FP3: Alonso beats Gasly by 0.053s in wet final practice session in Montreal

Fernando Alonso mastered soaking wet conditions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to set the pace in final practice for the Canadian Grand Prix, the Spaniard edging out Pierre Gasly.

Alpine’s Alonso set a 1m 33.836s on the intermediate tyres, 0.053s ahead of Gasly in the AlphaTauri with Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel just 0.002s further back in third.

Full wet weather tyres were required in the early stages of the one-hour session, thanks to persistent light rain that had hung around all morning in Montreal.

AS IT HAPPENED: All the action from final practice for the Canadian Grand Prix

When the drivers did head out, conditions looked tricky and they were battling to keep control of lairy rear ends as they searched for grip.

But they had to persist with running, as qualifying later on Saturday is expected to be wet and any data gathered would be useful. Rain continued throughout final practice and led to a mixed-up order.

Esteban Ocon made it two Alpines in the top four with fourth, ahead of McLaren duo Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris.

George Russell was the best-placed Mercedes in seventh, ahead of the two Red Bulls of Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, who left it until the final 20 minutes to hit the track.

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Championship leader Verstappen had a spin at Turn 2 but kept the car out of the barriers as he slid across the grass before rejoining.

Carlos Sainz completed the top 10, while his Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc was the only driver not to set a lap time, with his car up on jacks for the majority of the session.

The Monegasque took more fresh engine components on Saturday, which means more penalties and a back of the grid start with Yuki Tsunoda.

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The Alfa Romeos of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were 11th and 12th respectively, with Lance Stroll 13th on home soil and Kevin Magnussen, who ran straight on at Turn 1 but avoided contact with the barrier, in P14.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was 15th, ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon and Tsunoda, with Mick Schumacher and Nicholas Latifi – the latter competing in his first F1 home race – completing the list of drivers to set a lap time.

Qualifying for the 2022 Canadian Grand Prix begins at 1600 local time.