Grand Prix 2019 Canadian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Back in 1991 Nigel Mansell had been persuaded not retire after his time at Ferrari and re-joined Williams. What took him back to Williams was the first Adrian Newey design Williams F1 car, the FW14. The 1991 car did not have the infamous active suspension of the FW14B but it was still a very advanced racing car.

The car proved fast but unreliable in the early races. Patrese took a second place in Brazil and Mansell the same in Monaco, in the other races the Williams failed to finish.

Then came Canada.

Patrese put his car on Pole, 0.4 seconds quicker than Mansell. At the start of the race Mansell took the lead and there he stayed for 68 laps. Meanwhile Patrese was having trouble with his gearbox and was passed by Nelson Piquet in the Benetton and Stefano Modeno in the Tyrrell.

Mansell was cruising at the front. On lap 65 he set the fastest lap and was stroking the car home. On the final lap he was over a minute ahead of Piquet and looked set to take his first victory on his return to Williams. As he approached the hairpin for the final time the car slowed, it rounded the hairpin and as Nigel attempted to accelerate down the straight towards the chicane the car simply wouldn't go. The Englishman vented his frustration and beat the steering wheel as the machine dribbled to a halt in front of one of the main grandstands. He got out and left the car where it was.

How could Mansell lose the race so close to the finish? When the car got back to the pits the engine started, the gearbox worked fine and it probably could have done another race. Unfortunately Nigel had let the revs drop too low as he approached the hairpin which lost electrical and hydraulic power causing the gearbox barrel to get stuck.

Meanwhile his nemesis, Nelson Piquet, over half a lap behind, kept it all together and cruised past to take what would be his last victory in F1 in his last season in the sport.

What of 2019? Expect a Mercedes front row with Hamilton on pole. Lewis will take a lights to flag victory and, I suspect, a Grand Chelem. Enjoy.
 
Canada used to be one off the better races but in the last few years it's got very dull which is a real shame. I guess we can expect another Mercedes win, unless something unexpected happens to one or both of them :rolleyes:
 
Canada used to be one off the better races but in the last few years it's got very dull which is a real shame. I guess we can expect another Mercedes win, unless something unexpected happens to one or both of them :rolleyes:

They get transported to the wrong race, on the other side of the world maybe ?
 
Maybe a well timed shower of rain just on Mercedes, like you get in cartoons, a big black cloud following only them ;)
 
Loose their luggage?
Loosing steering wheel in critical moment is much more exiting. Just ask Kimi how he felt when team tried to get him moving, and he had no steering wheel attached. His legendary stoicism vaporized pretty quickly.
 
Ferrari is bringing new updates, and Vettel was assured, that Alonso is not replacing him. At least not any time soon. All is good then? Mattis is however cationing, do not expect miracles.

GP247 / Mekies:
Former FIA man turned Ferrari sporting boss, Mekies told Auto Hebdo, “We have not progressed as much as we would have liked since the end of the winter tests.
“In terms of absolute performance, we are behind everywhere. We need to improve in the way we manage our aero along with the mechanical grip and our tyres.”
We need to improve means we are not there yet... where I live forecast for Sunday is for 28 deg C, sunny, no wind. Hard to say what to do. Outside by the lake it might be good choice to spend some time, counting sheeps on the sky.
 
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Canadian Grand Prix preview: Why Ferrari must step up in Montreal

Article from the Montreal Gazette. Also, IMO, really good graphic of track showing cornering speeds, gear, etc.

"To add to the sense of occasion, this weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Gilles Villeneuve’s maiden win in F1 at the first Grand Prix to be held at the Île Norte-Dame track that today bears his name."

Oops, just realized this article is from last year. Comment about graphic still applies!
 
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