Mercedes anticipated the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and the cooler circumstances would swimsuit their automotive. These predictions have been borne out on the primary day of apply.
Groups’ 2024 efficiency in context
Final 12 months’s race was a very robust one for Mercedes and a very poor one for Ferrari. Purple Bull and McLaren’s tempo was typical of their 2024 type. George Russell and Max Verstappen set similar lap occasions in qualifying as they shared the entrance row of the grid, although each Mercedes drivers lapped faster earlier within the session.
Groups’ progress vs 2024
Though Nico Hulkenberg’s fifth place within the Spanish Grand Prix owed lots to how the Security Automobile performed into his palms, Sauber have been additionally inspired by the efficiency of the improve bundle they launched. Friday’s operating in Canada gave them extra trigger for optimism because the C45 set promising lap occasions from the beginning.
In distinction, whereas Ferrari’s tempo reveals a slight enchancment in comparison with final 12 months, that must be seen in gentle of the actual fact they have been particularly poor at this monitor 12 months in the past. Lewis Hamilton was the quickest non-Mercedes-powered driver however solely eighth on the finish of the day.
Groups’ 2024 and 2025 occasions
Purple Bull and McLaren’s efficiency seems to suit into the standard sample. Verstappen was a way off the tempo on Friday however many occasions this 12 months that has proved the precursor to a stronger efficiency on Saturday. The important thing query might be whether or not his staff mate Yuki Tsunoda may also discover extra from his automotive and guarantee each Purple Bulls attain Q3.
First and second apply occasions
Friday’s apply can have left Mercedes entertaining hopes of a repeat of the pole place Russell claimed on the monitor final 12 months.
“This was one among our extra constructive Fridays from a tempo perspective,” stated trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin. “We anticipated the monitor to be higher suited to our automotive than some current circuits, with the cooler circumstances serving to on the long term too.”
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2025 Canadian Grand Prix
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