Alonso shines in rain hit FP3

Fernando Alonso tops the timetables in Canada in a very wet FP3 as Charle Leclerc takes further grid penalties to leave him stranded at the back of the grid for Sunday.

Whilst the sun was blazing in Montreal yesterday for FP1 and two today in FP3 was very different. The rain falling down during the session made for a slow and sensible hour of running.

How it unfolded

With the rain surging, the track in the opening 20 minutes was a baron wasteland but as the session went on it started to fill up more. Carlos Sainz set the early pace with 1:35.8 and held his place for a long time. His teammate Charle Leclerc fresh off the news that he would start from the back on Sunday chose not to head out in the grim conditions opting to save his car ahead of the race.

As the session went on the track dried and in the final 15 minutes we finally saw cars heading out. But unlike the usual Ferarri and Red Bull domination, it was Sebastian Vettel and Fernando who were gosling for the top of the time sheets. A 1:33.8 was the best the Spaniard could manage and that was enough to put his Alpine at the top. But going down the order the grid was a maze. Seven different teams sat within the top ten.

Lewis Hamilton, having struggled on Friday had another difficult hour in his complicated Mercedes. He could only manage P15 whilst his teammate George Russel sat in P7. Both McLarens seemed to find their mojo later on in the session to finish P5 and 6 respectively.

Ahead of qualifying, it looks impossible to call. With a top three of Alonso, Gasly and Vettel in FP3 could there be a shock pole-sitter for round 9 of the Formula 1 season.