Fernando Alonso was fastest in the second practice session after Lando Norris led the opening session on a rain-dominated day at the Canadian Grand Prix.
As predicted, the weather limited running during both sessions on Friday, making it difficult to draw conclusions about who has the edge this weekend.
Eager to get some work done after a wet first session, the drivers immediately set out for FP2 on slicks when light rain fell.
Monaco winner Charles Leclerc came out on intermediate tires but race control quickly flagged the Monegasque for tire use as the race director had not declared the track wet – it was four minutes later – and was then called to the stewards. the session.
Ferrari was fined 5,000 euros (£4,250) by the stewards.
Canadian former world champion Jacques Villeneuve said on Sky Sports F1: “At that level of racing, that’s not the kind of mistake you can make.
“It’s F1, it’s the pinnacle. Everyone has to be in top form.”
A groundhog – regular visitors to the Canadian Grand Prix – was narrowly avoided by Leclerc when Lewis Hamilton slammed on the brakes behind him.
Hamilton was less forgiving when he had to leave the track to avoid Leclerc again at the final chicane, saying: “These guys keep backing up into the last corner.”
Championship leader Max Verstappen returned to the pits with smoke coming from the back of his Red Bull and had to end his session early as his mechanics went to work.
Timetables were changed in the mixed conditions – forcing several drivers to leave the track – but it was Aston Martin’s Alonso who topped the leaderboard as the rain intensified and meant faster times would not be set.
George Russell finished second for Mercedes, ahead of Alonso’s teammate Lance Stroll.
But with Verstappen 18th and Lando Norris last, it is unlikely to give a true picture of the performances going into next weekend.
Friday’s second run was slightly calmer than the chaotic opening session.
Just over an hour before the first practice session, a thunderstorm hit the track, with fans told to leave the stands on Montreal’s Ile Notre-Dame.
Some took to social media to suggest that fans queuing at the metro station that supplies power to the island had been wrongly informed that practice sessions had been cancelled.
In fact, the session started on time at 1:30 PM in Montreal, although the pit lane exit was initially closed due to the vast amounts of standing water on a track rebuilt after last year’s Grand Prix.
As the cars finally entered the circuit, Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu slid into the barriers at the exit of turn five, briefly bringing out a red flag, with Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas among the drivers who ventured off the track in the treacherous conditions.
When the sun rose, Norris topped the charts, ahead of Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Leclerc.
Rain is forecast to play a role during both qualifying and the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The third practice session is on Saturday at 12.30pm local time, followed by qualifying at 4pm (9pm BST).
