Grand Prix du Canada

[J.Clark]

We are just a week away from Friday Free Practice at the circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

I have always liked this circuit and the races it has produced.  Normally, the races are exciting. Some times for the on outright racing, sometimes for the accidents.

The circuit is basically a street circuit in a park, without the buildings lining the course.  The track is always green and as I recall and rather tough on tires.  It takes a while to get rubbered-in, but it is also very fast. 

The run to turn 10 is flat out and near top speed is reached before one of the tightest hairpins of all circuits - likely too, the hardest braking point on the calendar.  If gotten right, a pass by an opponent is nearly impossible - get it just a hair wrong and you can lose a lot, as in the case of Massa on Barrichello and another (can't recall who) a couple of years back - double pass due to Rubens getting it wrong, in spite of him passing the other car, Massa got them both.

Then there is the "wall of fame" where nearly every WDC to date has probably hit with the rear of their car, many with the whole car. It has often been a horrible crash, but usually during practices.

Generally speaking, the race has typically provided a fair amount of over-taking at various points around the circuit.  For that reason, I am looking forward to this event with great anticipation.

I have been there several times, including the year Kubica crashed just before the braking area for turn 10.  It happened right in front of where we were sitting.  That is always a favorite grandstand for us - either side of that turn.

Previous race winners on the grid this season: Hamilton (3), Alonso (2), Kimi, Vettel, AND Button.  From '97 - 2004, Michael won all but two of the Canadian Grands Prix, which went to his brother Ralf and Hackkinen, one each.

[PG_Gabriel]

Looking forward to the race! Last year I sat in the grandstand to the right in the picture. Great spots, but if I were to do it again I would sit in the hairpin.

[Scott]

I'm a Canadian who has never made it to theCanadian GP even though I used to live less than 2hrs away (in fairness, it was out of my budget back then).

Really looking forward to the weekend though.  I used to love the (Welcome to) Quebec sign on the Wall of Champions, but I recall it was blank last year.

[J.Clark]

Down to four days - can't wait.

The circuit is 4.36 km in length.  The lap record of 1:13.622 was set by Barrichello in 2004.

McLaren and Williams are both speculating that they will be better at this venue.  Hamilton and Rosberg are "friends" again - right ( )  Ferrari are saying they will have a faster car for this race and it goes without saying that they have two WDC title holders, each of whom have won this race before.

[J.Clark]

Well, Friday Free Practices are in the book.

Alonso went quickest in FFP-1, much to the surprise of all and to a cheering fan base.  Of course, he was off a bit in FFP-2.  Kimi looks much better now than earlier and appears ready to challenge Fernando.

Times from FFP-2:
1. Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 16.118s
2. Rosberg    Mercedes   1m 16.293s
3. Vettel   Red Bull   1m 16.573s
4. Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m 16.648s
5. Alonso   Ferrari   1m 16.701s
6. Massa   Williams   1m 16.774s
7. Bottas   Williams   1m 16.893s
8. Magnussen   McLaren 1m 17.052s
9. Button   McLaren   1m 17.059s
10. Vergne    Toro Rosso   1m 17.180s
11. Grosjean   Lotus   1m 17.626s
12. Ricciardo   Red Bull   1m 17.644s
13. Hulkenberg   Force India    1m 17.712s
14. Perez   Force India   1m 17.819s
15. Maldonado   Lotus   1m 17.868s
16. Sutil   Sauber   1m 17.964s
17. Gutierrez   Sauber   1m 18.340s
18. Chilton    Marussia   1m 18.693s
19. Kvyat   Toro Rosso   1m 18.732s
20. Kobayashi   Caterham   1m 20.244s
21. Ericsson Caterham   1m 22.418s
22. Bianchi     Marussia   1m 32.127s

Kimi ended up quicker than Alonso.
Massa back ahead of Bottas

I'm not sure what happened to the Hulk, or for that matter, Force India.  They seem to have fallen off the pace dramatically.  They are not fighting the McLarens and Williams this time around.

Ricciardo too was surprisingly slow and Vettel at the same time seems to have found part of what was missing from the Red Bull.

Qualifying should be interesting looking at these results from today.

[Irisado]

Ferrari were running different configurations for their two drivers in the two sessions.  I'm still expecting Alonso to beat Raikkonen in the race.  Ferrari look to have the pace to fight for third this time, as Red Bull are struggling badly for straight line speed.  Mercedes should win this by a country mile, and the other Mercedes powered teams look as though they could give Red Bull a run for its money.

There has been quite a lot of incident, with off track moments, and Bianchi hitting the wall in practice one.  It hasn't been a great weekend so far for him after his Monaco heroics, with the mechanical problems in second practice too.  Ericsson also had his Caterham break down, and Maldonado went off the road (albeit without hitting anything) again.

This is normally one of my favourite races of the year.  It's a demanding track that usually produces some surprises, so let's see if there will be any this year.

[Scott]

Looks like Vettel nabbed Ricciardo's car. 

[J.Clark]

I am sitting here watching the news, looking at my watch, with just an hour before Saturday Free Practice, and wishing so that it was televised. 

When I scroll through the sports networks, I see all sorts of other motorsports, especially NASCAR, showing off-track crap and interviews with people who are not even active in the sport any longer . . .

I guess I'll just have to go to live-timing to follow it.  There used to be a link to live coverage for this, but I have lost it.

[J.Clark]

Crash.net headline says, "Hamilton lays down marker in FP3"
I think the the real marker may lay with Williams, as Massa splits the to Mercs to take P2 away from Rosberg.


1. Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 15.610s
2. Massa   Williams   1m 16.086s
3. Rosberg    Mercedes   1m 16.120s
4. Alonso   Ferrari   1m 16.488s
5. Ricciardo   Red Bull   1m 16.504s
6. Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m 16.528s
7. Bottas   Williams   1m 16.684s
8. Kvyat  Toro Rosso   1m 16.820s
9. Vergne   Toro Rosso   1m 16.824s
10. Vettel   Red Bull   1m 16.884s
11. Hulkenberg   Force India   1m 16.944s
12. Magnussen   McLaren   1m 16.993s
13. Grosjean   Lotus   1m 17.121s
14. Perez   Force India    1m 17.188s
15. Maldonado   Lotus   1m 17.224s
16. Button    McLaren   1m 17.360s
17. Sutil    Sauber   1m 17.900s
18. Bianchi    Marussia   1m 18.518s
19. Chilton    Marussia   1m 18.525s
20. Ericsson   Caterham   1m 19.865s
21. Kobayashi   Caterham   1m 20.227s
22. Gutierrez   Sauber   1m 22.388s

Now, if qualifying just was to go like this . . .

[Scott]

And Nico steps on that marker and takes POLE! (not that I picked him, but anyway fun to see).

And Bottas pipped Massa to 4th behind Vettel and Massa is followed by Ricciardo.

Wish I could say I would be on chat tomorrow for the race, but I'll certainly pop in and out.

[J.Clark]

That was exciting!

Williams look very good for the race.  Their pace is good.  After Q2, I was even hopeful of a Williams making the front row.

Good to Nico ahead of Lewis again.

The grid, as it stands, and I think there are no penalties to change it this time:
1. Rosberg   Mercedes   1m 14.874s
2. Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 14.953s
3. Vettel   Red Bull   1m 15.548s
4. Bottas   Williams   1m 15.550s
5. Massa   Williams   1m 15.578s
6. Ricciardo   Red Bull   1m 15.589s
7. Alonso   Ferrari   1m 15.814s
8. Vergne   Toro Rosso   1m 16.162s
9. Button    McLaren   1m 16.182s
10. Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m 16.214s
11. Hulkenberg   Force India   1m 16.300s
12. Magnussen   McLaren   1m 16.310s
13. Perez   Force India   1m 16.472s
14. Grosjean   Lotus   1m 16.687s
15. Kvyat   Toro Rosso   1m 16.713s
16. Sutil   Sauber   1m 17.314s
17. Maldonado   Lotus    1m 18.328s
18. Chilton      Marussia    1m 18.348s
19. Bianchi          Marussia   1m 18.359s
20. Kobayashi    Caterham   1m 19.278s
21. Ericsson   Caterham   1m 19.820s
DNP Gutierrez   Sauber   

While Mercedes has the front row locked out, it is by a smaller margin than in any of the previous races.  Furthermore, we have to go all of the way back to P8 to find a car more than a second off of their pace.  In fact, P3-7 are extremely tight when it comes to time differences - a difference of a few meters worth braking distance in a corner is about all it comes down to.

Alonso will need a huge start to get up the ladder.  If he doesn't gain several positions at the start, he will be hard pressed indeed to get a good result because the Ferrari just doesn't have the top speed of the Mercs, even Williams, which is a very fast car this weekend.

If Massa has one of his typical starts, he could very possibly be in third at the end of lap 1.  Bottas too, could be in third.  I would not be too surprised to see one or even both Williams ahead of Vettel in short order, leaving him to battle with his teammate.

As much as I would like to see Nico beat Hamilton (along with everyone else save Vettel), I would really like to see the two of them get into a scuffle and injure each others cars to the point that someone else gets to lead the race for a while.

[Scott]

Maldo gets the season's first reprimand for not being bothered to replace his steering wheel after his car stopped working in Q2

Gutierrez and Koby get 5place grid penalties for gearbox changes, though Gutierrez didn't even take part in Qualifying as a result of his practice crash, so he starts from the pit lane anyhow.

[J.Clark]

Not sure how one gets a 5 place grid penalty from being last and second from last.  Gutierrez would have to have it imposed at the next race and Kobayashi could take two now and three at Silverstone.   

[John S]

Not sure how one gets a 5 place grid penalty from being last and second from last.  Gutierrez would have to have it imposed at the next race and Kobayashi could take two now and three at Silverstone.   

...or they could make Gutierrez start from beside the 5th pit box instead of the pit lane entry.   

[J.Clark]

That is a very interesting idea actually.