Grand Prix 2018 Canadian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Montreal is the world’s second largest majority French-speaking city, appropriately enough after Paris. It is also the second largest city in Canada, after Toronto. It is not the capital of Quebec nor of Canada. Is it always a bridesmaid?

Well, maybe in an F1 sense it is appropriate that this city’s circuit be named after Formula One’s ultimate bridesmaid, Gilles Villeneuve. And I’m sure many of us had Jarama on the mind as Ricciardo slowed in Monaco...

However, this circuit has spurned many a bridesmaid down the years in favour of Lewis Hamilton, who seeks to match Michael Schumacher’s remarkable seven wins at this circuit. Hamilton has always shown a great affinity for this circuit and will surely go well again.

It is still to be seen, however, if this is still a Mercedes circuit. While the silver arrows flowed beautifully through the fast curves of Catalonia, the fastest circuit yet encountered (Baku) saw Vettel on pole and Räikkönen putting all the sectors in if not on the same lap. Maybe Baku’s closest twin will deliver another fast day for Ferrari. Then again, Hamilton somehow won that race.

Max Verstappen, fresh from failing to win in Monaco when in the only healthy version of the fastest car, is suffering some reputational damage for the first time in his short career. Personally, I expect famine or feast in Montreal.

As for the others, well, it’d be nice if there was a chance for any of them. They’re all fighting for 7th though.

Who’ll be truly Montrealais this year, and finish 2nd? Time will tell!
 
Practice Three Results:


Saturday Practice Session 3
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT TIME
1. Max Verstappen Netherlands Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:11.599
2. Sebastian Vettel Germany Ferrari 1:11.648
3. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari 1:11.650
4. Lewis Hamilton Britain Mercedes 1:11.706
5. Daniel Ricciardo Autralia Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer 1:12.153
6. Valtteri Bottas Finland Mercedes 1:12.255
7. Sergio Perez Mexico Force India-Mercedes 1:12.903
8. Nico Hulkenberg Germany Renault 1:12.946
9. Romain Grosjean France Haas-Ferrari 1:13.014
10. Stoffel Vandoorne Belgium McLaren-Renault 1:13.034
11. Esteban Ocon France Force India-Mercedes 1:13.064
12. Brendon Hartley New Zealand Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda 1:13.076
13. Fernando Alonso Spain McLaren-Renault 1:13.225
14. Carlos Sainz Spain Renault 1:13.331
15. Pierre Gasly France Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda 1:13.334
16. Charles Leclerc Monaco Sauber-Ferrari 1:13.452
17. Kevin Magnussen Denmark Haas-Ferrari 1:13.488
18. Sergey Sirotkin Russia Williams-Mercedes 1:13.818
19. Marcus Ericsson Sweden Sauber-Ferrari 1:13.925
20. Lance Stroll Canada Williams-Mercedes 1:13.968

A few observations:
1. Qualifying will be worth watching as we actually don't know who could be on pole. It could be any of six cars.
2. Renault and McLaren continue to be the best of the rest, with Hass and Force India keeping them honest.
3. Williams continues to be outperformed by Sauber. Poor former BMW powered cars!
4. The Toro Rosso/Honda does not quite seem to be there yet, even with a new engine upgrade.
 
RTL, who always show qualy live have decided that the middle of the night is best for Canada. Fortunately they will show the race live.
 
Very Entertaining qualifying i thought Top 3 teams all as competitive as each other. How you would hope all the time. Vettel did well great lap but for me star driver was bottas because to outqualify Lewis on his best track is some achievement. Although taking nothing away he seemed off all session Q1 - 5th Q2 - 6th Q3 run 1 6th then 4th. But thats lewis he is temperamental

Not 1 to side with vettel. But end of Q2 when he was on a flying lap. To be met with traffic jam was ridiculous. Might be harsh but id give all them 5 drivers 3 place grid pens. Because what if it was a guy in 11th difference between Q2 & Q3
 
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I think everyone jumping up and down about records and how he was going to dominate has tricked Lewis into a false sense of security.
 
I think everyone jumping up and down about records and how he was going to dominate has tricked Lewis into a false sense of security.

True maybe he thought it was going to come right at the right time. But he has suited this track i think this is only 2nd time in his career than hasnt started from the front row in Montreal
 
I thought qualifying was really dull until Q3, but I suppose that's how it's meant to work. We have sort of a bit of a mix on the grid and at least the three "Premier League" teams are mixing it up. It will be interesting to see how the race pans out, this could end up being won and lost in the pit stops.
 
Looking forward to this. I think could be a cracker espically if max jumps the front row on hypersofts. With ferrari mercedes red bull mercedes ferrari red bull
 
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