Leader of the championship, the defending champion is the favorite for this 9th round of the season.

In front of the already full stands of the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, the Dutchman from Red Bull was the fastest.

His closest rival, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), is hot on his heels, however, at only 81/1000th.

Designated the main (and only?) opponent of Verstappen in the title race, the Monegasque has not won since April 10 in Australia and is now third in the general classification, 34 points behind Verstappen and 13 behind the Mexican Sergio Pérez. , the second Red Bull driver.

Leclerc may have chained the last four pole positions, none of these performances has converted into victory, the fault of two engine failures (retirements in Spain and Azerbaijan) and a bad strategy (4th in Monaco).

While awaiting the Sunday verdict, Verstappen and Leclerc will compete against the clock on Saturday along the 4.361 km of the circuit drawn on Île Notre-Dame, bordered by the Saint-Laurent (qualifications at 10:00 p.m. after free practice 3 at 7:00 p.m.).

Charles Leclerc at the wheel of his Ferrari Thursday, June 16, 2022 on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montreal.

The Monegasque, who flirts with the authorized limits of engine component modifications, is close to a penalty Jim WATSON AFP / Archives

On equal terms, but with one difference: Leclerc is very close to a penalty.

After the new breakage in Baku, Ferrari had to change many of the Monegasque's engine components and reached the authorized limits per season.

Hamilton struggling

However, the turbo has not been changed this week.

However, Leclerc has already used three turbochargers since the start of the season, maximum quota.

If the Scuderia changes it again, it will mean a sanction of ten places on the starting grid.

If not in Montreal, it will be for one of the next races.

The other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz took the third fastest time, ahead of the surprising veterans Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine).

For Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) on the other hand, the setbacks continue with a 13th place only during the second session.

The Briton complained of an "undriveable" car as his team tried a new solution on their floor.

Auto: Formula One - Canadian Grand Prix, Practice Geoff Robins AFP

At a press conference on Friday, the drivers reconsidered the FIA's decision on Thursday to take measures to reduce "porpoising", an aerodynamic phenomenon which causes significant vibrations in single-seaters on the straights.

The FIA ​​is counting in particular on increased checks on the floors and pontoons, a limitation of "vertical oscillations" of the chassis and a technical meeting with the teams, all "in the interest of driver safety".

Hamilton, with severe back pain, had the greatest difficulty getting out of his Mercedes last Sunday in Baku.

"Regarding the micro-concussions, I've certainly had a lot more headaches in the last few months" than in previous years, he explained on Friday.

"I feel like I'm a little smaller this week," he quipped.

"The records (from his back) are definitely not in the best shape right now. Not the best for longevity."

Finally, horse chestnut from the Canadian GP, ​​a marmot crossed the track.

Lucky, the animal narrowly avoided Sainz's Ferrari to return to a more peaceful place.

© 2022 AFP