The idea, thought to be the brainchild of Bernie Ecclestone, would be to get
rid of one session and have the sole 90 minutes in the late afternoon. It is
hoped it might encourage fans to attend practice after work on a Friday
rather than head straight to the pub.
The change would compress each event into three days, with all the press
conference and media duties taking place on Friday mornings rather than
Thursdays.
Many were mystified as to the need for the idea, and it will face stumbling
blocks from unhappy broadcasters and race promoters before it gets a full
seal of approval.
In what may be the last first practice here, Alonso had disturbed Hamilton’s
otherwise serene progress on a grey Friday in Montreal.
In a session relatively free of incident, barring a bump with the wall for
Jules Bianchi, Marussia’s first point scorer in Monte Carlo, the Spaniard
gave a glimmer of hope for Ferrari fans who have had very little to cheer in
2014.
He ended fractionally ahead of Hamilton, who looked sure to take top spot but
for a mistake at the
L’Epingle hairpin on his final effort. The Briton ended second fastest, with
Rosberg third, Sebastian Vettel fourth, and Jenson Button three places back
in seventh.
After a brief spell of rain gave the many thousands of Canadians here hope of
some relative carnage in free practice two, it stayed dry and the drivers
kept out of the barriers. Clearly the notion that these new more powerful
engines would result in drivers crashing left, right and centre was a
creation of pre-season speculation.
There was barely a crash to speak of in Monaco, and it was the same in Friday
running here.
The second session ran to the form we have come to expect this season.
Hamilton, a three-time winner in Canada, led the way, with Rosberg for close
company behind. If the German could take pole or the win on what is very
much a Hamilton circuit, it would be a major psychological blow.
Once the teams bolted on the super soft tyres, Mercedes advantage was clear,
with Hamilton first and Rosberg second. It will take a herculean effort – or
the two main rivals coming together – for anyone to beat the Silver Arrows
this weekend.