After a period of uncertainty, the cars took to the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit by storm during the first practice session ahead of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix on Friday.
The practice session began at 1:30 p.m., but the cars initially remained in their garages while the track officials tried to dry out the track. The drivers were finally allowed to go out on track at 1:51 p.m., shortening the session by 21 minutes.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton was the first brave to take to the track.
Hail and a violent downpour fell on the site of Notre-Dame Island a little over an hour before the start of the first session. The sun finally broke through the clouds about 15 minutes before the session.
However, water accumulated in certain places on the track, requiring the intervention of track marshals to chase it away.
Weather conditions forced organizers to briefly ask spectators to evacuate the stands before the session. Access to the site was also briefly interrupted. The spectator entrance was subsequently reopened.
The second session was scheduled to take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. A third session is scheduled, Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Qualifying will take place from 4 p.m.
The 53rd edition of the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. The race is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.