2026 F1 Canadian Grand Prix - Free Practice results

Kimi Antonelli led the only free practice session for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, posting a lap 0.126s quicker than Mercedes teammate George Russell at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Lewis Hamilton completed the top three in a session that was prolonged by nearly 20 minutes due to three red-flag interruptions.

Why it matters:

Montreal's unique circuit demands a strong setup from the start, and Antonelli's pace signals that Mercedes could be the team to beat this weekend. However, the disrupted running means teams have less representative data, making qualifying even more unpredictable.

The details:

• First red flag: Liam Lawson's Racing Bulls stopped with a hydraulics issue, adding four minutes to the clock.
• Second red flag: Alex Albon crashed after trying to avoid a marmot on track – the Williams driver lost control and hit the wall, prompting a 15-minute extension.
• Third red flag: Esteban Ocon ripped the nose off his Haas in the final minutes, ending the session early.
• Post-session investigation: Lawson was called to the stewards for a potential clutch disengagement system (CDS) failure on his VCARB 03.

What's next:

Qualifying takes place tomorrow under clear skies, with Mercedes looking to build on their early advantage. The extended practice time gave teams extra laps, but the incidents leave several drivers behind on setup work – especially Albon and Ocon, who will need quick repairs.