | Team | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:13.402 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.142s |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.774s |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.953s |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.964s |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | — |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | — |
| 8 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | — |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | — |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | — |
Mercedes Start Strong In Montreal
For Mercedes, this was exactly the kind of start they would have wanted.
With Canada hosting a Sprint weekend, FP1 is not just a gentle warm-up. It is the only practice session before competitive running begins, so teams have very little time to understand the car, fine-tune the setup, and prepare for Sprint Qualifying.
Antonelli’s lap put him at the top of the timesheets, while Russell’s second place gave Mercedes a clean one-two at the front. Reuters also reported that Mercedes arrived in Montreal with a significant aerodynamic upgrade package, making this opening session even more important for the team’s weekend direction.
Of course, FP1 times never tell the full story. Fuel loads, engine modes and run plans are not always the same. But on a Sprint weekend, being quick immediately matters more than usual.
Mercedes look like they have started in the right window.
Ferrari Show Early Pace, But Mercedes Have The Edge
Ferrari were next in line, with Hamilton third and Leclerc fourth.
That is a solid start, especially at a circuit where braking confidence and traction are so important. But the gap to Antonelli was not small: Hamilton was 0.774s away from the fastest time, while Leclerc was 0.953s back.
The bigger question for Ferrari is whether that gap reflects true pace or simply session timing.
Montreal can change quickly as the track rubbers in, and with red flags disrupting the rhythm, not every driver will have had a clean run at the ideal moment. Still, Ferrari will know that Mercedes have put pressure on early.
On a normal weekend, there would be time to work through that.
On a Sprint weekend, the clock is already ticking.
Verstappen Fifth As Red Bull Continue To Chase
Max Verstappen ended FP1 fifth for Red Bull, just under a second away from Antonelli’s benchmark.
That result keeps Red Bull in the conversation, but it does not yet suggest they have jumped to the front of the order in Montreal. Canada is a circuit that can reward confident braking, strong traction and straight-line efficiency, so Red Bull will be looking closely at where the time was lost.
For Verstappen, the opportunity is still there. Sprint weekends can change quickly, especially if teams do not have enough time to fully optimise the car.
But based on FP1, Mercedes have taken the early initiative.
Red Flags Disrupt The Session
The practice hour was far from straightforward.
Reuters reported three red flags during the session. The first came when Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson stopped on track after losing power steering early in the session. The second was caused by Alex Albon, who crashed at Turn 7 after being unable to avoid a groundhog. The final stoppage came late on when Esteban Ocon went into the wall and lost his front wing.
That made FP1 messy for teams and drivers.
Every lost minute matters more on a Sprint weekend. When there is only one practice session, red flags do not just interrupt the flow — they reduce the amount of useful data teams can gather before the competitive sessions begin.
That could become a major talking point later in the weekend.
Albon’s Groundhog Incident Adds To Williams’ Problems
One of the strangest and most unfortunate moments of the session came when Albon hit a groundhog and crashed at Turn 7.
Groundhogs have become an unusual part of the Montreal weekend over the years, but this was not just a light-hearted interruption. The impact damaged Albon’s Williams and cost him valuable running in the only practice session before Sprint Qualifying. Reuters later reported that Albon was forced out of Sprint Qualifying after the damage required gearbox and power unit changes.
For Williams, that is a painful way to start the weekend.
Canada is already difficult enough with limited practice. Losing track time and then needing major repairs makes the Sprint format even harsher.
Why FP1 Matters More This Weekend
Usually, FP1 is only the first chapter of the weekend. Teams test ideas, drivers build rhythm, and everyone slowly works toward qualifying and the race.
This weekend is different.
Because Canada is a Sprint event, FP1 was the only practice session before Sprint Qualifying. That means the teams had to make decisions quickly. Setup direction, tyre understanding, braking balance and kerb behaviour all had to be assessed under pressure.
At Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, that is not easy.
The track is short, fast and punishing. Drivers need to attack the kerbs, brake late, and avoid the walls. If the car is not comfortable early, there is not much time to fix it.
That is why Mercedes’ strong start is important — and why the disrupted running could hurt teams further down the order.
What FP1 Tells Us Before The Rest Of The Weekend
FP1 does not guarantee the final order, but it gives us a few early clues.
Mercedes look sharp. Ferrari appear to be in the mix, but not yet ahead. Verstappen and Red Bull still have work to do. McLaren were close enough to stay involved, while Lindblad’s eighth place was an eye-catching result for Racing Bulls.
The biggest takeaway, though, is that this weekend may already be harder to read than a normal Grand Prix.
The red flags reduced useful running. The Sprint format compresses the schedule. Montreal punishes mistakes. And with competitive sessions coming quickly, teams that missed clean laps in FP1 may already be playing catch-up.
Final Thoughts
Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes have made the strongest possible start to the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, but FP1 also showed how quickly Montreal can create problems.
Three red flags, a strange groundhog-related crash, and limited practice time all added to the pressure of an already intense Sprint weekend. Mercedes have the early advantage, but with Sprint Qualifying, the Sprint, Grand Prix qualifying and Sunday’s race still to come, Canada is only just getting started.
If FP1 was a warning, it is this: Montreal will not give anyone an easy weekend.
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