Report
PRACTICE: Palmowski pips Chambers in Campos 1-2 on Montreal debut
Red Bull Racing’s Alisha Palmowski made the most of her first appearance at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, topping Round 4’s one and only Free Practice session with a 1:38.898.
Campos Racing kept a firm hold on the top spot as Palmowski and teammate Chloe Chambers traded personal bests, before the Briton’s final attempt nudged her in front by 0.074s at the chequered flag.
Larsen was the first driver to get a feel for the 4.361km circuit, with her initial impression clocking in at 1:55.428. Steadily getting up to speed, the Tommy Hilfiger driver set the time to beat at 1:42.647 to go three tenths ahead of Ella Lloyd.
Only four drivers had times on the board after 10 minutes of running. Lloyd was next to go fastest on a 1:43.277, despite the McLaren driver going too deep into the final chicane and over the run off.
Beginning to make her presence known, Chambers posted a 1:41.701 to go a tenth quicker than Palmowski at the top of the timesheets. Although the Red Bull Ford driver then improved by a further two tenths, her hold would be brief as Palmowski broke clear on her next attempt, putting an eight-tenths buffer between herself and P2.
Chambers was the first into the 1:39s to re-take the time to beat, only to be pushed back down to second by just 0.079s to Palmowski. Pin sat in third at the halfway mark, 0.237s off the benchmark. Meanwhile, disaster struck for Standings leader Maya Weug who had yet to set a lap due to an issue with the #64 car.
The Campos duo showed little sign of slowing, with Chambers crossing the line to regain best time of the session, before Palmowski set the timesheets alight with a 1:39.315. Fortunately for the American driver, her next attempt would squeeze her back into P1 by 0.018s.
Five tenths off the pace in third, Larsen narrowly avoided a trip to the barriers, carrying too much speed into the chicane and spinning onto the grass. A Red Flag ground running to a halt with less than 10 minutes remaining after a fan detached from Pin’s car following her exit from the pits.
Improvements were still to be found once Green Flag conditions resumed. Even with the tyres being well past their peak, Chambers posted the first 1:38s time of the day. However, it was Palmowski who ended the session on top, snatching the fastest effort by setting a 1:38.898 at the chequered flag.
Larsen rounded out the top three ahead of Charlotte Tilbury’s Chloe Chong and Lloyd. A late improvement for Nina Gademan was rewarded with sixth, whilst Rafaela Ferreira ensured all three Campos cars finished inside the top-seven.
Pin wound up in eighth followed by Lia Block and Aurelia Nobels, with Weug unable to get a time on the board.
WHAT’S NEXT?
With Practice all wrapped up, the drivers will be back on track for Qualifying at 18:30 local time (UTC -4), which will set the grids for Races 2 and 3.