George Russell topped the timesheets for Mercedes in Friday's second practice session at the Canadian Grand Prix, edging out McLaren's Lando Norris in a tight battle as Red Bull's Max Verstappen struggled to find his usual rhythm.
Russell posted a fastest lap of 1:12.123 around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, narrowly beating Norris by just 0.028 seconds on a bright and dry afternoon in Montreal. It marked Russell's first time topping a practice session this season, a welcome boost for Mercedes after a tough start to the 2025 campaign.
It might be my first time topping a leaderboard this year, 10 races in. So obviously, its been a very positive day, Russell said after the session.
Mercedes performance was further underlined by teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli, who impressed with the third-fastest time, ahead of Williams' Alex Albon and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso. Championship leader Oscar Piastri placed sixth in the second McLaren.
McLaren continued to test new front wing and suspension upgrades during the session, taking a methodical approach as they fine-tuned their package for Saturday's qualifying. Norris, who briefly led the session, seemed pleased with the team's progress.