Leclerc is doing well in Canada, Verstappen is in serious trouble. Rain protagonist, Alonso sees the summit again
More than the bad weather, which was the protagonist in the first and second free practice sessions, the real twist on Friday of the Canadian GP was Verstappen stopping in the pits in a climate of growing agitation among the blue overalls. The world champion just covered four laps before returning to the garage due to a problem with the power unit. She had just been mounted, so a serious alarm. From the team they speak of a failure in the ERS system, a part of the hybrid. Uphill start after the last three difficult races (he won in Imola but struggled) on a track considered treacherous due to its semi-city characteristics. What’s happening to Red Bull, which last year – and also at the start of this World Championship – was doing wonderfully?
The Ers will be replaced on Max’s car in view of Saturday’s qualifying, the situation is recoverable but the alarm bells remain high considering the reliability over the course of a 24 GP World Championship. Also because Max threw away a session already compromised by intermittent rain. In such a context, the times must be taken with a grain of salt, at least the absolute ones: Alonso has seen the top again, for Aston Martin Montreal it is a special appointment as it is the home race of owner Lawrence Stroll. Behind the Spaniard Russell and Stroll. Leclerc is fourth, but he achieved his time on the slowest tyres, the medium tyres, so it counts for a lot. And he counts even more the trust regained with the victory in Monte Carlo: Charles, in wet or dry conditions, felt good. Despite the thrill of being sent out on track with the intermediates when the race direction had not yet announced the wet session. Wall or race control error?
