Appearing Fastest at the FP Canadian GP, ​​Mercedes Drivers Can Start Smiling

Formula 1 racer Lewis Hamilton can now smile, after an impressive free practice (FP) session at the Canadian GP on Friday (16/6/2023). This happened after the seven-time F1 world champion was able to achieve the fastest time.

Returning to one of his all-time favorite tracks, Lewis Hamilton, seven-time winner of the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, led his Mercedes one-two ahead of teammate George Russell. This condition certainly raises the hopes of Mercedes and many parties who want to see the emergence of a Red Bull challenger.

While no one at Mercedes had predicted a win in Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, there were plenty of smiles as Red Bull’s race leader Max Verstappen finished sixth and team-mate Sergio Perez eighth.

“The car doesn’t feel bad but I think we definitely have some work to do,” said Hamilton.

“We’ve just improved our riding control and balance a little bit through the corners and I think we’ll be fine.

Overall the car is one step further and I really feel the improvement we got in Monaco.”

For Mercedes, the improvements in their vehicles at the Monaco and Barcelona GPs resulted in a double podium at the Spanish Grand Prix with Hamilton finishing second and Russell third behind Verstappen.

However, Mercedes technical director James Allison warned against relying on practice results in Sunday’s race, as it will be a combination of strategy and luck with the weather.

“I think there is still a lot to work on in the car before we qualify and I think all we can read is that the car is in good shape.

Red Bull has won all seven races this season, Verstappen has won five, and most observers expect that dominance to continue in Montreal.

Even Allison can’t bring herself to make any predictions outside of things that ultimately all point in the right direction.