Can Mercedes stay on top ahead of McLaren in Canada?

George Russell steered his Mercedes to the top of the FP2 timings at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, marking his first FP2 top spot of the year. The session unfolded under a sunny, yet notably chilly, sky. This strong showing from the Silver Arrows comes as championship leaders McLaren experienced one of their most challenging, if not the most challenging, opening practice days of the season. Their struggles contrasted sharply with Mercedes' apparent comfort on the Canadian track. The question now looms large: can Mercedes maintain this impressive pace and truly challenge the front-runners, particularly McLaren, as the weekend progresses? Or was this just a fleeting moment of brilliance that will fade when the stakes are higher? This Friday's performance certainly injects an intriguing dynamic into the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, suggesting that the battle at the front might be more open than previously anticipated.