Canadian Grand Prix: Russell Tops Practice, Antonelli Impresses
Montreal, Quebec – George Russell led the second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix, clocking the fastest time with a lap of 1:15.098, just 0.028 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. Both drivers benefited from cooler temperatures, which suited Russell’s Mercedes and allowed him to extract maximum performance.
Russell utilized the C5 medium tyres, while Norris opted for the softer C6 compound. Reflecting on his performance, Russell stated, “It’s nice to be top of the leaderboard. It might be my first time this year! We had higher expectations due to the cooler conditions… we’re pretty competitive.”
He acknowledged the team’s ongoing challenge with tire performance in warmer conditions and emphasized their goal of maximizing the weekend: “There was nothing more in the tank there… full beans, power and all the rest. Let’s see what that brings.”
As anticipation builds for Sunday’s race, Russell expressed awareness of Norris’s potential challenge, especially as Norris seeks to make up ground to teammate Oscar Piastri in the standings. “Clearly a number of teams are thinking about this medium tyre as well, so come qualifying, do you go on the soft, do you go on the medium?” he added.
In another promising sign for Mercedes, rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished third in practice, 0.288 seconds behind Russell. Antonelli highlighted the car’s balance, stating, “The car is very connected… it gives you confidence, so that’s the most important.”
As the teams prepare for qualifying, the implications of tire strategy will be critical in deciding the competitive landscape for the race. The performances from Friday’s practice suggest an intriguing battle among the top contenders as they aim for points on Sunday.
