The changeable weather continued for Formula 1 in Canada on Friday. The second free practice session (and its result) were also heavily influenced by the rain. This time Fernando Alonso prevailed before the next shower arrived. In the dry window of all times, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, equipped with a new power unit, suffered a technical defect.
The weather: The rain, which had already prevented a third of FP1 from taking place, returned just as the pit lane lights turned green for the second free practice session. Under deep black clouds with an air temperature of 19 degrees and a track temperature of 27 degrees, the first 30 minutes began with a light drizzle. Then it became too heavy to make sense to use slicks.
The result: Even in the first half hour, the track was still usable with slicks, but too wet for really meaningful laps. Most teams tried softs anyway. Fernando Alonso slid the best, clearly beating George Russell and Lance Stroll with a time of 1:15.810.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth, seven tenths behind, but Ferrari and McLaren were the only teams to use medium rather than soft tyres. This result is not a true reflection of any balance of power given the changeable conditions.
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The incidents: Ferrari made an embarrassing strategy faux pas in these first few minutes. They sent Charles Leclerc out on intermediates in the face of the approaching shower – but that is only allowed when the session is declared “wet” by the race control. Which was not the case until a good five minutes later.
At least the pits quickly realised the mistake and asked a confused Leclerc on the out lap to come back in immediately. Now the team is facing a penalty, probably a fine. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are also being investigated for not returning to the track correctly after cutting through the chicane.
Max Verstappen returned to the garage after just three laps at the start, after slight smoke signals from the rear of the RB20. The yellow tape indicating problems with the hybrid system was stretched in front of the pits while the mechanics began to dismantle the rear with rubber gloves.
An ERS problem was later confirmed. Verstappen had only received his third power unit that morning. He only completed three laps. Almost all the other drivers were able to drive over ten laps on both slicks and intermediates and gain experience. There were a few off-tracks in the rain and an elegant Leclerc spin in the hairpin, all without serious consequences.