Hamilton – ‘Canadian Grand Prix one of the drivers’ favourite circuits’
The Formula 1 paddock heads to Montreal next for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen won his third race in a row with a cruise of a victory in Spain last time out, with his lead in the F1 world championship now 53 points from Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
It was an improved weekend in Barcelona for Mercedes though, with their revamped car showing improvements as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell came home second and third respectively.
There was disappointment for Fernando Alonso though, who only finished seventh, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished outside the points in 11th. Verstappen won last year’s race in Montreal, seeing off Carlos Sainz in second.
Follow live coverage from the Canadian Grand Prix with The Independent – FP2 now starts at 9:30pm (BST).
F1 PRACTICE – CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
Show latest update
Lewis Hamilton goes fastest in FP2!
Mercedes one-two at the top of the standings with 25 minutes left of FP2!
Lewis Hamilton is first with a 1:13:718, with George Russell 0.027 secs down on his team-mate.
Carlos Sainz is in third, 0.125 secs down on Hamilton, with Fernando Alonso in fourth – 0.326 secs down.
5-10: Leclerc, Verstappen, Bottas, Perez, Stroll, Gasly.
Rain expected in five minutes…
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 22:38
Latest on Ocon’s situation:
Alpine statement: “Esteban stopped the car as a precaution due to a suspected loss of water pressure on his car.
“The team will investigate the cause after the session.”
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 22:31
FP2 back underway – again!
Esteban Ocon’s car quickly moved out of the way and now the 18 cars without issues are, more or less, all back out on track.
Lewis Hamilton goes sixth-fastest in his first run on soft tyres, five-tenths off Carlos Sainz up top – with the Spaniard taking first from Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc (+0.250 secs)
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 22:27
RED FLAG!
No sooner had we got underway…
The Alpine of Esteban Ocon has stopped just past turn 9, stranded!
Not sure what the issue is… it was a driveshaft for his team-mate Pierre Gasly earlier.
“Stop the car, stop the car,” the Frenchman is told over team radio.
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 22:14
FP2 resumes!
Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas has been rolled back into the pits and we’re back underway in FP2.
Around 50 minutes left: most cars now putting the fresh soft tyres on for some flying laps…
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 22:12
Current FP2 standings with 30 mins gone:
Charles Leclerc now on top with a 1:14:049, with Max Verstappen in second – 0.074 seconds behind.
Carlos Sainz is third, +0.102 secs behind his team-mate, with Valtteri Bottas (+0.546 secs) fourth and Pierre Gasly (+0.970 secs) in fifth, on mediums!
6-10: Piastri, Magnussen, Perez, Albon, Norris (mediums)
Lewis Hamilton 19th and George Russell 20th but don’t panic Mercedes’ fans! They’re on a different approach in this session and are performing their race-runs first, before qualifying simulations later.
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 22:08
RED FLAG – Nico Hulkenberg’s engine has blown!
Smoke pouring out the back of the Haas on the main straight – that’s it for the German’s second practice session!
Marshals prompt to the scene now with the fire extinguishers….
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 22:00
10 minutes gone in FP2:
Max Verstappen, two-tenths up at the top of the leaderboard, not happy despite his time: “These downshifts are a joke.”
Charles Leclerc (+0.190 secs) is in second, with Sergio Perez (+0.383 secs) third and Carlos Sainz (+0.526 secs) fourth.
5-10: Norris, Alonso, Bottas, Stroll, Magnussen
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 21:40
FP2 is underway!
Valtteri Bottas – quickest in the five minutes of running in FP1 – leads the pack out in second practice as the sun sets in Montreal!
Rain was forecast for tonight, but no downpours as of yet.
George Russell starts just to the side of the pack in the pit-lane, as he attempts a practice race-start…
(Getty Images)
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 21:32
FIA statement
“The local organisers have now completed their work to resolve the CCTV issues and following a test of the system the delay in the feed appears to have been rectified.”
FP2 will start in one minute!
Kieran Jackson16 June 2023 21:29