Canadian Grand Prix preview
This weekend sees the return of Canada to the Formula One calendar after a year out.
The last time a race was hosted here, in 2008, Robert Kubica won for BMW Sauber after Lewis Hamilton hit Kimi Raikkonen in the pit lane.
The historic circuit on a man-made island has been hosting the grand prix since 1978, and it was home favourite Gilles Villeneuve who won the first race. The father of 1997 Jacques Villeneuve had the circuit named in his honour after he died in 1982.
This weekend, undoubtedly, all eyes will be on the Red Bulls after their collision at the last race in the Turkish Grand Prix wrecked a potential one-two finish, to see how Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will bounce back. Vettel retired and Webber salvaged third. Both drivers held talks and cleared the air, but both are still refusing to take the blame for the incident.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes the right decisions were made from the pit wall. “Both drivers accept it was a really bad outcome for the team, and for them. Both lost out and lost points, Sebastian obviously more than Mark. Was it wrong to allow the drivers to race each other? I don't think it was.
"If we want processions then we will tell the drivers after the start to hold position. But that's not what Red Bull is about, not what our beliefs of grand prix racing should be about,” Horner said.
Webber is currently leading the drivers’ world championship on 93 points, ahead of reigning world champion Jenson Button on 88 points and Lewis Hamilton on 84 points.
Red Bull were not the only team to have problems in the last race. Although Hamilton picked up the pieces and won the race, McLaren almost threw away the one-two finish as Button went toe-to-toe with his teammate 10 laps from the end of the race. Released radio recordings have Hamilton asking his team whether Button would pass him if he was told to back off and save fuel. McLaren’s chief engineer Phil Prew told Hamilton that Button would not pass him, so when the reigning champion attempted to overtake Hamilton, there were suggestions he had broken team orders.
Team boss Martin Whitmarsh cleared up the situation and admitted it was a miscommunication. “Shortly after he was told that Jenson wouldn't overtake him, Jenson did overtake him. Phil gave an opinion, and it turned out his opinion was wrong. It's as simple as that. He (Hamilton) asked the question and Phil gave an instinctive and immediate response, which is he didn't think Jenson was going to pass,” said Whitmarsh.
Red Bull and McLaren had problems, but both are the likely challengers for the race victory this weekend. Button is the leading McLaren driver, and with two wins already this season is excited to return to North America.
“It’s fantastic to be going back to Montreal after a year away. I think everyone in Formula One loves the city, the people and the track, so it’s very fitting that we’re heading back. It’s an extremely fast circuit, but it isn’t a place that tolerates even the slightest mistake - because of the proximity of the concrete walls. Canada is always an unpredictable weekend - it’s a bit of a one-off, which is great for Formula One and I think this year’s race has all the ingredients for a classic,” said the 30-year-old.
Button’s teammate Hamilton finds himself nine points off Webber, and the victory in Turkey was his first of the season. Canada has fond memories for Hamilton, as he won his maiden grand prix in 2007. “The pole position, the crazy number of safety cars, the uncertainty in the final laps, and then, at last, crossing the line, which was just a massive feeling of relief and amazement at the same time. It was fantastic,” said the 2008 world champion.
The Briton added: “Generally I've got on quite well here the past few years and I don't know why. It is a bit of a street circuit which I go quite well on. I've just always been able to dial the car in quite well here and it suited my driving style.”
One team that will need to have a strong weekend are Ferrari. Their last outing - their 800th grand prix - was their worst of the season, with Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso finishing seventh and eighth. They are falling behind their championship rivals, but Alonso insists they can come back. “I have every confidence in our team and I am convinced that here in Canada we will see a different situation to the one we had in Turkey,” said the Spaniard.
The double world champion has won Ferrari’s only race so far, the season opener at Bahrain. “This track has more in common with those where we have been more competitive so far this season and I think we will be in the hunt. The situation in the championship is still very open, but clearly we have to get back to fighting for a podium finish as soon as possible,” added Alonso.
Canada always provides excitement, and this weekend should prove no different.
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