Canadian GP Thread containing Practice, Qualifying and Race spoilers

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

Spoiler:

Round seven of the 2012 Formula One World Championship may be taking place in one the sport’s most familiar and popular venues, Montreal, which hosts its 33rd Canadian Grand Prix, but this year’s visit to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve sees the sport entering uncharted territory.

With Mark Webber winning last time out in Monaco, we head to Quebec seeking either an historic seventh different victor from season’s first seven races or the campaign’s first repeat winner.

If form around the Île Notre Dame track is anything to go by then Lewis Hamilton has perhaps the best chance of being that lucky seventh winner. The McLaren driver has two wins (2007 and 2010) and three pole positions (2007-’08 and 2010) from just four starts here, making him something of a Montreal specialist. However, there are plenty more who’ll be gunning for the top step, including Monaco pole winner Michael Schumacher, who has won this race a staggering seven times, and defending champion Sebastian Vettel, who’ll be seeking to make up for last year’s final-lap error which saw him hand victory to Jenson Button at the end of a marathon four-hour race.

But the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is not easy to master. Long, high-speed straights end abruptly in slow corners, and the cars often have to decelerate from near 300kph to less than 100kph in the blink of an eye. That puts heavy stress on brakes and teams will be bringing their most extreme brake ducts in order to cool their cars’ brakes efficiently.

Engines too are worked quite hard, with 60 per cent of the lap at full throttle. Add to that the close proximity of the barriers, particularly the notorious ‘Wall of Champions’, and it’s clear that Formula One’s search for some kind of consistency this season is unlikely to end in Montreal –

it really is a race where anything can happen.

CIRCUIT DATA

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Length of lap:
4.361km
Lap record
1:13.622 (Rubens Barrichello Ferrari, 2004)

Start line/finish line offset
0.000km
Total number of race laps
70
Total race distance
305.270km
Pitlane speed limits
60km/h during practice

100 km/h during qualifying and race


CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2011


All kerbs and lines painted around and on the track will be painted with a genuine FIA-approved non-slip paint.


The guardrail on the driver’s left before and after turn 10 has been replaced by walls, as in other locations. New debris fences have been fitted on top of these new walls.


A number of guardrail posts have been renewed.


A gate will be provided in the pit wall to allow the teams to remove all their equipment from the grid more quickly and without having to take everything to the pit exit.

Canadian GP
Fast Facts
► The race in Canada has been part of the Formula One calendar since 1967, when the first race was run at the Mosport Park circuit in Ontario. This will be the 43rd running of the race and Montreal’s 33rd time hosting the event.
► As at the Monaco GP a fortnight ago, Pirelli will offer teams their red-banded Super Soft and yellow Soft tyres here in Montreal.
► The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve circuit firmly belongs to Michael Schumacher, the German having notched up seven wins from 17 attempts. Pretty impressive. Only Nelson Piquet can come close to that stat with three wins – 1982, ’84 and 1991 – from 13 starts.
► In recent seasons, no one has dominated at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with the top step on the podium being occupied by five drivers in the past six years: Jenson Button (2011), Lewis Hamilton (2010, ’07), Robert Kubica (’08), Fernando Alonso (’06) and Kimi Raikkonen (’05).
► Schumacher has also notched six pole positions here. Again, no other driver comes close. Nelson Piquet and Aytron Senna started from the front three times and, of the current drivers, only Lewis Hamilton can match that, the McLaren driver grabbing a hat-trick of poles in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Starting from pole is no guarantee of a win. In the past decade, the pole sitter has won just three times – Fernando Alonso in 2006 and Hamilton in 2007 and 2010.
► Jean Alesi took his one and only Formula One victory here in 1995. Driving for Ferrari, he inherited the lead after Michael Schumacher suffered a gearbox problem that dropped him to fourth. Alesi famously ran out of fuel on his victory lap but was given a lift back to the pits by the defeated Schumacher.
► Nigel Mansell probably doesn’t have fond memories of his 1991 race here. The Briton was leading comfortably when on the last lap he ground to a halt. It is commonly believed that he let his engine revs drop too low while waving to the crowd in celebration, thereby stalling the engine, However, the official Williams line was that Mansell suffered a late gearbox failure. Whatever the reason Nelson Piquet swept through to score perhaps his most fortunate F1 victory.
► The extraordinary 2011 Canadian Grand Prix is officially F1’s longest race. The total race time (including a long suspension when the wet track was too treacherous to race upon) was a whopping 4 hours, four minutes and 39.537 seconds, over an hour and a quarter longer than the similarly disrupted Korean Grand Prix of 2010. Up until last year’s race in Montreal the longest Formula One event was the 1954 German Grand Prix, which lasted 3hr 45 minutes and 45.80 seconds. There was no rain interruption there though. That race was run in dry and mild conditions and featured 22 laps of the 22.81km Nurburgring, giving a huge total distance of 501.82km.

Biographies
MARTIN DONNELLY
FORMULA ONE DRIVER 1989-90
Ulsterman Martin Donnelly, 47, was a star of junior racing categories in the 1980s before making his grand prix debut with the Arrows team at the 1989 French GP at Paul Ricard, substituting for Derek Warwick. He qualified 14th and raced to a creditable 12th. He was offered a race drive at Lotus alongside Warwick for 1990 and started 12 races, recording a best finish of seventh at the Hungarian GP. However, his time in Formula One was cut short when, later in the season, a suspension failure caused a huge accident in practice for the Spanish GP at Jerez. Despite the serious injuries he suffered, Donnelly recovered sufficiently to race competitively in national events. He now runs Donnelly Track Academy in Norfolk, England and has held a number of racing team management positions.

JOSÉ ABED
FIA VICE PRESIDENT
José Abed, an FIA Vice President since 2006, began competing in motor sport in 1961. In 1985, as a motor sport official, Abed founded the Mexican Organisation of International Motor Sport (OMDAI) which represents Mexico in the FIA. He sat as its Vice- President from 1985 to 1999, becoming President in 2003.
In 1986, Abed began promoting truck racing events in Mexico and from 1986 to 1992, he was President of Mexican Grand Prix organising committee. In 1990 and 1991, he was President of the organising committee for the International Championship of Prototype Cars and from 1990 to 1995, Abed was designated Steward for various international Grand Prix events.
Since 1990, Abed has been involved in manufacturing prototype chassis, electric cars, rally cars and kart chassis.


GERD ENNSER
MEMBER OF THE DMSB’s EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR AUTOMOBILE SPORT, FORMULA ONE AND DTM STEWARD
Dr Gerd Ennser has successfully combined his formal education in law with his passion for motor racing. While still active as a racing driver he began helping out with the management of his local motor sport club and since 2006 has been a permanent steward at every round of Germany’s DTM championship. Since 2010 he has also worked as a Formula One steward. Dr Ennser, who has worked as a judge, a prosecutor and in the legal department of an automotive-industry company, has also been a member of the steering committee of German motor sport body, the DMSB, since spring 2010, where he is responsible for automobile sport. In addition, Dr Ennser is a board member of the South Bavaria Section of ADAC, Germany’s biggest auto club.


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

Source:BBC/FIA Official Site

[Gregers]

Gregers' Driver of the day/Turkey of the Day will be tomorrow.

[mystiroakey]

buton had a shocker- obviously something seriously wrong with his set up- the mcclaren had pace. it cant just be down to hamiltons love of the track.

but those two would be my driver and my turkey.

grosjean and perez had a blinder mind, to race like that on one set of tyres seemed kinda impossible when you look at how the 3 big boys performed

[Critical_mass]

Driver of the day for me hast be Lewis. he fought off Alonso and vettel and managed to pass them when needed. though if it wasn't Lewis it would be grosjean.

turkey would be button im afraid and if not him it would be mass for running in a respectable 5th to then throw it away

[mystiroakey]

yeah same here critical- mass. however thinking about it alonso could also be a turkey of the day- vettel realised his mistake very late on- but it was still good enough to pass alonso because he at least did something about it. those points could be ubber critical come the end of the season!!

[Mad for Chelsea]

I don't think that's fair on Alonso. He made a brave call which didn't pay off. Had it paid off he had a chance of winning the GP. I'd rather see him going out for the win like that than settling on second place. So yes, wrong call, but hindsight's a wonderful thing.

Having said that, it was a bit strange to see quite a few drivers attempting the one-stopper here, as this is probably the circuit where you lose the least time in the pit-lane (around 14 secs).

Driver of the day has to be Lewis IMO. Flawless really. Grosjean and Perez both drove great races, but Hamilton's first ten laps or so after his last pit stop were breath-taking, considering at the time it looked like maybe McLaren had made the wrong call on strategy...

[Mad for Chelsea]

I'd have to give turkey of the day to Jenson, unfortunately. Just couldn't get his race going, and finishing 14th (or whatever it ended up being) when your team-mate wins is pretty poor.

[Fernando]

I'd have to give turkey of the day to Jenson, unfortunately. Just couldn't get his race going, and finishing 14th (or whatever it ended up being) when your team-mate wins is pretty poor.

Shows what happens with limited practice really when the team takes 3 3/4 hours to do a 30 minute job

[liverbnz]

Red Bull wrong with their strategy with Webber again. People talk about McLaren sabotaging Lewis but its ridiculous with Webber. Can anyone remember the last time Webber gained through strategy when it mattered? 2 years ago in Hungary is the last time I can think of. Yet Vettel has benefitted from many in the same time period.

[SteveG]

Button had an absolute mare. Have yet to watch a re-run but I'm sure he was AHEAD of Vergne who then received a drive thru and yet somehow still managed to finish BEHIND the Toro Rosso driver ??? That just about sums it up.

[mystiroakey]

webber is the number 2 driver thats clear- lewis isnt at the moment. Its just his team has been shocking.

Webber may get what some might think the sharp end of the stick. but he isnt a great driver lets be clear on that. and pretty lucky to be paid what he is doing a job . F1 isnt a completley competive sport for half of them , its just a job within a team.. the sooner some of them realise that the better. Offcourse teams arnt stupid- they need to factor in the championship (constructors as well) and if there no.2 driver starts better than there no.1 they can offcourse switch who gets prefernce.

drivers should stop getting so emotional it is what it is and anyonbe with half a brain shouldnt get conned

[Guest]

YYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LEWIS! (sorry but that's been waiting to come out for too long)

Great tactical race and what a superb drive from Lewis and especially Romain & Perez, he's just reinforcing the fact he's a top driver and surely Massa's replacement at Ferrari next season. The cooler temperatures helped considerably and when degradation isn't high, Lewis' natural speed shines through.

I've been McLaren's biggest critic this season and even though the win came this weekend, their are still some worrying issues for the team and I hope this weekends result doesnt just paper over the cracks. The strategy paid off, however Alonso had Lewis covered for one lap and it was a big foul up by Ferrari in my opinion. Interesting too see Ron Dennis & a number of big shareholders attending the races now, just shows how under pressure Whitmarsh was prior to this race. Whitmarsh was like a little kid jumping and smothering Lewis after the race..........says it all.

Lewis is carrying the team but for Button it's becoming embarrasing now, what a turnaround from last year. When Lewis has a bad year, he still wins multiple races and is involved at the front end of races, however when Button has a bad year, his performances are completely shocking and quite embarassing to watch. You can see just how slow he naturally is without a perfect car. Ted Kravitz picked out an 'astonishing' radio transmission from Button post race, did anyone else pick that up in more detail??????

I guess another debate that will re-emerge will be that of DRS. The overtakes were predictable, uncontested and boring........that's not right. Look forward to Valencia where higher temperatures could be key. Hamilton leading the title.....sounds bloody good!

[SteveG]

Judging by Whitmarsh's reaction with Lewis after the race it looked like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. Never seen him show his emotions like that before and at one point thought he was going to burst into tears.

Hopefully he now realises that it's Lewis and his new found maturity that needs 110% of operational backing so he can take the fight to Alonso and Vettel on an equal footing.

On a side note - interesting conversation with RD seemed to point to Mclaren having to cut their cloth - and Lewis's pay packet if he stays on - perhaps the sticking point all along - despite the media talking about £zillions.

[Guest]

The increasing presence of Ron Dennis at a time of much needed improvement among the teams performance and of Lewis' contract situation is telling. I would of thought Lewis had enough finances now and that his decision should really be purely based on where he can win multiple titles. Yesterday's win was incredibly timely for both parties because the pressure was evident for all to see and that was shown through Whitmarsh's emotional display.

The problem is Lewis won't be getting 110% backing at McLaren compared to his big rivals in Alonso & Vettel and that will play a big part in my opinion.

[SteveG]

TBH it seems he has only ever been motivated by racing and emulating his idol Senna but I suppose its like anything - once you are paid X to do so you don't then want to be paid Y (plus once agents become involved the only language they speak is £money). But I agree its now surely all about the titles - especially after 2 years of helplessy watching Vettel upstage him.

If so then he has to weigh up whether less than 100% backing at Mclaren is still better than 100% backing elsewhere other than Ferrari or Red Bull.

Tough decision and yet Mclaren could make it so much easier. Crazy.

[mystiroakey]

Mclaren needs to make button no.2 or get rid. i know its tough . but its the only way to go these days

[Critical_mass]

Mclaren will disadvantage themselves by supporting both drivers, at least all the way until the end. They need to make a choice and it needs to be made when one driver falls behind too much. Though im not sure we're at that point yet.

It isnt too bad for them at the mo, Webber is still in there with Vettel. Ferrari are really the only team currently backing one driver more than the other.



Oh and Perez to go to Ferrari next year...PLEASE!

[AlciG]

Oh and Perez to go to Ferrari next year...PLEASE!

I hope not for him... I really like him as a driver but he will not get a fair chance to compete with Alonso

[Critical_mass]

That could be true, but we wont see his full potential in Sauber unless they are regular front runners and winning races.

Rock > Perez < Hard place

[Don Caboose]

Button's lack of pace is disturbing if you are a JB fan. Even if Hamilton is in the form of his life around a track that he loves, no way Button should be 2 secs off.

I think its interesting that Button's much heralded advantage over Hamilton (better tyre management and a smoother style) is actually hampering him this season. Button can't "switch" the tyres on in qualifying and thus is consistently starting down the grid. Then once he is stuck in traffic, the tyres go off anyway and his more considered approach leaves him well off the pace. (Look at the way Vettel has gone ballistic when down the grid, to make up the spaces earlier rather than later.)

[SteveG]

TBH I'm not following this tyre thing at all (is anybody ). In Australia Button switched on his tyes no problem whilst Hamilton struggled to keep pace and yet now it's turned on its head.

It seems to be a marriage between driving style, setup and track temperature. Once one of those variables steps out of line you're out of the tyre window. Often its track temperature (which would account for the so called 'lottery') but in Buttons case on Sunday it seemed to be setup which, due to lack of Friday practice I think simply mirrored Hamiltons which didnt suit.

A point of interest is Button has always struggled to get heat into his tyres when the car is not perfect (nearly cost him his 2009 WDC). So although most people thought that the Pirellis would be the dream ticket with tyre management being his biggest strength, this years tyres are in fact becoming a nightmare because they have a switch that seems harder to find in an imbalanced car - his biggest weakness. And this would perhaps explain why Hami and Vettel and their ability to compensate are now both ahead of teamates who started better.

Button will be back no doubt - being lapped by your teamate in the same car is as low as it gets but the usual "only when the car is perfect" label often thrown at him is probably now more apt than ever before.

[Critical_mass]

I agree Steve.

And the problem is Lewis CAN learn to adapt his driving style to manage the tyres. But it'll be impossible for Button to find natural speed. Though lets not jump the gun yet, recent results havent been great for Button but canada was down to lack of track time in practice.

[monty junior]

Button has as long as i've known never been able to drive around a bad balance, it was particularily obvious in 2001 with that terrible Benetton when he was regularly outqualified by the Minardi of Alonso and the Arrows because he just couldn't drive an unbalanced car. He's obviously improved tremendously since, but 3 races now he's been rubbish.

Really good battle at the front and you've got to say Hamilton deserved the win after being close a few times in 2012, i liked the fact that both Ferrari and Redbull also went for the win despite being a bit off on pace they still went for it with an alternative strategy. It didn't pay off but it's much more exciting than the likes of Lotus and Sauber who run most of the race on one set of tyres.

[SteveG]

There's no way I'm writing off Button just yet. He is a much bigger threat to Hamilton than Webber or Massa are to their respective teamates least of all because there is no pecking order in the Mclaren garage. Even when he doesnt qualify well he always somehow manages to find a way to the sharp end in a sort of stealthy fashion. Not great racing but effective.

It's vital Hamilton stays on the podium whilst Button is struggling and if so then I'll be happy

[Critical_mass]

Yup indeed and he's currently 43 points ahead from what i read.

[Guest]

43 points behind Hamilton with 13 races left is absolutely nothing, however the problem is even if JB returns to form he will almost certainly be out-qualified by Lewis. Lewis' improved performance, natural speed and maturity this season along with better tyre management is a formidable obstacle for JB to beat. JB beat Lewis by 40 odd points last season if I'm correct but that's only because Lewis was DNF'ng or getting punished every other race, that isn't happening this season and this years results speak for themselves and actually the difference in class is apparent for all to see.

[SteveG]

43 points behind Hamilton with 13 races left is absolutely nothing

Exactly. Thats why I'm hoping for Hamiton to pull away whilst Button is struggling. Hamilton is different class but I'm still weary of Button who is more than capable of capitalising if Hami was to have a couple of DNF's. However Hamiltons mindset this seaon suggests that this will be unlikely (touch wood) unless he is extremely unlucky with reliability - and stays away from Massa lol.

[mystiroakey]

JB is to good in my mind to be a no.2 - its just looking at things cynically a team that isnt clearly the best needs to concentrate on one driver and utilse the other to help the no.1.

the great thing about this season is that if there is a best car out there id actually say its the lotus!!

great season and no 43 pts is nothing with the pts scoring system we have at present

[dyrewolfe]

JB is to good in my mind to be a no.2 - its just looking at things cynically a team that isnt clearly the best needs to concentrate on one driver and utilse the other to help the no.1.

the great thing about this season is that if there is a best car out there id actually say its the lotus!!

great season and no 43 pts is nothing with the pts scoring system we have at present

Having a #1 and #2 driver hasn't helped Ferrari lately, has it?

Its no way to treat a former world champion who has proven he can drive as well as anyone, with the right car and has won as many races as anyone else this season.

Also, do you really think having a de-motivated #2 driver is going to help either Hamilton or the team? Button could easily do what Kimi did during his last year with Ferrari and go missing. Lewis has said on numerous occasions he enjoys the competition with Jenson, as it spurs him on. Last but by no means least, Button's stock is still high enough that he could jump ship as soon as an opening becomes available. Then McLaren would have to try and entice someone like Rosberg to join them (no guarantees they'd get their man though).

[mystiroakey]

ferrari havent been up to it in recent years though have they drywolfe even with a clear no.1 and no.2.

mclarean wouldnt really worry if there lost button to another top team. They would have plenty of choice of top up and coming drivers(perez,kubica(if he gets fyt again),gronjean,etc) or the fill of no.2 drivers which the grid is mainly made up off..

no disrespect to JB. because i think he is much better than some think, and as i said possibly to good to be a no.2 driver

[Guest]

McLaren will never have a no.1/no.2 scenario while Hamilton & Button are there. They will continue to be equal until it's mathematically impossible for one of the drivers to win the title. That scenario is unlikely to ever really happen until at least maybe the last two races because of the fact you can still gain huge amounts of points i.e 25 compared to 10 back in the day. It will be interesting to see if Button can bounce back and stay within a 50 points margin of Lewis. I don't want to offend Button fans but this is 'normal service resumed' in my opinion in terms of espected performance between the two. Last year was a 'one off', the constant mistakes and ludicrous punishment for Lewis all played into the hand of Jenson and he took full advantage.

JB is contracted to McLaren and won't be going anywhere now. I can see Lewis staying aswell now, I think the driver situation at Red Bull & Ferrari are more interesting to debate because it's clear Vergne & Ricciardo are not ready and can Buemi really step up to the plate, even though in my opinion he was outperformed by Alguersuari

[Alessandro Ciambella]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with all the guys here calling for Jenson Button MBE to become a number 2 driver. How disrespectful.

This time last year, Lewis Hamilton’s form went though the floor. When some people were calling on Hamilton to become Jenson’s rear gunner, they were told Lewis Hamilton is too good to be a number 2 driver.

Jenson Button MBE is diffidently too good to be a number 2 driver. Despite all his set backs he is still within striking distance of the WDC lead. He proved last year what a fine racer he was and he will do it again.

Anybody writing off the Frome Fox obviously knows nothing about this sport. He will get to grips with this car. As the updates come through and improve it race by race we a nearing a point where he will finally get the car that his driving style and skill set can take advantage of.

[Don Caboose]

When Hamilton was having issues last year, he still was qualifying well and getting good points finishes (4ths, 5ths etc).

Button is having issues now and he is struggling to beat Toro Rossos.

Theres a World of difference right there.

[Belgarion of Riva]

Ciabatta, what happened to your competition? The Monza invitational? Where are the latest results?

[Critical_mass]

Anybody writing off the Frome Fox obviously knows nothing about this sport. He will get to grips with this car. As the updates come through and improve it race by race we a nearing a point where he will finally get the car that his driving style and skill set can take advantage of.

Really? I cos to me as the cars developed since Australia, it looks as though the car doesnt suit JB at all. Despite him supposedly having more input into what direction its developed - more towards his driving style. Though it could be he's just not been on form recently.

[Belgarion of Riva]

The Frome Fox unfortunately started to believe the hype fed to him by the Button Broadcasting Corporation, Martin Brundle and co and he's sadly realised he isn't as good as they've hyped him up to be.

His magical tyre conservation techniques have been grossly overrated and it's actually not the car he's struggling with, it's the tyres. His style isn't switching them on and that's what costing him.

For Hamilton to start dead last at Spain and yet finish ahead of him tells you all you need to know about the quality of both drivers.

On a separate note, the finger is struggling too without his diffuser

[Guest]

For Hamilton to start dead last at Spain and yet finish ahead of him tells you all you need to know about the quality of both drivers.

On a separate note, the finger is struggling too without his diffuser

Completely agree.

Alonso has proved he's the no.1 but Hamilton is all over his a**! I'm just laughing at all those ridiculous and quite embarassing statements being released last year about the so-called superhuman ability of a certain german driver. As I've said before, 2012 maybe unpredictable but in terms of Alonso & Hamilton's performances its without doubt 'normal service and sheer speed resumed'. Everyone with half a brain understands that Button can only compete with his teammate in the points table when Lewis is being punished or suffering from on-track collisions with other drivers. Now that isn't happening this season and the results speak for themselves as BoR has said.

[monty junior]

Most of these collisions with "poor drivers" were caused by Hamilton himself.

[Guest]

Monty I ammended it for you

Been a quiet few weeks in the F1 world since Canada, although this Vettel pre-contract agreement for with Ferrari for 2014 isn't going away. No smoke without fire! Looking forward to Valencia now and P1 tomorrow.

[mystiroakey]

oh nice f1 again- sweet

[Fernando]

https://www.606v2.com/t31405-valencia-gp-thread-containing-practice-qualifying-race-spoilers time to move on the next one however boring it is

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