The second free practice session at the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix delivered fireworks, with George Russell Canadian GP FP2 performance grabbing everyone’s attention. The Mercedes driver found impressive form on the streets of Montréal, setting a best lap of 1:12.123 on Medium tyres. That lap placed him narrowly ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, while young star Kimi Antonelli made it a strong session for Mercedes by finishing third.
A Hotly Contested Start
The session began cautiously as drivers felt out the track conditions. Oscar Piastri was the first to put in a time, but his lap was soon overshadowed. Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, briefly took the top spot before the leaderboard changed rapidly. George Russell was the first to dip into the 1:13s, but it was clear competition would be fierce.
Lando Norris pushed early and took the lead with a solid lap on Medium tyres. Then Max Verstappen joined the fray, moving to the top briefly on Softs. However, Russell was not to be outdone, clocking a stunning 1:12.602 on C6 Soft tyres.
Mercedes Finds the Edge
While Verstappen voiced frustration over his RB21’s unstable rear end, Russell was cool and composed. With a fresh set of Medium tyres, the Briton dug even deeper and sliced nearly half a second off his own best time, posting the session’s benchmark 1:12.123. It was an eye-opener, especially with many drivers still on Soft tyres.
Kimi Antonelli backed up Mercedes’ strong showing by landing in second before being edged out by Norris. The Italian rookie delivered a solid 1:12.411 lap, showing he’s quickly adapting to Formula 1’s top tier.
Performance and Pace Breakthroughs
Russell’s Mercedes ran the C6 Medium compound when he clocked his fastest lap—proving the car had raw speed and consistency. His 1:12.123 time, achieved on a race-focused tyre, points to a promising weekend for the German squad. Norris, on Softs, was just 0.028s behind, while Antonelli stayed within 0.3s of the leader.
Behind them, Alex Albon had a standout performance for Williams, finishing fourth with a time of 1:12.445. Fernando Alonso followed closely in fifth, underlining Aston Martin’s improving pace. Piastri, Sainz, and Hamilton filled the mid-pack, with Verstappen and Lawson rounding out the top ten.
Key Incidents and Developments
Local favourite Lance Stroll suffered a tough break when he went wide at Turn 7, slapping the wall and damaging his suspension. He was forced to retire from the session early. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s complaints about the Red Bull’s handling suggest the team has some overnight work ahead.
The session concluded with most teams switching focus to long-run simulations, leaving the leaderboard largely unchanged. The top ten were separated by just over six-tenths of a second—a sign that qualifying could be incredibly close.
Summary
George Russell’s stunning lap in Montréal’s FP2 sent a clear message: Mercedes is a serious contender this weekend. With Norris and Antonelli right on his heels, and key players like Verstappen and Hamilton yet to find their sweet spot, the stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session. Expect strategy, tyre choices, and track evolution to play pivotal roles as the weekend unfolds.
Disclaimer: All performance data and positions are based on 2025 Canadian Grand Prix Free Practice 2 and are subject to change as the weekend progresses.