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Formula 1 needs a healthy dose of drama and politics but the current ‘political’ drama surrounding the F1 calendar is getting to be a tedious. No worries! The Canadian Grand Prix makes its appearance just in time as the seventh round of the season.
The circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s layout is one characterised by long straights and slow speed chicanes but it is the history of the Canadian GP that firmly entrench it as favourite among teams and fans. The Wall of Champions, the challenging technical layout and its unique atmosphere all combine to make it a truly memorable race weekend and Formula 1 venue.
TYRE DEGRADATION
Pirelli will supply the teams with the exact same tyre compounds (supersoft and soft) this weekend as were used in Monaco. The level of tyre wear in Monaco, or lack thereof rather, was Tyre degradation has always been high around the Canadian circuit however the teams arrive at the track in the dark as to whether or not the Pirelli tyres will follow the same trend. A short lap also means that the first session of qualifying is going to be jam packed with all twenty four drivers jockeying for position. Top teams are more than likely to go out earlier in the first session to set a banker lap and ensure their passage through to the second part of qualifying.
DRS took a bit of break during the Monaco race weekend but in Canada it’s bound to be back in full force. Not only will it wield a greater impact than in the streets of Monte Carlo but it will double up on the usage tally for the circuit Gilles Villeneuve. For the first time this season both the circuit’s straights will each have a DRS activation zone this weekend. Passing is inevitable and re-passing down the back straight almost surely a given.
What do you need to be successful around the circuit Gilles Villeneuve? As a stop-start circuit the six big braking points through the lap places a huge amount of emphasis on the brakes. In fact, it is the most demanding circuit on brakes, in terms of wear and temperature management, on the entire calendar. The rest of the track’s layout is made up out of two chicanes and a few slow corners. While straight line speed will be important this weekend stability under braking and good traction out of the slow corners will be as important, if not more essential, when aiming to maintain a competitive pace through the weekend.
CAN ANYONE STOP VETTEL?
Formula 1 in 2011 is all about one man. Come to think of it, it was all about the same man in 2010. It’s hard to say that Sebastian Vettel is in the form of his life considering that this is only his fourth full season of racing in the world’s premier motorsport series. But he is without doubt the class of the field. There is an adage that reads: you’re only as good as your last race. Consider the fact that on his last outing he won the most prestigious race on the calendar while soaking up immense pressure from two extremely talented drivers. It is undoubtedly going to take a monumental effort to beat Sebastian Vettel on merit. But it can be done. At least, that is what his challengers have to believe.
Mark Webber is the man under pressure this weekend. He has to win or at the very least somehow finish ahead of his teammate. Frankly speaking the Australian has been mauled by his teammate. Granted, he has had some reliability issues but that still does not account for the fact that he has been half a second slower than Vettel for the entire season. He has pointed towards not being able to get to grips with the Pirelli tyres (no pun intended) as his main problem. True to his straightforward nature he has admitted that he does not know how to make the tyres last. Notwithstanding, this fact still does not go a long way towards explaining his lack of qualifying pace.
MCLAREN
McLaren arrive in Canada with two drivers who carry two very different feeling after the last race. While Jenson Button will be pleased with his third place it is Lewis Hamilton who arrives under a bit of a dark cloud, no pun intended. His on and off track behaviour in Monte Carlo fell dramatically short of what is expected of Hamilton as a driver and a former champion. In Canada he has an opportunity to put things right. As the sight of his first ever victory in Formula 1 he seems to have a real affinity for this particular circuit. We’ll try not to mention that monumental blunder in the pitlane, under a red light, in 2008. The best KERS system and one of the best engines in the field makes the circuit Gilles Villeneuve and the McLaren a nice pairing. Add one mega fast Lewis Hamilton to that mix and there is certainly potential for the former champ to do something special. Canada is after all the venue where Hamilton snapped Red Bull’s run of qualifying dominance in 2010.
The Canadian Grand Prix has delivered its share of drama over the years; from spectacular crashes to crumbling tracks to pitlane accidents. Something always seems to happen around the riverside track. Exhilaration hasn’t exactly been in shortfall this season in fact, quite the opposite. So in light of that, Canada you have a pretty tough act to follow.
The circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s layout is one characterised by long straights and slow speed chicanes but it is the history of the Canadian GP that firmly entrench it as favourite among teams and fans. The Wall of Champions, the challenging technical layout and its unique atmosphere all combine to make it a truly memorable race weekend and Formula 1 venue.
TYRE DEGRADATION
Pirelli will supply the teams with the exact same tyre compounds (supersoft and soft) this weekend as were used in Monaco. The level of tyre wear in Monaco, or lack thereof rather, was Tyre degradation has always been high around the Canadian circuit however the teams arrive at the track in the dark as to whether or not the Pirelli tyres will follow the same trend. A short lap also means that the first session of qualifying is going to be jam packed with all twenty four drivers jockeying for position. Top teams are more than likely to go out earlier in the first session to set a banker lap and ensure their passage through to the second part of qualifying.
DRS took a bit of break during the Monaco race weekend but in Canada it’s bound to be back in full force. Not only will it wield a greater impact than in the streets of Monte Carlo but it will double up on the usage tally for the circuit Gilles Villeneuve. For the first time this season both the circuit’s straights will each have a DRS activation zone this weekend. Passing is inevitable and re-passing down the back straight almost surely a given.
What do you need to be successful around the circuit Gilles Villeneuve? As a stop-start circuit the six big braking points through the lap places a huge amount of emphasis on the brakes. In fact, it is the most demanding circuit on brakes, in terms of wear and temperature management, on the entire calendar. The rest of the track’s layout is made up out of two chicanes and a few slow corners. While straight line speed will be important this weekend stability under braking and good traction out of the slow corners will be as important, if not more essential, when aiming to maintain a competitive pace through the weekend.
CAN ANYONE STOP VETTEL?
Formula 1 in 2011 is all about one man. Come to think of it, it was all about the same man in 2010. It’s hard to say that Sebastian Vettel is in the form of his life considering that this is only his fourth full season of racing in the world’s premier motorsport series. But he is without doubt the class of the field. There is an adage that reads: you’re only as good as your last race. Consider the fact that on his last outing he won the most prestigious race on the calendar while soaking up immense pressure from two extremely talented drivers. It is undoubtedly going to take a monumental effort to beat Sebastian Vettel on merit. But it can be done. At least, that is what his challengers have to believe.
Mark Webber is the man under pressure this weekend. He has to win or at the very least somehow finish ahead of his teammate. Frankly speaking the Australian has been mauled by his teammate. Granted, he has had some reliability issues but that still does not account for the fact that he has been half a second slower than Vettel for the entire season. He has pointed towards not being able to get to grips with the Pirelli tyres (no pun intended) as his main problem. True to his straightforward nature he has admitted that he does not know how to make the tyres last. Notwithstanding, this fact still does not go a long way towards explaining his lack of qualifying pace.
MCLAREN
McLaren arrive in Canada with two drivers who carry two very different feeling after the last race. While Jenson Button will be pleased with his third place it is Lewis Hamilton who arrives under a bit of a dark cloud, no pun intended. His on and off track behaviour in Monte Carlo fell dramatically short of what is expected of Hamilton as a driver and a former champion. In Canada he has an opportunity to put things right. As the sight of his first ever victory in Formula 1 he seems to have a real affinity for this particular circuit. We’ll try not to mention that monumental blunder in the pitlane, under a red light, in 2008. The best KERS system and one of the best engines in the field makes the circuit Gilles Villeneuve and the McLaren a nice pairing. Add one mega fast Lewis Hamilton to that mix and there is certainly potential for the former champ to do something special. Canada is after all the venue where Hamilton snapped Red Bull’s run of qualifying dominance in 2010.
The Canadian Grand Prix has delivered its share of drama over the years; from spectacular crashes to crumbling tracks to pitlane accidents. Something always seems to happen around the riverside track. Exhilaration hasn’t exactly been in shortfall this season in fact, quite the opposite. So in light of that, Canada you have a pretty tough act to follow.