Williams Rises, Leclerc Falls, and Verstappen Reigns: The Emotional Rollercoaster of 2025 Canadian Grand Prix FP1

If you ever needed a reminder that Formula 1 is a sport where the script is written in pencil, not ink, look no further than the opening act of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix weekend. Free Practice 1 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve delivered a session that was equal parts nostalgia, heartbreak, and jaw-dropping surprise—a session that left even this grizzled old scribe reaching for the archive, the aspirin, and, dare I say, the popcorn.

The King of Montreal: Verstappen’s Relentless March

Let’s start with the least surprising surprise: Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion and Montreal’s current landlord, once again topped the timesheets. The Dutchman’s 1:13.193 on the C6 compound was a statement lap—clinical, unflinching, and, frankly, a little bit boring in its inevitability. This is a man who has now won the last three Canadian Grands Prix and, if you believe the bookmakers, is on course for a fourth.

But before you roll your eyes and mutter, Here we go again, consider this: Verstappen’s dominance in Montreal is a relatively recent phenomenon. Prior to his current streak, the Canadian circuit was a playground for the likes of Hamilton, Schumacher, and even the odd Williams or two. Verstappen’s current run is a testament to Red Bull’s engineering prowess and his own relentless consistency—a modern echo of Schumacher’s early-2000s Ferrari juggernaut.

Max Verstappen made a perfect start to the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, by topping first practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

RacingNews365

Williams: The Ghosts of Glory Stir

Now, let’s talk about the real headline: Williams. Yes, Williams. The team that once ruled the sport with an iron fist and a carbon-fibre chassis, only to spend the last two decades wandering the wilderness, suddenly found itself in the rarefied air of the top three. Alex Albon, that perennial underdog with a smile as wide as the St. Lawrence, finished second—just 0.039 seconds behind Verstappen. And who was third? Carlos Sainz, also in a Williams. No, you haven’t stumbled into a time machine set for 1996.

For a team that has spent much of the hybrid era as Formula 1’s answer to Sisyphus, this was a moment to savour. Williams’ last win in Montreal was in 1996, with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve trading blows at the front. Since then, the team’s fortunes have waxed and waned—mostly waned. Today, for a fleeting hour, the ghosts of Frank Williams and Patrick Head could be heard whispering in the paddock.

It was a strong session for Williams, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz having secured second and third. The top three was split by just 0.082s.

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The Table of Truth: FP1 Standings

Let’s pause for a moment and look at the cold, hard numbers. Because, as any historian will tell you, the numbers never lie—they just don’t always tell the whole story.

Source: PlanetF1

Leclerc’s Montreal Curse: A New Chapter

If Williams’ resurgence was the feel-good story of the session, Charles Leclerc’s crash was its Greek tragedy. The Monegasque, who has never been notably accident-prone in Montreal, found the wall at Turn 4 just 15 minutes into the session. The red flag flew, the Ferrari limped back to the garage, and the paddock collectively winced.

Leclerc’s misfortune is particularly poignant given his history. Until today, he had never suffered a major incident in Canadian practice or race sessions—a rare feat for a driver whose career has been punctuated by moments of brilliance and heartbreak in equal measure. Today, Montreal added its name to the list of circuits that have bitten back.

Completely overshooting the entry into the chicane, Leclerc ‘thought I will just make it’, but clattered the inside barrier and wrecked the left side of the SF-25.

PlanetF1

McLaren’s Sluggish Start: The Championship Narrative Twists

And what of McLaren, the team that has set the early season alight? Oscar Piastri, the championship leader, could do no better than 14th—a full second off Verstappen’s pace. Lando Norris, his closest rival, managed seventh. For a team that has been the class of the field in 2025, this was a sobering reminder that Montreal is a circuit with a long memory and little patience for hype.

It’s worth noting that McLaren’s struggles in FP1 are not unprecedented. The team has a history of using Friday sessions to experiment, often sacrificing headline times for long-run data. But with the championship so finely poised, every session counts—and today, McLaren blinked.

The Return of Stroll and the Rise of the Young Guns

Elsewhere, the session was a tapestry of comebacks and coming-of-age stories. Lance Stroll, returning to his home race after missing Spain due to hand and wrist pain, finished a respectable 15th. Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, the Racing Bulls duo, both cracked the top eight—a sign that the next generation is not content to wait its turn.

Franco Colapinto, making his first appearance at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, spun at Turn 2 but escaped unscathed. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes’ latest prodigy, finished 13th after a brief off-road excursion. The future, it seems, is arriving faster than ever.

Historical Parallels: When Williams Dared to Dream

For those of us who remember the days when Williams was the team to beat, today’s FP1 was a bittersweet echo. In the 1980s and 1990s, Williams dominated in Montreal, racking up eight wins and countless podiums. The sight of two Williams cars in the top three is a reminder that, in Formula 1, history is never truly past—it’s just waiting for the right moment to reassert itself.

Of course, one swallow does not make a summer, and one FP1 session does not make a championship. But for a team that has spent years in the wilderness, today was a glimpse of what might be possible if the stars align.

The Human Element: Quotes from the Paddock

No Formula 1 story is complete without the voices of those who live it. Here are some of the words that echoed through the paddock today:

Even Lewis Hamilton was not immune to a mistake and spun at the Turn 10 hairpin, although the champion managed to keep his Ferrari on the track and out of the barriers.

GPFans

And from the Williams garage, a sense of cautious optimism:

Williams could afford a collective pat on the back with both Albon and Sainz in the top three.

PlanetF1

Watch, React, and Relive

For those who want to see the drama unfold in real time, you can follow the live coverage and highlights from Sky Sports:
Sky Sports F1 Canadian GP LIVE

And for a blow-by-blow account, RacingNews365’s live blog is a treasure trove of updates and reactions:
RacingNews365 LIVE: Reaction as Verstappen fastest in FP1; Leclerc suffers bizarre crash

Waste a Bit More Time

If you’ve made it this far, you’re either a true fan or a glutton for punishment. Either way, here are some links to keep you entertained (and informed) until FP2:

• 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix – Free Practice 1 results (RacingNews365)
• F1 Results Today: McLaren struggle as Verstappen tops timesheets … (GPFans)
• F1 Canadian GP LIVE: Race, Qualifying, Practice updates, results … (Sky Sports)

And for those who prefer their drama in moving pictures, check out the latest highlights and analysis on YouTube:
YouTube: F1 Canadian GP Highlights