Formula 1 : Vettel Wrecks, Rosberg Leads In Canada P1

This was undoubtedly not the way Sebastian Vettel planned on getting his weekend started.

Sebastian Vettel Crashes Out On Canada GP P1

Vettel, a winner of five of the season's six Grands Prix, crashed and destroyed the entire front end of his Red Bull RB7 car in Friday morning's opening practice at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The reigning World Champion added to the Montreal Wall of Champions' legend by losing control and wrecking at the famous final chicane, bringing out a red flag with an hour still left in the 90-minute session.

"I screwed up and slid off the track," Vettel radioed to his crew.

Former champions Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill are among those who have previously had unpleasant encounters with the famous outside barrier as a result of incorrectly navigating the final corner.

Vettel, 23, had set the 12th-fastest time at the time of his crash but slid to 16th in the final running order.

Vettel enters the weekend with a commanding 58-point lead in the driver standings over second-place Lewis Hamilton.

Nico Rosberg (1:15:591) led the way in his Mercedes, followed by Fernando Alonso (1:16:139) and Schumacher (1:16:549).

Felipe Massa and Jenson Button completed the top five, followed by Hamilton, Rubens Barrichello, Paul di Resta, Nick Heidfeld and Force India reserve Nico Hulkenberg.

On-track activities in Canada resume with a second 90-minute practice at 2 p.m. ET Friday.

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