Lando Norris topped the F1 FP3 timings at the 2025 Canadian GP with a 1:11.799 for McLaren. Charles Leclerc was second for Ferrari with a 1:11.877. George Russell completed the top three, setting a 1:11.950 for Mercedes.
Green Light
Although the green light was on, none of the drivers rushed out of the pit-lane.
Surprisingly, not even Charles Leclerc was eager. The Monegasque missed Friday’s FP2 session after a chassis change was required after a sizeable crash during FP1.
Five minutes into the session, it was the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll who began his exploratory laps.
Similarly to Leclerc, the hometown hero was forced to cut his Friday early after contact with the wall at Turn 7 during FP2.
Action On Track
With 54 minutes of the session remaining, a few of the drivers started their exploratory laps, including Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar.
However, these runs were short, with the drivers typically boxing after just a couple of laps.
With a considerable amount of catching up to do, it was Leclerc who set the benchmark of a 1:15.004 for Ferrari.
In addition, Colapinto was the only other driver to have set a timed lap. The Argentine slotted in +0.362s behind Leclerc on the Soft tyres.
Shortly after, Oliver Bearman topped the timings with a 1:14.831 on the Medium tyres for Haas. The team are celebrating their 200th Grand Prix this weekend.
Colapinto almost ended up in the wall at the final corner as he started a timed lap, with the Alpine driver undoubtedly driving for his future under the watchful eye of Flavio Briatorie.
45 Minutes Remaining
With 45 minutes remaining, several timed laps were starting to be set across the grid.
Fernando Alonso went quickest on the C6 Softs with a 1:13.050 for Aston Martin, +1.054 ahead of Leclerc in second.
However, the Spanish driver complained that there was “no rear grip today.”
Red Flag
It was the McLaren of Oscar Piastri who was the cause of the red flag, hitting the wall of champions.
Although the Championship leader was able to crawl to the pits, despite a right-rear puncture, the red flag was necessary due to debris on track.
Furthermore, Nico Hulkenberg also had a notable moment at the same corner, nudging his rear-wing after a 360-degree spin.
30 Minutes Remaining
With just over 30 minutes remaining, the green flag was waved.
Leclerc was fastest with a 1:12.843 for Ferrari, followed by the McLaren of Lando Norris just +0.137s behind. The Aston Martin of Alonso sat in third with a 1:13.050.
Notably, Lewis Hamilton was comfortable in fourth with a 1:13.145 for Ferrari, with the British driver hoping to perform well at the circuit where he took his maiden win in 2007.
Norris bettered Leclerc by half a second on the Medium tyres, yet George Russell swiftly knocked him off the top spot with a 1:12.329 on the C6 Softs for Mercedes.
Max Verstappen was struggling in fourth, with the Red Bull driver “lacking bite in the brake material.”
Luckily for Piastri, the damage to his McLaren did not seem extensive as he made his way back onto the track.
A brief yellow flag was waved for Hadjar as he spun at Turn 2.
The Medium tyres seemed like the most favourable option as Hamilton went fastest with a 1:12.279, yet Russell was able to put his Mercedes ahead once again, +0.329 ahead.
20 Minutes Remaining
Notably, the Stake of Nico Hulkenberg had not returned to the track after earlier contact with the wall of champions.
Additionally, Yuki Tsunoda had also completed only seven laps for Red Bull after suffering with front brake issues.
There was change at the top once again as Norris went quickest with a 1:11.799. It was second for Hamilton who was exactly +0.100s slower than Russell’s benchmark time.
Russell swiftly split the drivers for an all-British top three with a 1:11.950 for Mercedes.
Bearman was the next driver to have a moment with the wall of champions, hitting his right-rear after a snap of oversteer.
10 Minutes Remaining
As the chequered flag neared, it was still an all-British top three made up of Norris, Russell and Hamilton consecutively.
Making his bad day even worse, Tsunoda was noted for a red flag infringement, which could result in a grid penalty for Sunday’s race.
Similarly, the Stake of Gabriel Bortoleto was also noted, with both infringements being investigated after the session.
A decent lap for Alonso saw him go into fifth with a 1:12.247, with Verstappen slotting in +0.448s ahead of him.
Setting a purple first sector, Leclerc put his Ferrari into second, despite claiming he made “too many mistakes” as the chequered flag was waved.
Lando Norris topped the F1 FP3 timings at the 2025 Canadian GP with a 1:11.799 for McLaren. Charles Leclerc was second for Ferrari with a 1:11.877, with George Russell completing the top three, setting a 1:11.950 for Mercedes.
Featured Image Credit: McLaren Racing
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