Grand Prix 2011 Canadian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Thought this might be useful if you wanted to sing along to the Canadian National Anthem before the start of the race.

Anyway, on to the Grand Prix, after all that’s what we’re here for. Last year Bridgestone provided tyres, which didn’t like the surface at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve too much, and the powers that be in F1 thought “ah, ha here’s an idea to spice up the racing. Why don’t we ask those blokes at Pirelli if they can make sets of boots for F1 cars that fall apart on the warm up lap”, and they did.

In 2010 Hamilton put his car on pole (you may recall him pushing his car back to the pits, so light was it on fuel) and then went on to win an exciting race with teammate Jenson Button standing on the 2nd step.

So what for Canada 2011? Red Bull, at least car No.1, has been a tad difficult to beat but McLaren and Ferrari are getting closer during the race. With 5 wins out of 6 races Vettel has a healthy lead in the Championship and some bookmakers are already paying out on the title being his. Vettel was 3rd on the grid last year, behind teammate Webber, and finished 4th with unspecified gearbox problems, still ahead of Webber who had led for many laps but got caught out by the high tyre wear rate.

Fernando Alonso was 3rd last time out in Canada after getting mugged by a hard charging Jenson Button. Mercedes had a mixed race, Rosberg was “best of the rest” behind the McLaren’s, Alonso’s Ferrari and the Red Bull’s whilst Michael Schumacher treated the race like a destruction derby, straight lining chicanes and bouncing off other cars with gay abandon. What of Felipe Massa I hear you ask; well, he was one of Schumacher’s victims and lost time pitting for a new nose cone.

This is very nearly the last Hurrah for the exhaust blown diffuser and we have two, yes 2, DRS zones. So expect cars breezing past another before and after the pits, when they’re not in their getting new tyres of course.

Will it be another Red Bull walk over or can the McLaren’s and Ferrari’s tame the charging Bull? How will the Pirelli tyres hold up dusty and bumpy Ille Notre-Dame Circuit? Will it rain? Who will win? Can one of the minor teams struggle up into the points? I don’t know but I get the feeling there will be lots of speculation.

And we have our own track side reporter this year - take a bow Ray in Toronto and make sure you post some good photos

For Galahad’s excellent circuit write up, track history and all the stats a boy or girl could want click here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/circuit-gilles-villeneuve/

 

[KekeTheKing]

Is this a proper place to note that nearly every single time Lewis finds himself behind Jenson, he passes him. Wet. Dry. Otherwise.

 

[Jen]

Is this a proper place to note that nearly every single time Lewis finds himself behind Jenson, he passes him. Wet. Dry. Otherwise.

Almost in this case Keke

 

[siffert_fan]

How do you explain Hamilton's run-in with Webber? He cut inside on a wet surface and slid into Mark.

to me, Hamilton is starting to look a little desperate early in races. And the cardinal rule in racing is "thou shalt not eliminate thy team-mate". Both McLaren drivers need a reminder of that.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

It appears Hamilton's car only had tyre damage and they told him to retire because they errorneously thought it was suspension damage.

I find it incredibly hard to believe that was just tyre damage. It sure looked like broken suspension to me.

 

[Hamberg]

jez I agree about Button but that must have been a visibility issue. It was a legitimate overtaking attempt but he pushed Hamilton practically into the wall which under the regs isn't allowed.

 

[KekeTheKing]

I would put it this way, the number of times Lewis gets involved in incidents cannot be considered a coincidence any more.

Other than Massa at Monza 10 and Monaco 11, name an incident that was clearly his fault.

 

[Brogan]

I would put it this way, the number of times Lewis gets involved in incidents cannot be considered a coincidence any more.

Drivers who never try to pass will never put themselves in the position though.

Hamilton has more than his fair share of overtakes and statistically is more likely to be involved in an incident.

I haven't hesitated to criticise Hamilton in the past if he was to blame, but in this case he was entirely innocent.

 

[Quintessentially]

the number of times Lewis gets involved in incidents cannot be considered a coincidence any more.

I don't think it's never been a coincidence. Statistically he's executed more overtakes than any other driver this year. That's one in every ten overtake. Coventional wisdom therefore says he's more like to end up in an incident with another car.

 

[KekeTheKing]

Almost in this case Keke

Well he had passed him once already in the race. Jense didn't want it to be twice.

 

[jez101]

Other than Massa at Monza 10 and Monaco 11, name an incident that was clearly his fault.

.........

You would have to be a pub quiz king to answer that...

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Why should he back off on the straight?

He's entitled to attempt a pass if he has a significant speed advantage, without being forced off the circuit.
I seem to recall Schumacher did the same thing to Massa here last year and in that case Schumacher was blamed.

If the incident had taken place in the dry I'd agree with you and feel that Button was largely to blame for being aggressive in pushing Lewis into the barrier, but taking account of the wet weather and poor visibility it's not inconceivable that Jenson simply wasn't aware that Lewis was attempting a pass round the outside, and Jenson was getting back onto the racing line (albeit after being marginally off it).
I hope neither driver gets punished for this as bit was basically a 'racing incident' but I do feel the onus was on Lewis to avoid taking too great a risk in this case.

 

[f1fansp]

In all his career, I have never seen JB turn in on anyone. In fact, I have sometimes thought he was a bit too fair, giving a bit too much room ... I would put it this way, the number of times Lewis gets involved in incidents cannot be considered a coincidence any more.

Surely the incident ought, indeed must, be viewed in its own context rather than taking into account the history of the drivers involved.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

To be slightly positive about Lewis's day today, at least it's looking (at the moment) like there'll only be half points all round.

 

[sushifiesta]

FRUSTRATED!!!

1) Race shouldn't have started under safety car.
2) Hamilton out.
3) Vettel out in front... Again
4) Race suspended
Etc. etc.

P.S. Brundle: "there have been umpteen overtakes this season and 1 in 10 have been by Lewis."

 

[jez101]

Surely the incident ought, indeed must, be viewed in its own context rather than taking into account the history of the drivers involved.

hmm... not sure I agree. I think if you look at any incident, it can be argued both ways. Only by looking at a number of incidents can a pattern be seen.

 

[Brogan]

So Brundle has now changed his mind after reviewing the footage and stated that Jenson was looking left and knew Lewis was there.

Tone it down tsheporam, we don't need hysterics.

 

[McZiderRed]

In my view, the Jenson/Lewis connection was a racing incident. Jenson did not make any sharp movement. In fact, after seeing the replays, Martin Brundle said Jenson was following the normal racing line...

 

[Quintessentially]

Well done to Brundle for calling it as he sees it. Jenson, as he said, was quite clearly looking in his mirrors and knew Hamilton was there yet moved across.

 

[Hamberg]

If the conditions were too dangerous to overtake then why was there not a yellow flag? It was a legitimate attempt to overtake, I think Button started moving over probably at the exact point Lewis pulled out to his left so it wasn't malicious or knowing in my opinion - wasn't this his one defensive move? Just so happened it was at the wrong point and Lewis was much much faster.

 

[Quintessentially]

How do you explain Hamilton's run-in with Webber? He cut inside on a wet surface and slid into Mark.

.

I think Hamilton would've got a drive through penalty for that and rightly so, although DC reckons it was racing incident.