Canadian GP Thread - Sponsored by Groundhog Protection Unit 2.0

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

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

[CaledonianCraig]

And John lets not forget the other season (2011) when both were in the same team but Di Resta was a rookie. So in the season and a half they have raced together Di Resta was at a disadvantage in 2011 as a rookie and Sutil was disadvantaged this year by being 'rusty'. Di Resta leads in points scored between them in that time and has the best race finish of the two for the team. I agree it is close but Gerry is the one doing the 'bumming up' here of Sutil by labelling Di Resta mediocre and Sutil unlucky. Sorry but the results and stats are there before us so either Di Resta is not as mediocre as Gerry calls him or Sutil is not as good as Gerry is painting him.

Mind you can we take anything Gerry says seriously when he labels Adrian Newey a 'one-trick pony'. Newey who has designed a world championship winning car at three different teams over three decades. 

[GSC]

Di Resta's winning the battle of the midfield drivers atm tbf.

[CaledonianCraig]

So what? Raikonen had been out of F1 for much longer and he came back and made an immediate impact. There you go again 'bumming' Sutil. As Force India team-mates in 2011 (bearing in mind Di Resta was a rookie) and this season then Di Resta leads Sutil having scored 61 points in that time compared to 59 of Sutil. I really have no idea where you dream that Sutil will end up above Di Resta but am curious to how a 'mediocre' Di Resta can haul a Force India from 17th to 7th, finish 4th in a Grand Prix surpassing what Sutil has achieved at Force India in a longer career at the team. Either Di Resta is better than mediocre or you are guilty of 'bumming' Sutil. Take your pick.

Is this the same Kimi who was a WDC and 18 time race winner prior to his return to F1?

You're clearly an moron. 

Nico Hulkenburg also beat Di Resta after a year out as a Test driver. 

Di Resta is average. 

After Sutil beats him in 2013, he'll be looking for a job in a different racing category.

Ah right and so the name calling starts. No need for that Gerry. 

[Gerry SA]

So what? Raikonen had been out of F1 for much longer and he came back and made an immediate impact. There you go again 'bumming' Sutil. As Force India team-mates in 2011 (bearing in mind Di Resta was a rookie) and this season then Di Resta leads Sutil having scored 61 points in that time compared to 59 of Sutil. I really have no idea where you dream that Sutil will end up above Di Resta but am curious to how a 'mediocre' Di Resta can haul a Force India from 17th to 7th, finish 4th in a Grand Prix surpassing what Sutil has achieved at Force India in a longer career at the team. Either Di Resta is better than mediocre or you are guilty of 'bumming' Sutil. Take your pick.

Is this the same Kimi who was a WDC and 18 time race winner prior to his return to F1?

You're clearly an moron. 

Nico Hulkenburg also beat Di Resta after a year out as a Test driver. 

Di Resta is average. 

After Sutil beats him in 2013, he'll be looking for a job in a different racing category.

Ah right and so the name calling starts. No need for that Gerry. 

Ok fair enough, that was maybe below the belt. 

I'll also clarify(I'm not said bumming Sutil) but had it not been for his criminal conviction, he'd have got a seat at Mercedes. 

So Sutil is more than decent.

[CaledonianCraig]

Well something isn't adding up if you aren't bumming him up as you rate him worthy of a drive at Mercedes yet he is trailing to his team-mate who you rate as mediocre. Now either you are going OTT on the criticism of Di Resta or Sutil (even considering bad luck) is not worthy of such lofty praise? You can't have it both ways.

Frankly, I feel both Force India drivers will always be on the outside looking in so to speak. By that I mean they'll never get that drive for a competitive team.

[monty junior]

I'm not taking sides but I do sometimes think people overrate a drive, especially when a top 6 car is out of position after another shocking qualifying performance. Also, FI were in a situation where they had to gamble with going long. The track is smooth, no high loading corners, therefore it was possible to go 50 odd laps and FI lucked out on the strategy. Yeah, it was a good drive but anyone could of done that drive in that car, while everyone around him were being cautious with tyre strategy. Look, Di Resta is having a good race season, however his qualifying is poor. He should be leading the inter-team battle regardless of Sutil`s year off. Do Resta had a full winter test programme, something no other driver had, while FI messed around with Bianchi. Sutil is doing a good job, been unlucky to a point but currently I would give it 60-40 in Paul`s favour. By the end of the year, I expect it to be pretty close and that's the most important factor here because if Paul does not beat Sutil by a large margin, then more doors will be closing than opening in terms of progressing his career.


I wouldn't say that, when his team haven't messed up his qualifying by some dodgy strategy the worst he has qualified this year is 11th and has always been ahead of Sutil when they've had clean sessions. I don't really know what else he can do, come from 17th to 7th in a midfield car and he's critisized that "anyone" could do it", Sutil's a decent driver,PDRS beating him this season, still a long way to go but with Paul's experience now he should be looking to hit 70+ points.

[Fernando]

So which one of you smart people can tell what's wrong with this picture

[Guest]

Seeing as no one has dared to post, I will just start the ball rolling on this one Fernando. We don't know what's wrong with the picture, please enlighten us.

[GSC]

RB has his wing open maybe

I dunno either

[Dave.]

Its a Toro Rosso?

[CaledonianCraig]

The Red Bull has an illegal aero-dynamic part on it?? 








PS All you Red Bull fanatics - only joking. 

[Fernando]

Im disappointed with all you conspiracy theorists

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