Verstappen and Hamilton side by side during press conference in Canada

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16 June 2022 at 07:24
Last update 16 June 2022 at 09:00
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  • GPblog.com

Prior to the Grand Prix weekend in Canada, the drivers and team bosses "get in on the action" at the press conference. Max Verstappen takes a seat next to his 2021 rival.

Excitement in Canada

On Friday morning (local time) the press conference is held for the drivers. This was previously always on Thursday, but in an attempt to make the weekend shorter F1 has moved this press moment to Friday in 2022. The twenty drivers are divided into four groups of five and the first group starts at 3:30pm UK time.

In that first group, Charles Leclerc is the biggest name. He again did not see the end of the race in Azerbaijan when his engine failed. George Russell, sitting next to him in the press room, took advantage and grabbed a podium spot. Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon are also in this group.

Hamilton and Verstappen

After a group with Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Sebastian Vettel, Sergio Perez and Nicholas Latifi, perhaps the most enjoyable interlude follows. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen slide into group three together. Verstappen as the winner of the last race and leader in the world championship, next to his rival from 2021 who is struggling to get out of his W13 in 2022 because it bounces too much. Guanyu Zhou, Mick Schumacher and Alexander Albon join the two leaders.

On Saturday, prior to the third free practice, there is also a press moment for team principals. At 3:30pm UK time, first of all Franz Tost, Otmar Szafnauer and Mike Krack will sit down, after which they will be replaced by Frederic Vasseur, Zak Brown and Jost Capito.