Antonelli tops FP1 in Montreal as Albon's session ends with marmot collision

Kimi Antonelli topped the sole practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix, edging Mercedes teammate George Russell by 0.142s. The FP1 was punctuated by three red flags, including a bizarre incident where Williams' Alex Albon struck a marmot before crashing heavily at Turn 7.

Why it matters:

This FP1 was the only practice before Sprint Qualifying later today. Antonelli's pace on soft tyres suggests Mercedes has strong one-lap potential, but the multiple interruptions limited long-run data for all teams.

The details:

• Red flag 1: Liam Lawson stopped on track after just 10 minutes, forcing a brief halt.
• Red flag 2: Alex Albon lost control after hitting a marmot on the exit of the back straight, slamming into the barriers. He climbed out unharmed.
• Red flag 3: Esteban Ocon damaged his front wing in a late spin.
• Top 3: Antonelli (1:13.402), Russell (+0.142), Lewis Hamilton (+0.774).
• Session extended by 15 minutes due to interruptions.

What's next:

Sprint Qualifying takes place later today, with drivers having only this 60-minute session to dial in their setups. Mercedes looks competitive, but Ferrari and Red Bull will aim to close the gap in the afternoon.

| Pos | Driver | Time | |-----|--------|------| | 1 | Antonelli | 1:13.402 | | 2 | Russell | +0.142 | | 3 | Hamilton | +0.774 | | 4 | Leclerc | +0.953 | | 5 | Verstappen | +0.964 |