Grand Prix 2013 Canadian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

The Grand Prix du Canada has been part of the F1 calendar since 1967. First hosted alternatively between at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario (not far from Toronto) and Mont-Tremblant (sky paradise in Quebec) between 1967 and 1977 and then moved permanently to Montreal from 1978 onward. Among the races that took place in the early 70s, one of the most memorable has to be the Canadian Grand Prix in 1973, probably one of the craziest races of the 20th century; to this day the rightful winner is still in dispute. You can read an account of that eventful race here: http://8w.forix.com/cdn73.html.

Originally called Ile Notre Dame Circuit, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve debuted in the F1 calendar in 1978 and the Richelieu native of course took the honors and became its first winner (and to date only Canadian). Even though the track looked somehow unexciting compared to those of Mosport and Mont-Tremblant, it has nevertheless delivered some very exciting races.The 1991 race no doubt a memorable one for Piquet and Nigel Mansell. The British driver dominated the race and was so far ahead that he thought he would wave to the crowd to thank the support, only for his Williams’ to stall. His nemesis Piquet went through to win (his last career race by the way). Piquet was for sure excited as he reported after the race ended:

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In 1994, following the deaths of Ronald Ratzemberger, the Ayrton Senna at the Imola race track, the Droit du Casino curve was turned into a chicane. Michael Schumacher would win there for the first (but not last) time. He would go on to win 7 times there. However his dominance was interrupted in 1995 when Jean Alesi won, his one and only Grand Prix victory. It was a truly popular win, held the day of his 31st birthday sporting the number 27 on his Ferrari. It was so popular that mechanics from all teams came to congratulate him. A rare sight in modern F1 racing:

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And who can’t forget 2007, when a young Lewis Hamilton clinched his first F1 victory. However it was almost eclipsed by Takuma Sato’s probably best drive to date. Fighting and overtaking cars left and right and finishing 6th after a pit stop error. That was the same year when Robert Kubica had his horrific accident but walked away after. Unfortunately he wouldn't be so lucky in 2011 when he almost lost his life rally-racing. Some highlights of the race

After the hiatus that the race took in 2009, it came back in 2010 and it will continue for the foreseeable future to the benefit of Canadians and foreigners alike. This is the event the motorsport world looks up to Canada for some serious entertainment and this year promises to deliver an exciting race as we haven’t seen a clear pattern in terms of a dominating driver or team. Having said that, Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull continue to be the ones to beat at the end of the day and they have slowly but surely affirm themselves on the top spots as it seems there’s no clear challenger among the other drivers or teams.

 

[KekeTheKing]

Did Sky show, what was clearly shown over here on NBCSports, Alonso passing a car on the main straight under yellow flag conditions. It was either David Hobbs or Steve Matchett who said, Fernand made the pass under the yellow?

This was on Lap 39, shown Live during the broadcast. The NBC crew showed the replay as well. Sky did not. Alonso definitely lapped a Sauber under yellow flags. It actually looked like the Sauber let him by more than anything. Although this was a clear violation of the rules, I'm glad there was no penalty, as it did not affect anyone's race in any way.

That is terrible news about the marshal. Brundle said during that crane deployment that they have the potential for much worse things to happen than if they just left the car there. He obviously meant for the drivers, but this makes that point even more poignant. Very unfortunate for something so unnecessary.

 

[Blog Zbod]

Alonso overtook Gutiérrez on lap 39 with a blinking yellow (and red) light clearly visible.

Coming and going:


The red arrow in the top image points to the blinking light


This presumably would have been the first race since Red Bull learnt the trick of running the disinte-Pirellis backwards (left side tyres on right side, and so-on), which some of the other top contenders already were doing, so don't be shocked if today's result becomes the new normal

 

[FB]

Terrible thing to have happened. Sounds like a freak event but I'm sure that's not much comfort to his friends & family.

 

[Boyle]

What a sad thing to have happened

 

[Fenderman]

My sympathies to him and his family, colleagues and friends.

The incident is an unfortunate reminder that it's not just the motor racing that is dangerous. There are numerous activities that go on in the preparation and aftermath of a GP not just in the on track activities. All too often we see photographers, camera and TV crews getting in the way of people working. The Beeb bunch seem to have a propensity for being in the way of teams' fork lift trucks zipping about in the post race take-down. Who was it had a near miss a couple of races ago? Actually that might have been Ted on Sky F1. Anyway I would hope that this provokes a health and safety review of all ancillary operations in F1 so that at least some good may come out of the tragedy.

 

[tonyw151]

I'm sure its possibly just an unfortunate coincidence but after the comical (at the time) mishaps of 2011, does the Canadian motorsport authority need to look at marshal selection and/or training?

I'm sure if these events happened at a nation without a strong history of motorsport they would be an outcry.

 

[Il_leone]

Was the marshall incident during the race or after the race ? Last time it created such controversy was Monza 2000 after a 4 car crash in turn 3 ending with flying debris hitting a marshall who was attended by a medical car. The safety car came out and the race was not stopped whilst the marshall was treated and the race officials were savaged for not doing so .


RasputinLives

 

[Il_leone]

DId Alonso pass under yellows because its an automatic 25 second penalty if he did ? No Red Bull protest then?

It seems to me that it only applies to racing for position situation not lapping slower cars

YellowC Yellow

• A single yellow indicates danger ahead, such as debris from a crash. Drivers must slow down as they pass; no overtaking is permitted, unless it is unavoidable such as a driver retiring in the section, or a driver is lapped[citation needed].
• Two waved yellows at the same post indicates great danger ahead. Drivers must slow down and be prepared to stop; no overtaking is permitted unless a driver is lapped[citation needed].
• Yellow flags and the SC board (a large white board with "SC" in large black lettering) indicate that the Safety car has been deployed. Drivers must slow down, not overtake and be prepared to leave the normal racing line or even stop as a threat obstructs all or part of the track.

 

[Lewywo4]

ll_leone....I don't believe that you are allowed to pass under the yellow flag, especially under the circumstances that Alonso faced. It looked as if Fernando dodged a bullet today, because if he had received a 25 second penalty, forget about a podium and second place.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Without marshals a race cannot be held, drivers who disobey yellow flags should be punished much more severely than they are at present, the marshals safety far outways any drivers need to win, I hate to say it but Mika Hakkinen was the worst culprit for this he would just lift one hand off of the steering wheel wave at the marshals to acknowledge them and not even slow down, and Martin Brundle used to find this amusing....

 

[Quintessentially]

Really sad news about the marshal. I thought the whole thing was a bit farcical and they could've just left the car there as the race was close to completion. Brundle did agree with this. The marshals looked a bit too keen if not disorganised and they had the MEWP skating across the grass which didn't look pretty.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Alonso overtook Gutiérrez on lap 39 with a blinking yellow (and red) light clearly visible.

Had a look again at this. The light is flashing yellow as the cars come towards it. As the camera angle changes to a head-on shot, there's flashing yellow & red lights as the cars go past.

Alonso is lapping Gutierrez. There's a waved blue flag just after the flashing lights.

Not sure this is an offence. He's lapping, but clearly not slowing down. In the absence of waved yellows (and there's no onscreen yellow flag indicator either, though I realise this is for our benefit, not the drivers) could this just be an error with the lights? Not sure what a flashing yellow & red light (side by side) is either, though it doesn't appear the red light would have been apparent to the drivers as it's facing away from the direction of travel and they'd have only seen it in their mirrors. There was plenty of time since the last 'real' yellow so I can't see how this is a case of the light not being switched off in a timely fashion.

 

[Incubus]

I find it strange there should be any uncertainty about this one way or the other. With the battery of electronic data the stewards have at their disposal it's difficult to see how the stewards could fail to spot an offence as simple as overtaking under yellows so presumably they either somehow missed that one completely or ruled no offence was committed, there should be no middle-ground here.

I have to say I'm not quite sure what exactly are the rules if someone deliberated slows down to let you lap them under yellows, are you supposed to actually brake in ordwer to avoid passing them?

 

[Brogan]

FIA announcement regarding the marshal.

The FIA is sad to announce the death of a Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada circuit worker, at 6:02 pm.

The worker, a member of the Automobile Club de l’Île Notre Dame, was the victim of an unfortunate accident that occurred at the end of this afternoon’s Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada. The worker was helping to recover a car which had stopped during the race. The recovery vehicle had lifted the car to return it to the pits and while doing this the worker dropped his radio and attempted to pick it up. As he did this, he stumbled and was hit and run over by the recovery vehicle.

The worker was transported via helicopter to Sacre-Coeur Hospital where he was treated by the traumatology department of Dr Ronald Denis, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Dr Jacques Bouchard, Chief Medical Officer of the Grand Prix. Unfortunately, the worker succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The FIA, l’Automobile Club de l’Île Notre-Dame and the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada want to communicate their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The identity of the worker cannot be revealed at this time.

http://www.fia.com/news/canadian-grand-prix-announcement

 

[The Artist.....]

Had a look again at this. The light is flashing yellow as the cars come towards it. As the camera angle changes to a head-on shot, there's flashing yellow & red lights as the cars

It is an offence to overtake cars under yellow flag conditions (even lapping cars)

I've just had a look at this in HD- the panel is flashing striped yellow and red (it often looks just yellow on the TV, as the yellow is the brighter, dominant colour)- this caught me out in the race, but seeing the back of it confirmed it was yellow and red...

Yellow and red flags have a different meaning- usually meaning slippery surface, take care (but without the slow down and no overtaking rule)

 

[Brogan]

Wasn't it just for debris on the circuit?

 

[The Artist.....]

Brogan - yes it was for the piece of webber's front wing... The stewards have started throwing a yellow and red flag for this sort of thing- even though, strictly speaking it should be a yellow!

This was not an issue! Not a yellow flag- therefore, no penalty and no offence!

 

[Josh]

Actually, a yellow and red flag means that either the road is slippery or there is debris on track, so the marshals and stewards are correct in their flags and it should not be a yellow.

Very sad news about the marshal, hopefully something positive can be taken away from this.

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

I couldn't see a red light as the drivers approached, only as the camera angle changed to the head-on view looking back at the cars approaching did the flashing red (& yellow beside it) become apparent. I guess it was obscured from the first camera angle, only making the yellow visible.

 

[Incubus]

On the subject of yesterday's tragedy I still find it hard to believe a human life can just be ended in a such a completely unnecessary manner. As someone else pointed out why did they even need a crane there anyway? This isn't Monaco where the cranes remain behind the barrier. As I understand it the crane driver cannot actually directly see anything directly in front of him when sat at the controls so a tragedy like this where marshalls are busying themselves trying to retrieve the stricken car was always asking to happen.