Overview
- Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in the lone free-practice at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, posting the session benchmark ahead of teammate George Russell.
- The practice session was interrupted several times by red flags and incidents, including a Russell spin into the barriers, which cut available running and hampered teams' setup work.
- Panorama and Il Giornale report Mercedes brought upgrades that appear to have improved starts and overall balance, helping the team convert practice pace into a front-row sweep in sprint qualifying with Russell on pole and Antonelli second.
- Max Verstappen managed a top-five practice time despite a reported gearbox issue, while Ferrari drivers closed in on Mercedes but remained behind in the short running available.
- Circuit characteristics that reward power and straight-line speed could amplify Mercedes' gains, so the sprint and Sunday race will test whether the upgrades and limited setup time hold up over race distance.