Canadian GP: Friday's action in pictures

The Canadian Grand Prix weekend kicked off in earnest on Friday under clear blue skies, but with chaos and disruption marking the sole practice session. Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore was spotted on the pit wall as teams scrambled to understand the new circuit surface and tire behavior.### Why it matters:Friday's running at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve often sets the competitive order for the rest of the weekend. This year's single-hour practice session was especially critical before Sprint Qualifying, giving teams minimal time to dial in setups for the high-speed, low-grip track.### The details:* Practice chaos: A handful of drivers ran wide at the final chicane and Turn 2, with several minor spins as the 2026-generation cars struggled for rear grip on a greasy surface.* Briatore's return: The former Benetton and Renault team principal was seen in Alpine's garage, fueling speculation about his growing advisory role within the Enstone squad.* Tire degradation: Early telemetry indicated graining on the soft compound, forcing teams to focus on long-run data for Sunday's race.* Sprint qualifying setup: With Sprint Qualifying scheduled for later Friday, many teams used the session to test aggressive wing angles, expecting low downforce to be the key to a fast lap.### What's next:Sprint Qualifying will determine the grid for Saturday's Sprint race, with drivers often taking more risks on the shorter format. The real picture of race pace will emerge during the Sprint itself, where tire management is expected to be a deciding factor.