The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix delivered one of the many shocking results of the Formula 1 season, as George Russell took pole position after posting the exact time as Max Verstappen in Q3.
Can Russell and Mercedes deliver another surprise Saturday in Montreal?
Both Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli were strong in the two practice sessions Friday at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Russell finishing fourth in FP1 and atop the timing sheets in FP2. Antonelli was a little more off the pace in FP1, where he finished in P13, but was up in the top three with his teammate in FP2 with the third-best time.
While Russell thought the results in FP2 may have “flattered” the team, he also believes that the cooler temperatures and smoother surface in Montreal will play to the team’s strengths.
However, the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are always lurking. The Constructors’ Championship leaders brought a series of upgrades to Montreal, and the pair seemed to take what they learned from FP1 and put those lessons to work in FP2, where Norris finished second and Piastri finished sixth.
However, Norris was still unsatisfied after the two practice sessions, calling it the “worst” Friday of the season for the Woking-based team.
Max Verstappen, who has to avoid adding one more penalty point over the next two races to evade a one-race penalty ban, was fastest in FP1.
Qualifying starts at 4:00 p.m. Eastern and we will cover it live, so come back early and often for all the action!
