In the first practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen's RB20 encountered an ERS (Energy Recovery System) issue, forcing him to retire prematurely. Verstappen reported smelling smoke from his car, and the Red Bull mechanics immediately began investigating the problem.

While Verstappen's session came to an unexpected halt, traffic became a challenge on the track, leading to frustrations from drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz. However, as rain intensified, all drivers eventually returned to the pit lane, resulting in a temporary lull in the action. At that point, Fernando Alonso held the fastest lap time in his Aston Martin.

Despite the setback, other drivers seized the opportunity to push for faster times as the session neared its end. Many opted for intermediate tires, taking advantage of the improving track conditions. However, Alonso's earlier time of 1m 15.810s remained unbeaten, securing him the top spot on the timesheets.

Following Alonso was George Russell in second place, driving for Mercedes, while Lance Stroll claimed the third position. Charles Leclerc, who suffered a spin during the session, secured fourth place, just ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in fifth.

Verstappen's ERS issue relegated him to the 18th position, while Kevin Magnussen from Haas took sixth place. Lewis Hamilton finished in seventh, followed by Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull in eighth. Alex Albon in the Williams came in ninth, with Sergio Perez from Red Bull rounding out the top ten.

In other notable performances, Esteban Ocon, who recently announced his departure from Alpine, secured the 11th spot. Logan Sargeant represented Williams in 12th place, followed by Carlos Sainz in 13th and Valtteri Bottas from Kick Sauber in 14th. Nico Hulkenberg claimed the 15th position for Haas, with Oscar Piastri from McLaren in 16th and Zhou Guanyu from Kick Sauber in 17th.

Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly from Alpine and Lando Norris from McLaren finished in 19th and 20th positions, respectively, bringing the first practice session to a close.

This early setback for Verstappen adds an unexpected twist to the Canadian Grand Prix, leaving his team to work on resolving the ERS issue before the second practice session. The competitors will be eager to make improvements and secure their positions as the weekend progresses.