Canadian GP Thread - Sponsored by Groundhog Protection Unit 2.0

[Fernando]

After two races in Europe, Formula One once again moves into flyaway mode, travelling to Montreal and the Canadian Grand Prix. The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve hosts the seventh round of an enthralling 2013 FIA F1 World Championship.

Canada never fails to provide an entertaining grand prix. The high speeds and heavy braking zones make it a paradise for overtaking, while the unforgiving walls which hem in the race track on all sides provide a drama all of their own. Additionally, the weather rarely fails to play a part in the race: searing heat and tremendous downpours have both been commonplace in recent years – either of which can serve to turn race strategy on its head.

While the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve creates a host of challenges for engineers, the standout problem around its 4.361 kilometres is braking performance. The long, thin course is a stop-start race track, with a succession of straights broken up by chicanes and a hairpin. The combination of heavy braking zones and relatively short straights sees pads and discs pushed to their limits but denied decent intervals in which to cool down. It means brakes are pushed harder here than anywhere else on the grand prix calendar.

F1 comes to Canada with the familiar sight of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing leading their respective World Championships – but neither the German driver nor his Anglo-Austrian team has demonstrated any conclusive superiority this term. Four teams have recorded victories in the opening six races of the season, and despite each proving itself capable of dominating under the right circumstances, none has reached the top step of the podium without being made to work exceptionally hard for the privilege. The Canadian Grand Prix promises no less.

Schedule

Friday June 7, 2013
Practice 1 – 15:00 GMT
Practice 2 – 19:00 GMT

Saturday June 8, 2013
Practice 3 – 15:00 GMT
Qualifying – 16:00 GMT

Sunday June 9, 2013
Race – 19:00 GMT

Facts

The have been 43 Formula One Canadian Grands Prix, the first being won by Jack Brabham in 1967. That race was held at Mosport Park, as were the races in 1969, 1971-74 and 1976-7. In 1968 and 1970 the race was held at Mont-Tremblant. It moved to its present home in 1978. The Canadian Grand Prix was not held in 1975, 1987 or 2009.

McLaren is the leading constructor at the Canadian Grand Prix with 13 victories, to Ferrari’s 11 and Williams’ seven. Nine of McLaren’s total came at this circuit, including a hat-trick of victories in the past three years.

Michael Schumacher is the leading driver at this race by some distance, with seven victories. Lewis Hamilton is the only multiple winner in this year’s field. He has three victories here (2007, 2010, 2012). Other winners racing this year are Kimi Räikkönen (2005), Fernando Alonso (2006) and Jenson Button (2011).

Of the seven braking points at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, four have loads in excess of 5G, the harshest of which is the approach to the hairpin, at which cars will brake from 300kph down to a first-gear 60kph for the tight turn.

The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve offers a rare opportunity to compare various elite series. Champ Car made its final appearance here in 2006 and Sébastien Bourdais took pole position with a time of 1:20.005. When F1 visited in the same summer, Fernando Alonso had pole with 1:14.942 (though went quicker in Q2). The 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series race had Alex Tagliani on pole with a time of 1:40.865, in contrast to Sebastian Vettel’s 2012 F1 pole time of 1:13.784.

Unlike the previous grand prix, held on the streets of Monaco, the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve does not confer any particular advantage on pole position. Since 2000, the race has only been won from pole on four occasions. It has also been won from second on the grid four times in this period.

On his way to victory in 2011, Jenson Button occupied last place as late as lap 40. That notwithstanding, the race doesn’t particularly favour a charge through the field: it has never been won by anyone starting outside the top ten, and then only once from the fifth row, when Jacques Laffite won from tenth position for Ligier in 1981.

Originally named the Île Notre-Dame Circuit, it was renamed in honour of Gilles Villeneuve after his death. In 1978 Villeneuve won the inaugural grand prix held on the island. Of the current F1 calender, the other circuit named in honour of a former driver is the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, home of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Like Villeneuve, Pace was a grand prix winner and local hero at the circuit now bearing his name.

Villeneuve’s win was the first of his six grand prix victories. Four other drivers have taken their debut win at this circuit: Thierry Boutsen (1989), Jean Alesi (1995), Lewis Hamilton (2007) and Robert Kubica (2008).

Weather Forecast:http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/6077243
Source:RaceDepartment

[Guest]

Mercedes should go well here and pole position is more than on the cards. If the Mercedes can avoid spinning up it's rear tyres around here at the slow corner, high traction points of the track then they could have a chance. Think they will be very vulnerable though at the beginning of the race on high fuel, especially with the DRS effect here on the long straights.

Just glad we can get back to some on-track action instead of this ridiculous 'tyre testing' debate, where nothing will actually be done. Also be interesting to see the practice sessions and the use of the new tyre provided by Pirelli, although not being used in the race.

[Fernando]

Fairly wet in Canada for practice today not going to learn much are the teams

[GSC]

I love Canada.

Rewatched highlights of Buttons win a couple of years back. Still one of the better drives I've ever seen.

Gut says Alonso will have been stewing after a below par Monaco performance.

[GSC]

Really not sure about brand new tyres. Surely it devalues the whole Championship to swap halfway through because some teams developed cars that chew up tyres. I'd have to side with Ferrari and Lotus on this, feels somewhat like they're being punished for building the best cars.

[GSC]

Beginning to rain again.

[GSC]

Ferrari and RB look good for long runs

[GSC]

Wet quali could be interesting. A force India or McLaren might find its way up the grid.

[GSC]

What we thinking?

Vettel for pole for me.

[Bull]

Alonso for Pole

surprise by Mclaren or Force India as well.

[GSC]

Eddie Jordan not sitting on the fence.

[GSC]

Raining as we start Q1. Try and do a quick slick banker lap?

[GSC]

A few try but its too wet. Inters

[GSC]

Paul Di Resta fails to break Q1 again in 17th.

Sebastien Grosjean smartly manages to reduce his 10 place penalty into a 3 place penalty.

Sadly its because hes qualifies 19th.

[Bull]

why do the BBC bum Di Resta like he is a saint?

[GSC]

Massa smashes his car into the wall at turn 3 and red flags with 1.58 to go in Q2

[Bull]

1.59 actually

[GSC]

Moving from management to scouting to timekeeping I see.

[Bull]

[GSC]

F1 cars dont do single file I see.

Might need to push a bit, but 1.59 is easily enough for an outlap in Montreal.

[GSC]

Maybe not as Button and Vettel fail.

[GSC]

Hulkenburg and Perez the 2 to miss out after that scramble.

[GSC]

Great performance from Bottas in the Williams so far

[GSC]

Di Resta not a happy bunny again.

[GSC]

Vettel takes pole as Hamilton misses the chicane on a faster lap.

Valteri Bottas takes 3rd

[GSC]

Great result for Vettel. Hamilton and Bottas unlikely to challenge him on race pace.

[dyrewolfe]

I have to ask...Squirrel Protection Unit 2.0?

Pretty crazy qualifying today with the rain. Didn't work out for Di Resta, Massa or McLaren. Not a good day for Grosjean either...but he was always going to be up against it with a 10-place grid penalty. Maybe he can make amends tomorrow.

Vettel makes it a hat-trick of poles...just...beating Hamilton into 2nd place by 8/100ths of a second.

Congrats to Valtteri Bottas - amazing result for both him and Williams - completely outshone his more experienced team mate. Lets hope he can convert that into a good points finish.

Congrats also to Toro Rosso for getting both cars into Q3 for the first time.


1. S Vettel [Red Bull]
2. L Hamilton [Mercedes]
3. V Bottas [Williams]
4. N Rosberg [Mercedes]
5. M Webber [Red Bull]
6. F Alonso [Ferrari]
7. J Vergne [Toro Rosso]
8. K Raikkonen [Lotus]
9. D Ricciardo [Toro Rosso]
10. A Sutil [Force India]
----------------------------------
11. N Hulkenberg [Sauber]
12. S Perez [McLaren]
13. P Maldonado [Williams]
14. J Button [McLaren]
15. E Gutierrez [Sauber]
16. F Massa [Ferrari]
17. P Di Resta [Force India]
18. C Pic [Caterham]
19. R Grosjean [Lotus]

[GSC]

Groundhog got hit by a car way back as I recall

[Fernando]

I have to ask...Squirrel Protection Unit 2.0?

Usually get a lot of wildlife wandering around the track. forgot about groundhogs so went squirrel

[Gerry SA]

why do the BBC bum Di Resta like he is a saint?

Probably because he once won the DTM title a few years ago.

Don't worry though, Sutil is beginning to refind his 2011 form and that's more than good enough to put Di Resta back in his place.

[Guest]

Hope for changeable conditions, otherwise with Bottas in third and Hamilton's high fuel/tyre situation in second, it will be Vettel extending his lead in the WDC.

Lets see what happens.

[CaledonianCraig]

why do the BBC bum Di Resta like he is a saint?

Hmm odd remark. In any case he is out-performing his team-mate which is always first aim. Force India are hardly a team in a position to challenge for race wins in any case so what exactly do you expect from him which he hasn't already achieved?

[Bull]

Not a odd remark at all, they just suck up to him every time and is mentioned 24/7 on there live shows and has been for the past 3 years its silly there are other drivers you can interview!

[Bull]

Kimi and Riccardo both demoted after lining up in a random 3rd row during the red flag this means The Hulk is promoted to 9th and Sergio to 10th.

[GSC]

He's British and they are the British Broadcasting Corporation?

[Bull]

There are other British drivers and sky are known as British Sky Broadcasting and ive never seen them big him up soo much.

[dyrewolfe]

Not a odd remark at all, they just suck up to him every time and is mentioned 24/7 on there live shows and has been for the past 3 years its silly there are other drivers you can interview!

...as have Vettel, Hamilton and Button. Webber, Alonso and Massa tend to get a fair amount of interviews too. Di Resta is far from the only one.

Could be a bit of bias on the BBCs part, given two of their commentary team are also Scottish (DC and Lee McKenzie)...who knows?

[dyrewolfe]

There are other British drivers and sky are known as British Sky Broadcasting and ive never seen them big him up soo much.

Maybe you should watch the BBC's coverage when its available?

As it happens I've watched Sky's coverage of their races this season and have seen absolutely no evidence of this "bumming Di Resta" that you claim. Think you must be imagining it.

[GSC]

Button and Hamilton both feature heavily also.

Watch Spanish coverage and Alonso probably gets more coverage.

[Gerry SA]

Those of you claiming BBC don't bum Di Resta are deluded.

They're at it all the time.

Di Resta is an average driver. Come Brazil Sutil will beat in the standings, just like he did in 2011.

[GSC]

I really don't get the problem here. A British driver gets more attention from a British broadcaster. Alert the media

[Gerry SA]

I really don't get the problem here. A British driver gets more attention from a British broadcaster. Alert the media

I've got no problem with the home broadcasters hyping up their own countries drivers on the basis that its actually merited.

I've no problem with the BBC bigging up Hamilton or Button they've earnt that right.

Di Resta is average, but because he won a second tier DTM title, he's made out as a future F1 great.

Why's Max Chilton not given as much media attention?

[GSC]

He's doing alright. Highest placed driver outside the top 4 teams of RB, Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus.

Couple of subpar quali results doesn't take away from a good season so far

[Gerry SA]

He's doing alright. Highest placed driver outside the top 4 teams of RB, Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus.

Couple of subpar quali results doesn't take away from a good season so far

I'm not sure, I've all ways rated Sutil, and if he comes back after 1 year out and beats Di Resta it would really show the gulf in class. Considering the 2013 FI is a development of the 2012 car.

So Di Resta is double as experienced with the current car.

[Guest]

Read

It was expected of Di Resta to start off like a rat up a drain pipe because he was settled at the team, knew the car and most importantly had a full, extensive testing period to any other driver on the grid while FI messed around with Bianchi & Sutil. Therefore, it was expected for Di Resta to be leading his teammate in the first stages of the season. Apart from the tactical move to let Sutil go long in Australia, Di Resta has been the dominant performer. Don't let two bad qualfiying sessions make you all jump on the negative Di Resta talk. It's a credit to Sutil to now be showcasing his natural talent and his girlfriend and starting to put pressure on Paul. I fully expect by the season end to see Sutil be out-pointing Di Resta just like Sutil did in 2011 and Hulkenberg in 2012.

The BBC biased towards Di Resta issue is ridiculous and you must be bored to be bringing that up. Coulthard has a huge impact on the amount of focus there is on Paul, as expected, seeing as he's Scottish and they both live in Monaco. Pointless argument.

God I hope Hamilton can win tomorrow to put some life back into this championship because it's drifting worryingly towards Vettel

[CaledonianCraig]

Those of you claiming BBC don't bum Di Resta are deluded.

They're at it all the time.

Di Resta is an average driver. Come Brazil Sutil will beat in the standings, just like he did in 2011.

First up I don't watch the BBC coverage so I can't really comment. However, have you stopped to think that it isn't 'bumming'? I'd hazard a guess he gets lots of coverage but is that a massive surprise considering this is a British TV channel covering the sport from a British perspective. The sort of bias seen in all countries of the world of drivers from their country?

Hmm so Di Resta is an average driver? Eighth in the drivers title race ahead of both McLaren drivers and Grosjean (Lotus). Will bookmark your post about Sutil.

[Bull]

Considering the Mclaren one is due to them having a rubbish car?

[CaledonianCraig]

Considering the Mclaren one is due to them having a rubbish car?

And so is the Force India really that great? Of course not. I say judge him if he ends up in a more competitice car. Force India are never going to be a team to challenge for race wins etc at.

[Bull]

Not great i can defo say there car is better than Mclaren.

Jenson and Sergio are both better than Paul.

[CaledonianCraig]

Not great i can defo say there car is better than Mclaren.

Jenson and Sergio are both better than Paul.

And would they be if you swapped their teams? Also Bull - taking into account the team is driving for where exactly do you say he is underperforming ie do you think he should be in the top five in the championship? Please bear in mind you don't rate him and you freely admit his car is not great.

[Sponsored content]