Stands evacuated and damage after a storm hit the Gilles Villeneuve circuit
An impressive storm hit the Gilles Villeneuve circuit just an hour before the start of the first practice session. The fans in the stands were evacuated and the paddock facilities suffered some damage.
The feeling that the sky was falling on our heads. The wind suddenly picked up before being joined by a hailstorm and a violent thunderstorm.
The stands evacuated before the FP1.
If inside the media center everyone is on the lookout for a potential announcement of the postponement or cancellation of the first free practice session of the weekend while the TV screens display a weather alert message, outside, the supporters are asked to leave the stands for safety reasons.
The site was closed for long minutes, waiting for the rain to calm down. The fans, who had already come in large numbers on this first day of testing, were then able to return to their seats in the stands just in time for the FP1 session, which was not delayed.
Several places flooded
At the same time, our photographer on site, who had gone to set up for the session, informs us that the surroundings of the circuit are flooded in several places. Everyone on the track is working to evacuate the water that has accumulated, creating large puddles. The session starts under a yellow flag, depriving the teams of about twenty minutes of track time.
On the Paddock Club side, the terrace was also closed for a few moments after some glass shards were caused by the storm.
This is not the first time that the Gilles Villeneuve circuit has fallen victim to the rain. The paddocks had already been infiltrated by water in 2022. Showers are still expected for the rest of the weekend but they should be much less intense.
