George Russell set the fastest lap in second practice for the Canadian Grand Prix, clocking 1:12.123 to narrowly beat McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.028 seconds. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed with third, ahead of Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, and championship leader Oscar Piastri.

Max Verstappen struggled with handling issues in his Red Bull, placing ninth, while Charles Leclerc missed the session after crashing in FP1. Carlos Sainz placed seventh, and Lewis Hamilton, driving the only Ferrari, finished eighth amid swirling speculation around the team.

Mercedes showed strong pace, with Russell leading for the first time this season. Norris and McLaren looked steady as they tested upgrades. As teams switched to race simulations, just one second separated 17 drivers—setting the stage for a thrilling qualifying session.