There are days in Formula 1 when the script is thrown out the window, the ghosts of the past come out to play, and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve reminds us why it’s the most unpredictable stage in North America. Today’s Free Practice 3 for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix was one of those days—a session that began with battered egos and ended with battered carbon fibre, with Lando Norris and McLaren rising from the ashes of their “worst Friday of the year” to seize the headlines.
If you tuned in expecting a gentle prelude to qualifying, you clearly haven’t been paying attention for the last 25 years. This is Montreal, home of the Wall of Champions, where reputations are made, and sometimes, quite literally, broken.
The Wall of Champions: Still Hungry After All These Years
Let’s start with the obvious. The “Wall of Champions” at the final chicane is not just a concrete barrier—it’s a living, breathing entity in the mythology of Formula 1. Since 1999, when Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve all found themselves unceremoniously deposited into its embrace, the wall has claimed a steady stream of victims, from Jenson Button to Nico Rosberg, and now, in a minor but telling way, Oscar Piastri.
Today, Piastri—championship leader and McLaren’s golden boy—clipped the wall, suffering a right rear puncture and bringing out the red flag. He limped back to the pits, his pride only slightly less bruised than his car. It was a gentle reminder that, as ever, the wall does not discriminate: world champion or rookie, all are welcome.
The Australian nursed his McLaren back to the pits and rejoined the session, but could not trouble the leaders with his lap times. Piastri ended the running down in eighth and seven tenths off his team-mate.
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Norris’ Redemption: From Worst to First
If Friday was a disaster for McLaren, Saturday was a resurrection. Lando Norris, who had labelled yesterday “the worst Friday of the year,” found something special in FP3. With a lap of 1:11.799 on Pirelli’s softest C6 compound, Norris vaulted to the top of the timesheets, ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and George Russell’s Mercedes.
For Norris, Montreal has been a slow burn. He made his debut here in 2019, retired that year, and until last season, had never stood on the podium. But 2024 saw him finish second, and today’s performance suggests he’s ready to go one better. McLaren, a team with a storied history in Canada but no wins here in the hybrid era, suddenly look like contenders again.
Norris recovered on Saturday and led the field with a time of 1m11.799s, with Charles Leclerc second ahead of George Russell and the second Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton.
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Ferrari: Fast, Fragile, and Frustrated
Charles Leclerc was the early pacesetter on the medium tyre, but as the session wore on and the softs came out, he was pipped by Norris. Still, second place is a statement of intent for Ferrari, who have endured a bruising season both on and off the track. Team principal Fred Vasseur has been under fire, with criticism he described as “disrespectful and harming the team’s chances.”
Leclerc’s pace is a balm for Ferrari’s wounds, but the spectre of reliability and the ever-present threat of the Montreal barriers loom large. Lewis Hamilton, now in his second season in red, slotted into fourth, quietly reminding everyone that experience counts for something—especially here.
It is not about me, because I can manage this, but it is about the people of the team and to throw their names like this is disrespectful for them and for their family.
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal
Mercedes and Russell: The Quiet Threat
George Russell, fresh from a controversial clash with Max Verstappen in Spain, continued his strong form with third in FP3. Mercedes, who set the pace in FP2, look quietly confident. Russell’s comments about Verstappen’s penalty points—“If he gets to 12 points it wouldn’t be unjust”—echoed through the paddock, but on track, he let his driving do the talking.
Kimi Antonelli, the much-hyped Mercedes junior, finished seventh, a solid if unspectacular showing. For a team that once dominated this circuit, the hunger is palpable.
Red Bull: Verstappen on the Brink
Max Verstappen, fifth fastest today, is driving with the sword of Damocles hanging over his head. After his penalty in Spain, he is just one point away from a race ban—a fact that has not gone unnoticed by his rivals. Verstappen’s relationship with Montreal has always been complicated: flashes of brilliance, moments of frustration, and now, the added pressure of walking the disciplinary tightrope.
If he (Verstappen) gets to 12 points it (a ban) wouldn’t be unjust. At the end of the day, that’s why the penalty points are there. If you keep driving recklessly you will accumulate points, and get punished with a race ban.
George Russell
The Rest: Spinners, Survivors, and the Unlucky
The session was littered with incidents. Nico Hulkenberg spun his Sauber out of the final chicane but somehow avoided the wall. Oliver Bearman, the Haas rookie, was less fortunate, making contact at the same spot. Isack Hadjar spun late in the session, while Yuki Tsunoda finished last and is under investigation for a red flag infringement—a session to forget for the Japanese driver.
Fernando Alonso, the ageless wonder, was the only other driver within half a second of Norris. The Williams duo of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon rounded out the top ten, a testament to the team’s steady progress.
FP3 Results Table: 2025 Canadian Grand Prix
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:11.799 | Soft |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.112 | Soft |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.184 | Soft |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.265 | Soft |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.312 | Soft |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.497 | Soft |
| 7 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.601 | Soft |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.701 | Soft |
| 9 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.812 | Soft |
| 10 | Alex Albon | Williams | +0.899 | Soft |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| Last | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | N/A | Soft |
History Repeats, But Never the Same Way Twice
If you’re looking for patterns in Montreal, you’ll find only chaos. The Wall of Champions has claimed world champions and rookies alike. McLaren, once kings of Canada, have spent years in the wilderness, but now, with Norris and Piastri, they look ready to write a new chapter. Ferrari, forever on the brink of glory or disaster, remain the sport’s great enigma.
And then there’s the small matter of FP3 leaders rarely converting to pole or victory here—a statistical quirk that should keep Norris’ feet firmly on the ground. In Formula 1, as in life, nothing is guaranteed except the unpredictability of the next corner.
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’re still hungry for more Montreal mayhem, here are a few places to indulge your curiosity:
- F1 Canadian GP: Lando Norris recovers from “worst Friday” to top FP3
- LIVE: 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix – Free Practice 3
- F1 Canadian GP LIVE: Qualifying start time and schedule after Russell goes fastest
And for those who prefer their drama in moving pictures, check out the latest highlights and emotional overviews on YouTube:
YouTube: F1 Canadian GP FP3 Highlights
