After a short break from racing, Formula 1, alongside F1 Academy, headed to Montréal, Canada. While this track is a regular stop on the Formula 1 calendar, it marks the first time for the women-based series. This makes the weekend a bit more challenging, as neither the teams nor the drivers of F1 Academy have much experience or data to rely on – making the practice session especially important for building confidence.
As the green light appeared, the drivers headed out on track without wasting much time. All eyes were on home favourite Nicole Havrda, the Hitech driver supported by American Express. She stated that she finally feels comfortable and settled in her car and is excited for the weekend. Even though the weather radar doesn’t predict rain over the circuit, Havrda disagrees and is excited for some wet action.
Havrda was the first to set a lap, posting a 1:44.507. However, lap times quickly began to improve. With Chloe Chambers, who will celebrate her birthday on Saturday, being closely chased by Alisha Palmowski. The two swapped positions throughout the whole session.
While teams gathered data and drivers gained experience and confidence, championship leader Maya Weug was struggling. She came in and out of the pit lane repeatedly, with her team trying to identify an issue. As a result, she was the only driver who didn’t set a lap time – missing out on valuable track time.
Sector 1 proved tricky. It started with Alba Larsen, who spun at Turn 1. Thankfully, there was no damage, and she continued her session. Later, it was Doriane Pin’s team who made an error – they left a fan on her car, which fell off at Turn 4, triggering a red flag. This could lead to a penalty for the French driver, pending post-session investigation.
Another potential penalty may be issued to Emma Felbermayr. The Austrian driver was preparing for a test start at pit exit when the red flag came out, turning the pit light from green to red. By exiting under red, she violated the rules.
With only six minutes remaining, the session resumed and all drivers returned to the track. Palmowski topped the timesheets, becoming the only driver to break into the 1:38 window. Meanwhile, Weug continued to struggle and ended the session without a lap time.
The laps are now in, and drivers are gearing up for more action later today. Qualifying is scheduled for 18:30 local time and will determine the grid for two of the three races. Will the track remain dry – or will Havrda’s prediction of rain come true?
What’s clear is that we’re in for some thrilling racing.