The first practice session at the Montreal event got off to a rough start when a hailstorm hit the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve an hour before it was set to begin.
The rain stopped before the session started at 1:30 PM local time, but the pitlane stayed closed as workers cleared water from the track, so no cars could run at first.
After about 39 minutes, the pitlane finally opened, avoiding a repeat of a situation in 2023 where there was barely any practice time due to technical issues.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was the first to go out on intermediate tires for a few laps, while Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas used full wet tires initially but switched to intermediates soon after.
As the track dried, more drivers went out, but Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu caused a brief stoppage when he spun and hit the wall.
As conditions improved, lap times got faster. Yuki Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz, Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc all took turns leading the session.
In the last six minutes, most drivers switched to soft slick tires as the track dried further. Leclerc briefly led before McLaren’s Lando Norris set the fastest time.
Sainz, Hamilton, and Max Verstappen followed in the top positions. Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, and Bottas completed the top eight, with Bottas spinning late in the session.
Sergio Perez and George Russell rounded out the top ten. Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan had limited time in the session, and Zhou and Alex Albon didn’t set a lap time.
More rain is expected for the second practice session on Friday afternoon at 5 PM local time.
