RayInTorontoCanada
Banned
So much to say about the meeting, so little space to say it in. I have tons of thoughts on Qually, the Historic Grand Prix cars (late 1970's-1980 era) after qually, the sizzling downtown Montreal night life, the epic Grand Prix itself, and hanging out in the rain Under My Umbrella.
But I'll just share some vignettes.
WRITING OFF A McLAREN VICTORY
I don't know how many times i'd written off a McLaren victory...but it seemed like umpteen times from Saturday 1:55 pm (i.e. half way through Q3) through to Sunday late afternoon (the race finished 5:05 pm following a 1 pm start). I started to get a feeling of dissappointment for McLaren mid way through Q3 when the temperature started to drop significantly - and in a hurry - and people started to put on windbreakers. With RBRs and Ferraris up at the top of the timing screens, I felt in my bones that the best times had been set and McLaren would have a tough Sunday.
A safety car start announcement - met by tons of 'Booing' - didn't enhance those feelings. When the booing subsided, we said that the only people who would love that would be Vettel and his group given Ferrari's new clutch system which Alonso had used to such good effect off the start line in Spain and Monaco.
When Hamilton got sandwiched between Button and the wall there was lots of debate around us as to who was at fault when, basically, it was a racing accident in spray/rain conditions. When he came limping towards us, I thought it (the 2011 WDC challenge against Vettel) was all over...least becuse he'd have to nurse it back for almost the whole lap. There were many disappointed Hamilton fans in the stands at this point...but equally as many Ferrari and Red Bull and Schumacher fans happy to see him DNF and clapping at his retirement. So, that was me writing off a McLaren win again.
RAIN...AND MORE RAIN
Then we wondered why Alonso was going in for Inters when, from our point of view, the rain was getting heavier ... but then I figured Ferrari had better radar intel than what we were 'feeling' and seeing in the skies at that time. Sure enough the rain intensified and that made me again write off McLaren/Button (and even Alonso) for the win because Inters were not the thing to have given the skies were looking more and more ominous and the 'ladies' in the stands were leaving to go find shelter.
RED FLAG
Then the red flag came out. A reprieve for the others in a way (including ALO, BUT) because Vettel had looked totally untouchable in the conditions out front. So eventhough Vettle benifited from it on Lap 1, All those Safety Cars didn't do him any favours for the rest of the event.
My friend from New York bailed about an hour after the Grand Prix's suspension (the race was suspended around 1:46 pm) because he had a flight to catch and he didn't think they'd be starting in time for him to justify staying. But I loved the rain and stayed out there watching the track workers pushing off the water at the Senna hairpin apex...Under My Umbrella-Ella-Ella-Yay-Yay...watching Rhianna give Lewis a big consolation hug on the TV...etc.
Speaking of Safety Cars, you won't believe the amount of booing that was going on at the restart every time the SC passed the pit entry to circulate again...and again...and again. It seemed to us mere mortals like Herr Maylander was being told to stay out way too long. I suppose people in attendence thought they had paid for a 'Grand Prix' ticket and wanted 'action' after getting soaked the the bone.
EPIC MARATHON OF A GRAND PRIX
And boy did we get 'action': Nando and Jenson went by looking like not wanting to give an inch and it wasn't surprising to see it all end in tears for all those Ferrari fans who'd come to see the red cars circulating. When I saw Alonso walking my way, I immediately left my seat and quickly ran to track side to walk alongside him as he made his way back to the pits. His adoring fans were saying "Fernando, Fernando" to get him to look up for a photo 'op'...but I suppose he wasn't very amused at how his Grand Prix had ended...and he kept looking straight as he trugged along. When I got to him on my side of the fence, I said "Fernando! Fernando!" but he didn't look and was soon gone...I then decided to stay at Ground level and walked to various points at the Senna haipin, getting a good glimpse of Maldonado binning his Williams after coming out too hot on dry tyres on a still wet piece of road continuing on from the pit exit lane.
When Schuey was up to 2nd after Koba nearly Samba'd Massa off the circuit, there were a lot of his fans in a state of frenzy yelling "See, I told you so...Michael's still got it". Hehe, Fun Times. Speaking of a Mercedes being up in second, I was alarmed to see Nico continuing on with his front wing flapping. Given what had happened with Kubica here (in 2007) and to Heidfeld earlier just passed us, I thought that was a big accident waiting to happen. Mercifully, the accident happened more 'gently' than anticipated...and right in front of us when Nico's wing folded under and sent him flying across the grass. More fun times.
PODIUM
Lastly, there was mild booing of Vettel on the podium. I enjoyed seeing the drivers up there but I didn't like Vettel being boo'd. Whether some boo'd him for losing the race at the last, or because he'd lengthened his Championship lead over their beloved Hamilton or beloved Alonso, I couldn't quite make out. Kinda not on, to be honest. Lots of Aussies, Brits, Germans, Brazilians, Americans at the circuit.
I missed not having my live timing in Qually and on Sunday...but you can't have everything. I imagined you guys would know more about what really happened/was happening...but it's a totally different feeling at the track. [The two Renaults sounded totally different under acceleration from any other car, for instance.]
Anyway, that was a truly Epic Grand Prix and these are just my initial thought from the circuit.
But I'll just share some vignettes.
WRITING OFF A McLAREN VICTORY
I don't know how many times i'd written off a McLaren victory...but it seemed like umpteen times from Saturday 1:55 pm (i.e. half way through Q3) through to Sunday late afternoon (the race finished 5:05 pm following a 1 pm start). I started to get a feeling of dissappointment for McLaren mid way through Q3 when the temperature started to drop significantly - and in a hurry - and people started to put on windbreakers. With RBRs and Ferraris up at the top of the timing screens, I felt in my bones that the best times had been set and McLaren would have a tough Sunday.
A safety car start announcement - met by tons of 'Booing' - didn't enhance those feelings. When the booing subsided, we said that the only people who would love that would be Vettel and his group given Ferrari's new clutch system which Alonso had used to such good effect off the start line in Spain and Monaco.
When Hamilton got sandwiched between Button and the wall there was lots of debate around us as to who was at fault when, basically, it was a racing accident in spray/rain conditions. When he came limping towards us, I thought it (the 2011 WDC challenge against Vettel) was all over...least becuse he'd have to nurse it back for almost the whole lap. There were many disappointed Hamilton fans in the stands at this point...but equally as many Ferrari and Red Bull and Schumacher fans happy to see him DNF and clapping at his retirement. So, that was me writing off a McLaren win again.
RAIN...AND MORE RAIN
Then we wondered why Alonso was going in for Inters when, from our point of view, the rain was getting heavier ... but then I figured Ferrari had better radar intel than what we were 'feeling' and seeing in the skies at that time. Sure enough the rain intensified and that made me again write off McLaren/Button (and even Alonso) for the win because Inters were not the thing to have given the skies were looking more and more ominous and the 'ladies' in the stands were leaving to go find shelter.
RED FLAG
Then the red flag came out. A reprieve for the others in a way (including ALO, BUT) because Vettel had looked totally untouchable in the conditions out front. So eventhough Vettle benifited from it on Lap 1, All those Safety Cars didn't do him any favours for the rest of the event.
My friend from New York bailed about an hour after the Grand Prix's suspension (the race was suspended around 1:46 pm) because he had a flight to catch and he didn't think they'd be starting in time for him to justify staying. But I loved the rain and stayed out there watching the track workers pushing off the water at the Senna hairpin apex...Under My Umbrella-Ella-Ella-Yay-Yay...watching Rhianna give Lewis a big consolation hug on the TV...etc.
Speaking of Safety Cars, you won't believe the amount of booing that was going on at the restart every time the SC passed the pit entry to circulate again...and again...and again. It seemed to us mere mortals like Herr Maylander was being told to stay out way too long. I suppose people in attendence thought they had paid for a 'Grand Prix' ticket and wanted 'action' after getting soaked the the bone.
EPIC MARATHON OF A GRAND PRIX
And boy did we get 'action': Nando and Jenson went by looking like not wanting to give an inch and it wasn't surprising to see it all end in tears for all those Ferrari fans who'd come to see the red cars circulating. When I saw Alonso walking my way, I immediately left my seat and quickly ran to track side to walk alongside him as he made his way back to the pits. His adoring fans were saying "Fernando, Fernando" to get him to look up for a photo 'op'...but I suppose he wasn't very amused at how his Grand Prix had ended...and he kept looking straight as he trugged along. When I got to him on my side of the fence, I said "Fernando! Fernando!" but he didn't look and was soon gone...I then decided to stay at Ground level and walked to various points at the Senna haipin, getting a good glimpse of Maldonado binning his Williams after coming out too hot on dry tyres on a still wet piece of road continuing on from the pit exit lane.
When Schuey was up to 2nd after Koba nearly Samba'd Massa off the circuit, there were a lot of his fans in a state of frenzy yelling "See, I told you so...Michael's still got it". Hehe, Fun Times. Speaking of a Mercedes being up in second, I was alarmed to see Nico continuing on with his front wing flapping. Given what had happened with Kubica here (in 2007) and to Heidfeld earlier just passed us, I thought that was a big accident waiting to happen. Mercifully, the accident happened more 'gently' than anticipated...and right in front of us when Nico's wing folded under and sent him flying across the grass. More fun times.
PODIUM
Lastly, there was mild booing of Vettel on the podium. I enjoyed seeing the drivers up there but I didn't like Vettel being boo'd. Whether some boo'd him for losing the race at the last, or because he'd lengthened his Championship lead over their beloved Hamilton or beloved Alonso, I couldn't quite make out. Kinda not on, to be honest. Lots of Aussies, Brits, Germans, Brazilians, Americans at the circuit.
I missed not having my live timing in Qually and on Sunday...but you can't have everything. I imagined you guys would know more about what really happened/was happening...but it's a totally different feeling at the track. [The two Renaults sounded totally different under acceleration from any other car, for instance.]
Anyway, that was a truly Epic Grand Prix and these are just my initial thought from the circuit.
)
I don't think i've ever seen Button drive so aggressively since stepping into a Formula One car way back as a baby-faced kid in 2000. His 'playboy' period at Benetton seemed to have messed up his persona. That drive yesterday certainly laid a few ghosts to waste. There was a point where it felt like Button was using his McLaren like a battering ram 
...but i'm sure passing Webber/Schumacher must have tasted sweet as honey...and then helping Vettel 'crack' under pressure was the icing on the cake. Like I said, I took a photo of him in last place behind HRTs/Virgins and the next thing is there I was besides the lights under the starting gantry taking another photo of him on the podium lifting our Victory trophy. Stunning!
