Can Canada's first free practice session still go ahead despite the rain?

Rain and hail are falling in large quantities from the sky in Montreal. The first free practice session is scheduled for 18:30 UK time, but it remains to be seen whether it will go ahead. The FIA has supplied GPblog with an update.

Rain is not uncommon during the Grand Prix weekend in Canada. Yet on Friday, rain and even hail did fall heavily an hour before the start of the first session. A commotion ensued on X afterwards about whether the practice would continue.

There were suggestions on that platform that fans present would be turned away at the underground towards the circuit. In addition, they were told that the free practice would be cancelled. The FIA reports to GPblog that this is fake news.

The FIA has informed GPblog that free practice will go ahead as normal. It has been confirmed that the session will go ahead, but the pit exit will remain closed.