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The first wet race in eleven years around the circuit Gilles Villeneuve turned the Canadian Gp into a four hour long marathon of epic complexity.
RACE CONTROL
The start of the race had teams following the safety car. The re-start, after a colossal two hour red flag period, was, conversely, a bit perplexing. Several drivers confirmed the track ready for racing the safety car stayed out for several more laps.
While safety is of the utmost importance you have to wonder – is Formula 1 just a tad over cautious?
Even so, for having to cope with five safety car periods, numerous incidents and accidents - race control, the stewards and especially the Canadian marshals situated around the circuit really have to be given a great deal of credit.
The only exception may have been the marshal running out onto the track to retrieve debris while racing cars arrived at the same part of track, unsighted.
DRIVING SKILL
For all the changes that have been made to Formula 1 in 2011 there is, and never will be a substitute for pure driving skill. Consider the fact that before the torrential downpour in Canada drivers had only one day’s worth of running on wet weather Pirelli tyres. And that was one day, during testing, back in February.
Strategy calls played a big role in the eventual finishing positions of the drivers. However, it was driving skill, under extreme conditions, that kept the majority of them from falling off the track. Some say that rain in a motor race is a great leveller.
This should be corrected. Rain is great leveller of car performance not driving ability. Case in point – a certain seven times world champion.
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
Despite Michael Schumacher being a seven times winner of the Canadian Gp few had given him a chance of running near the sharp end of the race. Rightly so, you’d have to admit. He had hardly done anything during the previous six races of the season to warrant any kind of praise or hope.
In Canada though he finally stepped up and delivered, arguably, the best performance of his comeback, to date. Whether it was intentional or not, in a truly Schumacher-esque move his pushed Hamilton, nearly, onto the grass going into the hairpin.
It may not have been the most brilliant move ever to be pulled off but it did give us a glimpse of the ‘old’ take-no-prisoners Michael Schumacher. As the track started drying out he set several fastest laps and passed several drivers to eventually run second.
It was like he’d never left! His best efforts though would not be enough. As the dry line emerged so his chances of a podium finish dissipated. Where it came down to the driver to make the difference in damp conditions Schumacher was the fastest driver on track.
A switch to slick tyres and ‘normal’ conditions revealed the frailty of the Mercedes in dry conditions. Makes you wonder where the lack of performance really lies, doesn’t it?
LEWIS HAMILTON
Is it time now for Lewis Hamilton to re-evaluate his driving style? Something suggests that he doesn’t feel that way. Lewis Hamilton is known as an aggressive driver who takes chances and opportunities when they are presented to him. That’s why millions of people love watching him.
However, his behaviour in the last two races leaves a lot to be desired. The incident with Mark Webber into turn two was clumsy to say the least. Despite being left acres of space he still banged into the side of the Red Bull.
Condition may have been trying and slippery but surely that should only enforce the notion of not being able to win the race in the first corner, or in this case, the second.
The attempted pass on his teammate though was the more baffling of his two incidents. Jenson Button, fully within his rights, took up the racing line into turn one. There may be an argument that Hamilton got a much better run off the final corner than Button but he was always driving into a closing gap; something he should have been able to recognise.
Instead he clunked into the sister McLaren and thumped into the pitwall for good measure. It was, bluntly, a ridiculous accident that showed a driver out of control and possibly, at the moment, out his depth in a car that cannot deliver what he requires of it.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
He was untouchable as he managed each safety car re-start and maintained control at the front of the race. However, there is an argument to be made for the fact that Sebastian Vettel may have played it to safe after the final safety car period had subsided.
He kept a four second gap for most of the stint. Some might say it was way too cautious though he would’ve looked particularly silly if he’d binned it, wouldn’t he?
JENSON BUTTON
The benefit of hindsight is always 20/20 though it seems reasonable to suggest that the DRS (Drag Reduction System)was a great help in Jenson Button’s run towards his tenth grand prix victory. It was far from the determining factor, given his pace, but an important factor in his rampant drive.
A mistake from Sebastian Vettel (proving that he is in fact human) handed him the race lead on the final lap but it was everything that preceded that moment that makes this one of, if not, the best victories of Button’s career.
Jenson Button performance during the race should also be a good example to teammate Hamilton. The 2009 champion found himself dead last twice, made five pit stops, served a drive through penalty and survived two accidents (no penalties were imposed on Button).
By all accounts that should add up to one very dismal afternoon. Quite the opposite – he won the race! See Lewis you don’t have to banzai every driver in sight.
RACE CONTROL
The start of the race had teams following the safety car. The re-start, after a colossal two hour red flag period, was, conversely, a bit perplexing. Several drivers confirmed the track ready for racing the safety car stayed out for several more laps.
While safety is of the utmost importance you have to wonder – is Formula 1 just a tad over cautious?
Even so, for having to cope with five safety car periods, numerous incidents and accidents - race control, the stewards and especially the Canadian marshals situated around the circuit really have to be given a great deal of credit.
The only exception may have been the marshal running out onto the track to retrieve debris while racing cars arrived at the same part of track, unsighted.
DRIVING SKILL
For all the changes that have been made to Formula 1 in 2011 there is, and never will be a substitute for pure driving skill. Consider the fact that before the torrential downpour in Canada drivers had only one day’s worth of running on wet weather Pirelli tyres. And that was one day, during testing, back in February.
Strategy calls played a big role in the eventual finishing positions of the drivers. However, it was driving skill, under extreme conditions, that kept the majority of them from falling off the track. Some say that rain in a motor race is a great leveller.
This should be corrected. Rain is great leveller of car performance not driving ability. Case in point – a certain seven times world champion.
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
Despite Michael Schumacher being a seven times winner of the Canadian Gp few had given him a chance of running near the sharp end of the race. Rightly so, you’d have to admit. He had hardly done anything during the previous six races of the season to warrant any kind of praise or hope.
In Canada though he finally stepped up and delivered, arguably, the best performance of his comeback, to date. Whether it was intentional or not, in a truly Schumacher-esque move his pushed Hamilton, nearly, onto the grass going into the hairpin.
It may not have been the most brilliant move ever to be pulled off but it did give us a glimpse of the ‘old’ take-no-prisoners Michael Schumacher. As the track started drying out he set several fastest laps and passed several drivers to eventually run second.
It was like he’d never left! His best efforts though would not be enough. As the dry line emerged so his chances of a podium finish dissipated. Where it came down to the driver to make the difference in damp conditions Schumacher was the fastest driver on track.
A switch to slick tyres and ‘normal’ conditions revealed the frailty of the Mercedes in dry conditions. Makes you wonder where the lack of performance really lies, doesn’t it?
LEWIS HAMILTON
Is it time now for Lewis Hamilton to re-evaluate his driving style? Something suggests that he doesn’t feel that way. Lewis Hamilton is known as an aggressive driver who takes chances and opportunities when they are presented to him. That’s why millions of people love watching him.
However, his behaviour in the last two races leaves a lot to be desired. The incident with Mark Webber into turn two was clumsy to say the least. Despite being left acres of space he still banged into the side of the Red Bull.
Condition may have been trying and slippery but surely that should only enforce the notion of not being able to win the race in the first corner, or in this case, the second.
The attempted pass on his teammate though was the more baffling of his two incidents. Jenson Button, fully within his rights, took up the racing line into turn one. There may be an argument that Hamilton got a much better run off the final corner than Button but he was always driving into a closing gap; something he should have been able to recognise.
Instead he clunked into the sister McLaren and thumped into the pitwall for good measure. It was, bluntly, a ridiculous accident that showed a driver out of control and possibly, at the moment, out his depth in a car that cannot deliver what he requires of it.
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
He was untouchable as he managed each safety car re-start and maintained control at the front of the race. However, there is an argument to be made for the fact that Sebastian Vettel may have played it to safe after the final safety car period had subsided.
He kept a four second gap for most of the stint. Some might say it was way too cautious though he would’ve looked particularly silly if he’d binned it, wouldn’t he?
JENSON BUTTON
The benefit of hindsight is always 20/20 though it seems reasonable to suggest that the DRS (Drag Reduction System)was a great help in Jenson Button’s run towards his tenth grand prix victory. It was far from the determining factor, given his pace, but an important factor in his rampant drive.
A mistake from Sebastian Vettel (proving that he is in fact human) handed him the race lead on the final lap but it was everything that preceded that moment that makes this one of, if not, the best victories of Button’s career.
Jenson Button performance during the race should also be a good example to teammate Hamilton. The 2009 champion found himself dead last twice, made five pit stops, served a drive through penalty and survived two accidents (no penalties were imposed on Button).
By all accounts that should add up to one very dismal afternoon. Quite the opposite – he won the race! See Lewis you don’t have to banzai every driver in sight.