F1 Canadian GP 2024 LIVE: Qualifying updates and times in Montreal

A rapid removal of Zhou’s stricken Sauber and we’re back underway in Montreal.

The Chinese driver has hit the wall… again!

The Sauber driver, who hit the wall in FP1, has crashed again in a nightmare scenario for him and the rest of the grid who are desperate for some uninterrputed driving!

He spun out of turn 1, and into the wall. Car is OK, but perhaps out of the session.

“I have no idea what’s happening with the car, the car is so strange man, it locks up all the rears!” Zhou says on team radio.

Dry running, one hour of practice left and a queue in the pit-lane!

Max Verstappen is the first man out on track as we get underway with this third and final practice session!

We’re just five minutes from the third and final hour of practice in Montreal this weekend.

It’s key too. Yesterday was a hard day to read given the fluctuating weather conditions so this final practice session gives the drivers their last chance to dial-in before a critical qualifying session tomorrow.

Can Ferrari and McLaren show pace again? What about Mercedes’ upgrade? And will the problems on Max Verstappen’s Red Bull be rectified?

1. Max Verstappen – 169 points

2. Charles Leclerc – 138 points

3. Lando Norris – 113 points

4. Carlos Sainz – 108 points

5. Sergio Perez – 107 points

6. Oscar Piastri – 71 points

7. George Russell – 54 points

8. Lewis Hamilton – 42 points

9. Fernando Alonso – 33 points

10. Yuki Tsunoda – 19 points

11. Lance Stroll – 11 points

12. Oliver Bearman – 6 points

13. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points

14. Daniel Ricciardo – 5 points

15. Alex Albon – 2 points

16. Esteban Ocon – 1 point

17. Kevin Magnussen – 1 point

18. Pierre Gasly – 1 point

19. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

Tease it as they might, Red Bull were fooling nobody with their announcement late on Tuesday. The extension of Sergio Perez’s contract was supposed to be released to the waiting world on Monday but was delayed by the small matter of Mexico electing its first female president. When it dropped, the matter at hand startled nobody.

Yet the length of Perez’s extension – not one year, not one year with an option for another, a straight two years – was indeed a surprise. It takes Perez to the end of the 2026 season and represents an immense show of trust in the Mexican to aid their charge during a new era of regulations in two years’ time.

In relevant news on Thursday, the FIA released the first images of the “lighter, nimbler” 2026 F1 car, which will use fully sustainable fuels and spell the effective end of DRS as a device for overtaking.

But back to Perez, whose extended deal will see him race in F1 for 16 consecutive seasons. Given his inferior pace and results to his teammate, it’s easy to assume that Perez has been kept to ensure ”continuity and stability”, as Christian Horner put it, amid a season overshadowed by off-track issues at Red Bull. And to an extent this is true.

However, the biggest winner is the man across from Perez in the garage: Max Verstappen.

Third practice is just half-an-hour away!

Lando Norris says he is more excited than ever before when he gets behind the wheel knowing he is now fighting for wins.

The 24-year-old earned his maiden Formula One victory at the Miami Grand Prix and has secured three other podiums in an impressive start to the season for McLaren.

Norris is now expected to challenge for the podium on a regular basis and admits that expectation brings an excitement.

“I am more buoyed than ever. Still relaxed, maybe I don’t look it at times!” Norris said ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.

“When I am in the car I’m more excited because that is when you are feeling what the potential is.”

Charles Leclerc credits team principal Fred Vasseur’s changes with putting Ferrari in a position where they can challenge Red Bull in the world championship.

Monegasque Leclerc claimed his first victory of the season with his maiden win around his home streets two weeks ago which cut Max Verstappen’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 31 points.

Verstappen appeared set to cruise to a fourth consecutive world crown when he won four of the first five races of this season but the Red Bull driver has only won one of the last three to hint at a potential title challenge.

Canadian Grand Prix winner:

• Max Verstappen – 4/9
• Charles Leclerc – 11/2
• Lando Norris – 6/1
• Oscar Piastri – 14/1
• Sergio Perez – 20/1
• Carlos Sainz – 20/1
• Lewis Hamilton – 50/1
• George Rusell – 50/1
• Fernando Alonso – 150/1
• Lance Stroll – 150/1
• Yuki Tsunoda – 300/1
• Pierre Gasly – 500/1
• Daniel Ricciardo – 500/1