2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix: Fast-Paced Free Practice 2 Results

George Russell put Mercedes at the top in Free Practice 2 for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, narrowly outpacing Lando Norris by a tight 28 milliseconds.

Kimi Antonelli followed as third fastest at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, his best lap just under three-tenths from Russell’s leading time of 1:12.123.

This put Antonelli’s effort only a little more than a tenth away from Russell’s pole lap set at the same venue last season, showing a consistent pace for Mercedes in Canada.

Williams’ Alex Albon and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounded out the top five, giving Mercedes-powered teams control of the practice session.

In fact, cars using Mercedes engines filled the first seven spots on the timing sheets. The strong results for these teams highlighted the importance of engine performance at Montreal’s power-focused track.

Charles Leclerc was unable to participate after crashing in FP1. Ferrari needed to replace his chassis, ending his running for the day and leaving just 19 drivers in action for the final Friday session.

Lance Stroll, driving on home soil, also missed most of the session. He clipped the wall at Turn 7 less than 10 minutes in, which caused significant damage to his Aston Martin.

Stroll brought his car to a halt at the hairpin in front of the grandstand bearing his name, bringing his Friday to an early close and limiting Aston Martin’s running. Tire choices remained a puzzle for the teams, with the red-walled C6 soft and the medium compounds both being used in qualifying simulations.

Russell logged his best lap using the medium, while Norris made his mark on the softs, underlining that no clear preference had emerged for Saturday’s runs. Teams collected extensive data on both options, aiming to make informed decisions before qualifying.

Elsewhere in the field, drivers continued adjusting to tricky track conditions. A lack of grip during the opening practice caused several incidents, but better rubber on the surface helped improve times in FP2.

There were fewer major mistakes as teams grew more familiar with the evolving Montreal circuit, but the mix of strategies kept the session lively and unpredictable. Several storylines developed away from the track.

Max Verstappen, third in the championship standings, faced tough questions from the media following a recent clash with a reporter. Meanwhile, comments from Christian Horner and Fred Vasseur sparked additional debate about contracts and sporting regulations leading into the weekend.

These off-track events added extra intrigue as the paddock prepared for the main race. With Russell’s fast time, Mercedes will watch closely to see if they can convert their advantage in upcoming sessions.

The next stop on the F1 calendar is the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on June 29, with the British and Belgian Grands Prix following in July and the Hungarian event slated for early August. The battle for championship points will continue to build through the summer, as the season’s tight competition shows no sign of letting up.

For more insight on team dynamics and driver performances, see the recent coverage of McLaren and Lewis Hamilton at Monaco.

Ferrari’s challenges this season have been highlighted in reports including commentary on Carlos Sainz’s mindset, linked to his recent F1 Monaco fears.