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

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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/
 
Sceptical was perhaps incorrect wording on my part.
Probably being a touch hard in my wording today too... love dealing with difficult clients :givemestrength:

I guess because I'm coming at it, from what I assume is, the opposite point of view to you I'm not too worried. DRS is just another element in the mix and the drivers and teams just need to deal with it. We're all learning (race control, teams, drivers and spectators) about hwat DRS will do and how it affects the race; I think thats good because I it spices up the experience and keeps it interesting.

Now we're up to two DRS zones... keep going and we may even get free use by the end of the season :)
 
I'm happy for them to give double DRS a go, but i don't see why they are because as far as i'm aware the DRS has done it's job at most circuits. It just needs to be in the right place. I understand double DRS in Australia, but not at the race that featured the most overtaking last year.
 
Also on the weather, i think i'd like to see it rain. Even with the DRS, KERS and Pirelli's; you can't beat a wet track to have drivers sliding around, overtaking and testing true driver's skill.
 
If that was the case it would be this every lap

Yes but I only said have those corners in the DRS zone...I believe you have the choice as a driver to not use DRS if you don't want to. So, basically, what I implied was "let's see who is confident enough in themselves and in their car to use DRS through Eau Rouge or even part of Eau Rouge. Now *that* would be really 'spicy'!;) "

Right now, they're taking Eau Rouge flat...and actually Pouhon is the most challeging bend at Spa now. That's a shame. Letting them use DRS through Eau Rouge would bring back the challenge of it.

John, I know you already know this but, for others who have forgotten, DRS isn't allowed when a wet race is declared.
 
Let it be dry...dry...dry this weekend, which could help to determine if Mclaren have made any inroads on those rockets, from that drink company.
 
oh let them use DRS in the rain! it'll be like watching a Ferrari in 2008 at silverstone! funny.

What's peoples opinion on the KERS this weekend - does double DRS render it pretty pointless as an overtaking tool? How important will it be on the start? I think Ferrari must have theres proper sorted now after Alonso's last 2 starts.

Oh and by the way Ray - take a clip the apex sign to the race with you and then we can play spot the board member!
 
oh let them use DRS in the rain! it'll be like watching a Ferrari in 2008 at silverstone! funny.

What's peoples opinion on the KERS this weekend - does double DRS render it pretty pointless as an overtaking tool? How important will it be on the start? I think Ferrari must have theres proper sorted now after Alonso's last 2 starts.

Oh and by the way Ray - take a Clip The Apex sign to the race with you and then we can play spot the board member!

It does not, the driver behind needs the KERS with the DRS to cancel out the driver infront who is also using KERS, this then will help the driver behind have an advantage, so technically KERS will be aiding the driver for overtaking.
 
I do want to have a wait and see attitude, but every piece of common sense i have suggests this is just going to be stupid. Reckon we will probably break 150 if it is a close race with high tyre degradation.
 
The DRS zones are quite short though, I don't see the second one doing much as it's not much of a straght going down to turn one.
 
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