MONTREAL – Two-time champion Lewis Hamilton posted the quickest lap in his McLaren Mercedes in the first practice session Friday at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who has three pole positions in Montreal to go with his victories in 2007 and 2010, had a top lap of one minute 15.564 seconds on the 4.361-kilometre Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Defending Formula One driver champion Sebastian Vettel was second fastest in his Red Bull at 1:15.682, with Nico Rosberg third in a Mercedes AMG Petronas at 1:15.782.
Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was fourth at 1:15.842, Mark Webber of Red Bull was fifth at 1:15.897 and Nico Hulkenberg of Force India was sixth at 1:15.986.
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A few raindrops fell during the 90-minute session, but heavy rain is forecast for the afternoon practice. Teams put in as many laps as possible on the dry track.
Defending Canadian Grand Prix winner Jenson Button got in only 12 laps before turning the car over to mechanics in his garage.
Race stewards were investigating an incident in which Vettel passed Bruno Senna’s Williams on the final chicane before the start-finish line, but there was no immediate word on what was being looked at.
The slippery track saw Caterham’s Heikki Kovalainen slide into a wall at turn-8, scattering debris across the track and forcing a 12-minute delay. The Finnish driver was unhurt, but the Renault-powered car was badly damaged on the right side.
There was plenty of wildlife on the track, which is in a island park across from the downtown area. A fox ran onto the asphalt, but managed to duck under a barrier in time to avoid any cars. Later, a squirrel jumped a barrier ahead of Kimi Raikkonen’s onrushing Lotus and a groundhog made it across the track safely.
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