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!

 

[teabagyokel]

He just can’t catch a break. He thoroughly deserved to win both China and Azerbaijan. He was damn close in Bahrain too.

Hamilton himself couldn’t believe what was happening as he crossed the line in Baku...

 

[Galahad]

Hamilton might be starting to experience age-related decline as well. He has had a couple of off-colour races already this year.

 

[Il_leone]

The race where Hamilton suppose to rule unfortunately never turned that way with multiple issues not all of his making though

i) Mercedes did not bring their upgraded engine so ran on reduced power
ii) They did not have enough hypersofts to set up the car which they do enough testing pre season in Barcelona. On a track like that its okay because its aero reliant but in Montreal where they don;t have the data they needed more mechanical grip to help with the slow corners

iii) the drop out in power did not help because it forced him to come in early and lose track position

It seems these controversial softer Pirelli tyres is helping Vettel but we are seeing shades of an erratic Hamilton of 2011 but not as bad in 2018 when he found he could not work the pirellis

 

[Il_leone]

Hulkenberg was the best of the rest and is definitely outperforming Sainz and the question remains why is he not getting a top team seat because Sainz is supposed to be a real hotshoe at the moment

 

[olegg]

Hamilton might be starting to experience age-related decline as well. He has had a couple of off-colour races already this year.

But still there and were objective reasons for unsuccessful races.
This time the team confirmed the problems with overheating of Hamilton's engine, which had the 7th race.

 

[olegg]

He just can’t catch a break. He thoroughly deserved to win both China and Azerbaijan. He was damn close in Bahrain too.
Hamilton himself couldn’t believe what was happening as he crossed the line in Baku...

That means Bottas is still a worthy opponent for Hamilton.
And Hamilton's leadership, as and in the case of Rosberg,
has a more great price than leadership Vettel against Raikkonen.

 

[marksawatsky]

IMO Bottas is more consistent than Hamilton, always getting 99% out of the car. However, those days where Lewis is off and getting merely 98% out of the car, Bottas seems like a hero. But Lewis is the only member of that team that can get 100% out of the car and sadly for Lewis, that last 1% doesn't happen if his head is not in it. For whatever reason, his head has not been in it this year and maybe getting robbed in Australia after dominating took the wind out of his sails?

 

[Galahad]

But still there and were objective reasons for unsuccessful races.
This time the team confirmed the problems with overheating of Hamilton's engine, which had the 7th race.

True, but Lewis used to win races in spite of such problems; or at least get a podium. That's my perception anyway.