Lewis Hamilton leads a Mercedes one-two in a hectic FP2 in Canada

FP2 was extended by half an hour around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after FP1 was cut short due to safety reasons, with CCTV issues curtailing the opening session of the Grand Prix weekend. None of the drivers completed more than one lap during FP1, ruining their structure and data collection, leaving F1 and the FIA with many questions to answer after a poor handling of the whole situation.

There was some speculation about whether the Canadian Grand Prix would go ahead this weekend after devastating wildfires ripped through the country, resulting in a rapid deterioration of the air quality in and around the Quebec region, displacing some people in Canada. The doubt about the F1 race didn't last long, and the event will continue as normal.

The CCTV issues were fixed in time for FP2, where the team had to fit in their qualifying simulations along with their long-distance pace in an action-packed session.

All 20 cars took to the track in the opening ten minutes as teams tried to make up for the lost time and lost data, as lap times flew in during the early stages of the session. However, as it has been throughout the season, the World Championship leader Max Verstappen set the pace early on with a 1.14.7.

But that did not continue for long, as the Ferarri’s of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both showcased the Prancing Horse’s pace around the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, as both teammates traded fastest laps throughout the first half-an-hour, which then continued throughout the session.

However, the first retirement of the session did involve a Ferarri engine, as the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg was forced to retire with an issue, as smoke poured out the back of his car, causing the first red flag of the session.

The session then resumed, but only momentarily, as the Alpine of Esteban Ocon was the second retirement of the session, adding to Alpine's woes after teammate, Pierre Gasly was forced to retire in FP1.

The Mercedes then showcased their pace with their newly upgraded W14, as Hamilton and Russell went P1 and P2, respectively, hoping to back up their double podium at the Spanish Grand Prix with another solid weekend here in Montreal.

As for the dominating Red Bulls, it was a much quieter session for them, as Verstappen and Sergio Perez finished in P6 and P8, respectively, as they completed many laps in an attempt to make up for the lost FP1 time, along with many other teams.

The weather then took a turn for the worse with just ten minutes to spare, as dark clouds and stormy conditions meant FP2 came to a premature end, as no one was able to improve their times.