Russell Leads Second Practice at Canadian Grand Prix as Mercedes Shines

MONTREAL — Mercedes driver George Russell delivered a strong performance in Friday’s second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix, topping the timesheets with a commanding lap of 1 minute 12.123 seconds, narrowly edging out McLaren’s Lando Norris by just 0.028 seconds.

Russell’s standout performance comes at a pivotal moment in the 2024 Formula One season, where consistency and momentum are crucial. As four-time world champion Max Verstappen struggled with car balance and grip during both practice sessions, Russell seized the opportunity to assert his dominance—if only temporarily—at the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

This marked the first time this season that Russell has topped a practice session, and the Briton appeared energized after the strong showing. Speaking to reporters post-session, Russell said:

“It’s nice. It might be my first time topping a leaderboard this year, 10 races in. So obviously, it’s been a very positive day.”

Russell Sets Fastest Lap in Montreal Ahead of Norris

Last year, Russell started from pole position at the same track, and Friday’s pace suggests that he could be poised to repeat—or even improve—on that performance during Saturday’s qualifying.

Behind Russell and Norris, Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli showed impressive speed to finish third. He was followed by Williams’ Alex Albon, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, and championship leader Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren.

While Russell was in top form, reigning champion Max Verstappen was visibly frustrated with his Red Bull’s handling. The Dutch driver complained over team radio that his car was “jumping crazy at the rear,” echoing similar concerns voiced by Lewis Hamilton, who reported rear instability in his Ferrari.

Verstappen’s lap was only good enough for ninth, as Red Bull’s performance seemed to lag behind expectations. Team newcomer Liam Lawson and young reserve Isack Hadjar followed closely behind in their respective Red Bulls.

This opened the door for Russell and Mercedes to assert themselves on the leaderboard, as conditions improved throughout the session. McLaren, meanwhile, appeared to be conducting a measured and data-driven session, testing updated front wings and suspension components.

The day wasn’t smooth for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc suffered a heavy crash in the earlier FP1 session, causing significant damage to the survival cell of his car and ruling him out of the second session. That left Lewis Hamilton, now in Ferrari red, to carry the team’s hopes. He managed to finish eighth, but far from where the team needs to be amid mounting pressure.

Speculation around Ferrari’s performance and internal dynamics has been swirling in the media. Team principal Fred Vasseur hit back at what he described as “stupid stories” threatening to destabilize the team’s focus and morale.

With Hamilton in Ferrari and Mercedes now looking to Russell for leadership, the 26-year-old Brit seems to be rising to the challenge. At a track where Hamilton and Schumacher share a record seven victories, Russell’s familiarity and comfort around the Montreal circuit were evident.

In the middle of the session, local favorite Lance Stroll hit the wall at Turn 7, damaging the front end of his Aston Martin and prematurely ending his day. As others began pushing for fast laps, Russell’s pace stood firm, nearly eight-tenths quicker than his own pole-setting time from the previous season.

As teams switched to longer race-trim runs in the final 15 minutes, a remarkable 17 drivers were within one second of Russell’s fastest time—an indication that Saturday’s qualifying session could be one of the most competitive of the season.

Trailing that tightly packed group was Franco Colapinto in the Alpine, just outside the top 17 but still within striking distance.

Mercedes, with Russell at the helm, look to be in a strong position going into the weekend. If Russell maintains this form through qualifying, he could be on track not just for pole, but for a major result in Sunday’s race.

 Source- EWN