The final practice session in Montreal delivered everything fans love about the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, tight margins, surprising pace shifts, and a complete inability to predict what comes next. Lando Norris topped the session with a 1:11.799, followed closely by Charles Leclerc on a 1:11.877, and George Russell just behind at 1:11.950. Notably all 3 ran faster in FP3 and Russell’s P1 Qualifying Time in 2024 of 1:12.000. But beyond the raw times, the bigger story was a shifting grid defined by power unit gambles, setup divergences, and fanbases emotionally stretched to the edge.
Ferrari Finds a Pulse with Fresh Power Units
Ferrari arrived into FP3 with a calculated risk: both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton ran entirely fresh power unit elements, internal combustion engine, turbocharger, both MGU systems, and exhaust. The upgrades were within their allocation and made for maximum performance, which on a power-dependent circuit like Montreal could mean up to four tenths gained on the straights.
Leclerc immediately validated the decision. Despite limited running on Friday, he launched himself into P2 with ease and looked sharp across all three sectors. His innate ability to deliver pace with minimal prep once again stood out, and the atmosphere in the Ferrari camp felt like a cautious reawakening. The scar tissue from past disappointments remains, but even the most skeptical Ferrari fans couldn’t help but feel the hope creeping back in. Some might call it hopium, but the numbers support it.
Still, it’s Ferrari. Leclerc is just as likely to deliver a pole-worthy lap as he is to clip the Wall of Champions. The optimism is real, but so is the collective bracing for impact.
McLaren Leading, But Not Without Questions
While Norris sits comfortably atop the classification, his teammate Oscar Piastri continues to show signs of struggle. Piastri ended the session in P8, and the gap in confidence in Canada between the two McLaren drivers is becoming harder to ignore.
Piastri’s body language and driving style suggested discomfort, and the timesheets confirmed it. Expectations are being recalibrated. At this stage, a result anywhere above P6 would be seen as an overachievement, and there’s a growing sense that Piastri may fall closer to the midfield than the front row. The tone surrounding his qualifying potential is teetering on pessimistic realism, no longer asking if he’ll struggle, but how much.
It’s the kind of energy where a breakout lap would feel miraculous, because right now, even summoning Gandalf the White wouldn’t be enough to will him past P12.
Mercedes Showing Silent Consistency
Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli looked composed. Russell’s P3 lap was smooth, clean, and pointed to a car that’s finally starting to behave as intended. Antonelli slotted into P7 just behind, rounding out a quiet but productive session for the Silver Arrows. Mercedes aren’t generating much hype this weekend, but that might be exactly why they’re dangerous. In a field where flash is everywhere, they’re simply sticking to the plan and letting the times speak.
The Midfield Mix Is a Powder Keg
Max Verstappen’s P5 isn’t alarming, but it’s not dominant either. He hasn’t looked entirely dialed in across any session so far, which opens the door for the rest of the top six to challenge him, a rare sight this deep into a season. Fernando Alonso impressed with a P6 lap that suggests Aston Martin may have finally found a baseline that works. Kimi Antonelli continues to punch above his experience level in P7, showing sharp instincts and cool execution.
Behind them, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon rounded out the top 10. For Williams, Albon’s result was met with a strange mix of pride and frustration. Just a few seasons ago, P10 would’ve been a highlight. Now, it feels like a missed opportunity. There’s even lighthearted speculation that Williams might be hiding true pace, a psychological play to lull rivals into underestimating them. Realistically? It’s just tight at the top, and small imbalances are all it takes to drop out of the top five.
But sentimentally, fans are clinging to whatever hope remains, reassuring themselves that maybe, just maybe, this is all part of the master plan. Then again, some are openly admitting they may have jinxed Albon’s day by placing a bet for the first time in over a year.
FP3 Top 10 – Canadian GP 2025
- Lando Norris
- Charles Leclerc
- George Russell
- Lewis Hamilton
- Max Verstappen
- Fernando Alonso
- Kimi Antonelli
- Oscar Piastri
- Carlos Sainz
- Alexander Albon
🔮 Qualifying Outlook: The Only Prediction Is Uncertainty
There’s no clear favorite heading into qualifying, and that’s part of the thrill. Five drivers sit within a tenth of each other, and nearly the entire field is packed within a second. Small details—tire prep, track temperature, wind—could swing the order dramatically.
If there’s one sentiment echoing through the garages, grandstands, and social feeds alike, it’s this: nobody knows what’s going to happen.
Because after three sessions of drama, upgrades, and guesswork, one thing is crystal clear:
We watched FP1, FP2, and FP3—and we still have no idea what’s about to happen in qualifying.
And that’s exactly how it should be. Welcome to Canada.