F1 2024 Canada Grand Prix: Qualifying updates, times, schedule ...
Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and the rest of the grid eye pole position in damp weather in Montreal
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Formula One heads to Montreal for round nine of the 2024 season as the city’s street circuit pays host to the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was victorious for the first time in 22 months last time out as he comfortably won his home race in Monaco two weeks ago. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, finished sixth as his lead to Leclerc in the F1 drivers’ championship was cut to 31 points.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second in Monte-Carlo, with team-mate Lando Norris in fourth, while the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and seventh respectively as the Silver Arrows struggle to keep up with the leading trio. Hamilton is a seven-time winner in Canada.
Sergio Perez signed a new two-year contract at Red Bull on Monday, while Alpine announced that Esteban Ocon will leave at the end of the season as the twists and turns of the 2025 driver market continues apace.
Follow the Canadian Grand Prix with The Independent:
1. Red Bull - 276 points
2. Ferrari - 252 points
3. McLaren - 184 points
4. Mercedes - 96 points
5. Aston Martin - 44 points
6. RB - 24 points
7. Haas - 7 points
8. Williams - 2 points
9. Alpine - 2 points
10. Sauber - 0 points
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 20:23
Lewis Hamilton fears Formula One cars from 2026 will remain “pretty slow” after the next-generation machinery was unveiled.
On the eve of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, F1 provided a glimpse into its future after the concept of a car – which is hoped will provide greater racing from 2026 onwards – was revealed.
The new smaller machinery, incorporating a simplified combustion engine using fully sustainable fuels and the introduction of a new overtaking boost button, is set to be 30 kilograms lighter than the sport’s current design.
The FIA has now promised a minimum weight of 768kg – down from almost 800kg – with the governing body saying a “nimble” car has been at the heart of its new concept.
Full piece below:
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 20:12
Is Lewis Hamilton in with a chance, as well as frontrunners Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen?
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 20:00
Lando Norris says he is more excited than ever before when he gets behind the wheel knowing he is now fighting for wins.
The 24-year-old earned his maiden Formula One victory at the Miami Grand Prix and has secured three other podiums in an impressive start to the season for McLaren.
Norris is now expected to challenge for the podium on a regular basis and admits that expectation brings an excitement.
“I am more buoyed than ever. Still relaxed, maybe I don’t look it at times!” Norris said ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
“When I am in the car I’m more excited because that is when you are feeling what the potential is.”
Full piece below:
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 19:51
The FIA have unveiled the new-look, lighter and smaller car for the 2026 Formula One season and beyond.
The changes to the power unit are the biggest since F1 moved to hybrid power in 2014, a year which saw the start of Mercedes’ dominance of the sport. The cars in two years’ time will incorporate a simplified combustion engine, using fully sustainable fuels.
The 2026 car is depicted by the FIA as “lighter, safer and more competitive.” It is 30kg lighter, 200mm shorter and 100m narrower than the current generation of car.
More detail below:
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 19:32
Jacques Villeneuve brutally analysed Daniel Ricciardo’s career at the Canadian Grand Prix on Friday, insisting the Australian’s “image” has kept him in Formula 1.
Ricciardo, 34, has endured a difficult start to the 2024 season with RB and trails his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda by 14 points after eight races.
After being dropped by McLaren in 2022 and failing to hit the heights of his time at Red Bull earlier in his career, Ricciardo found a way back into the sport last year with Red Bull’s sister team – yet Villeneuve remains unimpressed with the popular Aussie and did not hold back on his opinion.
Full quotes below:
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 19:19
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in final practice ahead of qualifying at the Canadian Grand Prix as Mercedes showed further signs of improvement.
The seven-time world champion said on Thursday he felt a first podium of the season was not far away after signs of progress in Monaco last time out.
And in the first dry session of the weekend on Montreal’s Ile Notre-Dame, Hamilton finished over three tenths clear of Max Verstappen with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in third.
For the second day running Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu found himself in the barriers, bringing out a red flag five minutes into the session when he spun at the exit of turn one.
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 19:04
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 18:57
Well, well, well, how about that Lewis fans?!
The seven-time world champion is top of the timesheets with a 1:12:549, 0.374 secs quicker than Max Verstappen.
George Russell is in third for Mercedes, four-tenths off his team-mate, with Lance Stroll in fourth at his home race.
5-10: Piastri, Ricciardo, Norris, Alonso, Perez, Leclerc
Interesting!
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 18:34
Quick, but not quick enough!
Max Verstappen puts in his best lap of the weekend but it’s not enough to usurp George Russell in first - just 0.015 secs in it!
Times are really tumbling down now though...
Kieran Jackson8 June 2024 18:22
