2024 F1 Round 9 Canadian GP FP2: Alonso fastest in the rain in 1m15.810s, ERS issue limits Verstappen to four laps

The second practice session for Round 9 of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Canadian Grand Prix, took place in the rain at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in the early hours of 8 June, Beijing time. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso led the field with a 1m15.810s, with Mercedes driver George Russell second, 0.463s behind. Alonso’s team mate Lance Stroll was third, while RB’s Yuki Tsunoda placed eighth.

Following a weather-affected first practice, rain again dictated proceedings. Most drivers took the risk of heading out on slick tyres. Lap times gradually improved in the light rain, but shortly after Alonso went fastest, the rain intensified and every car returned to the pits. The teams waited nearly ten minutes without an improvement in the weather before Esteban Ocon led the return to the track on intermediates, with the others following. Nobody could dislodge Alonso’s time before the session ended.

The timesheet therefore offered only a limited guide to the competitive order. With Saturday’s forecast pointing to even worse weather, the teams faced an increasingly difficult task in assessing the weekend.

Reigning champions Red Bull suffered another setback. After their lack of competitiveness in Monaco, Verstappen now had a mechanical problem: as practice approached the half-hour mark, his car returned to the garage with smoke coming from it. The problem was subsequently identified as an energy recovery system, or ERS, fault, and the Dutchman completed only four laps in the entire session.

Two further incidents attracted the officials’ attention. Norris twice went off at the final two corners and, on both occasions, rejoined without passing to the left of the bollard as instructed by the Race Director. Ferrari, meanwhile, sent Leclerc out on intermediates before the FIA had declared the track wet. The drivers and teams concerned faced the risk of penalties over the two incidents.

Leclerc and Magnussen finished fourth and sixth respectively, with Ricciardo taking fifth for RB. The biggest struggler was FP1 pacesetter Norris: McLaren failed to post a competitive time throughout the session, and the Briton finished last, more than five seconds behind Alonso. Third practice was scheduled for 00:30 on 9 June, Beijing time.