Alonso fastest in wet final practice in Canada
Jun 17, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Alpine driver Fernando Alonso of Spain races in the hairpin turn during the first free practice session at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
MONTREAL: Alpine's Fernando Alonso was fastest in a wet final practice for the Canadian Grand Prix on Saturday with Formula One's championship frontrunners keeping their powder dry.
AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly was second, 0.053 slower than Alonso's one minute 33.836 seconds, and ahead of Aston Martin's Sebastian Vettel in the cold conditions, with wet tyres used for most of the hour-long session.
Red Bull's championship leader Max Verstappen, winner of four of the last five races, was ninth fastest but did only 10 laps compared to Alonso's 15 and went off track a couple of times without damage.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, set to start at the back of the grid due to penalties for power unit component changes, did not set a time at all from five installation laps.
Leclerc has been on pole position at the last four races and six times in eight.
Verstappen's Mexican team mate Sergio Perez was eighth and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz was 10th.
