As the tension built up under the unpredictable skies of Montreal, Saturday’s final practice session ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix delivered the sort of drama and surprises that make Formula 1 so captivating. With mixed weather forecasts and a fast-evolving track surface, teams and drivers knew that every lap in FP3 could be crucial, not only for qualifying but also to decipher the ideal set-up for Sunday’s race. At the end of the session, George Russell stole the spotlight with a scintillating lap, signalling that the contest for pole position would be anything but straightforward this weekend.
Russell’s time of 1:12.295 firmly placed him at the top of the timesheets, holding off no less than Max Verstappen, the championship leader. This wasn’t simply a matter of raw pace; it was a masterclass in extracting performance from a Mercedes machine that has so often struggled on bumpy, low-grip street circuits. The team’s relentless development push appears to be bearing fruit, with Russell managing both tyre temperatures and traffic expertly, especially crucial as several drivers complained about the challenging grip levels.
Verstappen, meanwhile, was a close second, but his session wasn’t without drama. The Dutch driver reported ongoing concerns with his Red Bull's energy deployment early on, highlighting how even the most dominant teams can be caught out by the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s quirks. Nevertheless, Verstappen managed to squeeze out a strong lap, suggesting that once the energy recovery woes are rectified, he will undoubtedly be a force in qualifying.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the session was Alexander Albon, who delivered a standout performance in the Williams, slotting into third behind only Russell and Verstappen. Albon’s pace in both fast and slow sections of the circuit demonstrates the evolutionary progress Williams has made, particularly in qualifying trim. His feedback after the session alluded to a car that’s feeling alive beneath him, and on a weekend where weather variability might level the playing field, Albon could very well be a dark horse for a top five grid slot later today.
Elsewhere, Ferrari faced a tougher outing than expected. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz struggled to generate sufficient tyre temperature in the cooler conditions, and traffic cost them dearly on their qualifying simulations. A red flag, caused mid-session by an off from Esteban Ocon, further compressed the window for key runs, meaning the Scuderia heads into qualifying with more variables than answers. However, Montreal’s circuit punishes hesitation, so Ferrari fans can hope for a resurgence later in the day.
Fernando Alonso kept Aston Martin inside the top five, quietly yet efficiently chipping away at set-up tweaks. The Spanish veteran’s consistency and adaptability could prove pivotal if the elusive rain showers sweep in during qualy or the race. McLaren, on the other hand, showed pace in practice but grappled with minor brake issues, an echo of their early season struggles.
The midfield, as ever, remains a churning dogfight. Haas looked potent in heavy fuel trim, while Alpine, despite Ocon’s red flag, showed a few tenths of improvement compared to previous weekends. The Canadian crowd, ever partisan towards local hero Lance Stroll, watched with bated breath as he pushed his Aston to the edge – a small off late in the session serving as a reminder of just how fine the margins are.
With the track surface rubbering in and rain clouds swirling on the horizon, Saturday’s qualifying session is shaping up to be one of the season’s most unpredictable. Teams are poring over data, readying for last-minute set-up calls that could define their weekend. If FP3 is anything to go by, Formula 1 fans are in for a thrilling Canadian Grand Prix where every lap, and every decision, will count.
