Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Fernando Alonso's weekend has taken an unfortunate turn overnight. When Honda did its routine check on his engine last night, it found a problem that would have meant he did not finish the race.

"The team did not want to break the curfew for the second time - and incur a penalty - so they have delayed changing it until this morning. Which means they are up against it to get Alonso out in final practice. That's a blow for driver and team - Alonso was substantially quicker than team-mate Jenson Button here on Friday.

"Assuming the engine is new - as racing director Eric Boullier described it - that is Alonso's fourth this season. If he needs another at any point, that is an automatic grid penalty. McLaren already know this is inevitable for both drivers."

Image source, EPA

Hello and welcome along to live text commentary of this afternoon's final practice and qualifying sessions for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Apparently there's a football match going on tonight but we're not interested in any of that nonsense.

You and I know there's only one major global sporting event going on this weekend, and it involves 20 cars hooning around the wonderful Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the Ile Notre-Dame.

Third practice and qualifying are coming up, but there's already plenty of news coming out of the paddock.

We'll start down at McLaren, where gremlins have struck again...

Image source, Getty Images

No doubts over which driver took centre stage during yesterday's opening two practice sessions.

Not only did Lewis Hamilton go quickest in both, the Mercedes man also had a spin at the hairpin, locked his brakes on more than one occasion and vaulted over some hefty kerbs, and capped it all by aquaplaning off in heavy rain in the second session.

Quite the day for the world champion. Wonder what he has in store today?