The initial free practice 1 (FP1) on the Canadian track was reduced to a mere three-minute stint due to an early stoppage triggered by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, leading to an immediate red flag.
Even after Gasly’s disabled car was cleared from the track, the session continued to be at a standstill because of an issue with the synchronization of the local CCTV camera circuit. The system, a critical safety measure, needs to function seamlessly to monitor all on-track activities effectively.
Despite intense efforts by the local organizers, the synchronization issue wasn’t resolved until after the session ended when an alternative solution was implemented, allowing the subsequent events to proceed.
Aston Martin’s Alonso found the situation quite embarrassing for the series, as spectators were only treated to three minutes of action during FP1.
“The spectators arrived quite early at the circuit, and we were unable to race during FP1,” stated Alonso. “As a sport, we occasionally harm ourselves. These issues are somewhat humiliating.
“We ran out of time because the circuit’s cameras malfunctioned during FP1, and unfortunately, we lacked a contingency plan in our sport.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W14
Photo by: Andy Hone / F1 Flow Images
To make up for the lost practice time, the organizers advanced the start of free practice 2 (FP2) by 30 minutes, extending the session from 60 to 90 minutes.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton appreciated the extension of FP2, but expressed the challenges for his team in taking full advantage of the additional time, due to a sudden change in their run plans.
“It’s been a somewhat odd day since we missed the first session,” Hamilton remarked after registering the fastest time in FP2. “I truly felt for the spectators who showed up, especially since the crowd had been fantastic since yesterday, and the city is quite lively. I’m not exactly sure what went wrong with the CCTV cameras.
“I’m relieved that we managed to get on track for a session that lasted an hour and a half, but since we haven’t had such a lengthy session for a while, I feel that we didn’t utilize the time to its fullest potential.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Canadian FP1 Issues
What caused the early stoppage during the Canadian FP1?
The early stoppage during the Canadian FP1 was caused by a halt from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly which led to an immediate red flag. The situation was further complicated by a synchronization issue with the local CCTV camera circuit that wasn’t resolved until well after the session.
Who was the driver to label the FP1 issues as “a bit embarrassing”?
Aston Martin driver, Alonso, was the one who labeled the FP1 issues as “a bit embarrassing”. He felt that such occurrences were undermining the sport and were disappointing for fans who only witnessed three minutes of action.
How did the organizers compensate for the lack of practice time in FP1?
To compensate for the lack of practice time, the start of FP2 was brought forward by 30 minutes and the session was extended from the usual 60 minutes to 90 minutes.
How did Lewis Hamilton react to the extension of FP2?
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes driver, acknowledged the extension of FP2 as a good move. However, he also expressed it was tricky for the team to utilize the extra time efficiently due to the sudden changes in their run plans.
What was the root cause of the halt in FP1?
The root cause of the halt in FP1 was twofold. Firstly, a stoppage caused by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly initiated an early red flag. Secondly, a synchronisation issue with the local CCTV camera circuit, crucial for safety monitoring, led to a prolonged halt.
More about Canadian FP1 Issues
- Formula 1 Official Website
- Alpine’s Pierre Gasly profile
- Aston Martin’s Alonso profile
- Lewis Hamilton Profile
- Canadian Grand Prix Information
4 comments
c’mon F1, get your act together. Was excited to see gasly perform but what a let down!
Hamilton nailed it. The time extension is good but changing the plan on the fly is always tricky. hats off to the drivers for managing.
shame about the cams but gotta say, props to the organizers for trying to make it right with the extra FP2 time!
Alonsos right, it is kinda embarassin… But hey, extra time in FP2 sounds fun too