Two weeks have passed since the events in the final 15 laps of the Monaco GP, I seem to remember that there were other laps, but those weren't really worth mentioning. To my surprise there hasn't been a mass culling of the strategic boffins on the Mercedes pit-wall - for some reason I had expected public hangings and maybe the odd head on a spike. Instead there were some less than murderous meetings - some immediately after the race and I guess the others would have taken place back at HQ. Hamilton himself has now stated that he "couldn't care less about Monaco" - which is rather anti-climactic. After the now infamous incident at Spa last season, all hell broke loose and we were treated to the scary sight of Toto Wolff's "Angry Face", still not on par with Kvyat's death stare but at least he tried. I suppose in the long run, Hamilton looks reasonable strong for taking the championship even with the strategic error so it doesn't really matter.
So while sequence of events that lead up to the unfortunate pit-stop were analysed - rumblings of a different nature were unfurling a little further down the grid. Only two things happened in the Monaco GP, Mercedes have discussed their error - and the world has been discussing Verstappen's. Massa pitched in to say it was dangerous... a little captain obvious there - crashing into a wall generally isn't recommended practice. But the Brazilian was very critical of Mad Max's attempt at a pass in St Devote. Yes it was a little optimistic, with a side serving of misjudgment and little experience - but Massa's comments were a little unwarranted. What we can be critical of is Max's immediate conclusion that is wasn't his fault... when it so obviously was... it was almost an reflex action to claim that Grosjean braked too early and thus it was the Frenchman's fault. Telemetry proved that Romain actually braked later... but probably doesn't tell the whole story. In the end Mad Max went for a gap he thought was going to be there and it never materialised, thus he ended up in the fence. Despite the arguments that continued to ensue in today's drivers press conference - it certainly livened up what was turning out to be a forgetful race last time out.
Montreal
After Monaco, it is time to depart from Europe and head out to Canada, where somebody thought it was a great idea to put a race track on a tiny island in the middle of a river. After witnessing many Canadian GP's I can conclude that it was a magnificent idea. Detroit has a similar concept at Belle Isle but Montreal does it so much better. Despite being touted as a permanent circuit, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve may as well be a street track - because while there is a decent quantity of greenery, the concrete barriers are very close to the side of the track. Unlike in Australia, the barriers are not painted green, just to make sure you know that they are there and that you fear their presence. Which means there is always a chance of the odd safety car or two - and we all know how much strategic fun that can cause.
The lap begins with a slight curve off to the right at the end of the main
| Thats how you overtake |
Turns three and four start Montreal's obsession with chicanes, and is the first of many. But when space is rather limited on a tiny island in the middle of a river - chicanes have their purpose. At least they do them properly in Canada, nothing like the abhorrent monstrosity that was bolted on to the end of the Barcelona circuit. The 3/4 chicane is a particularly good example, the road descends - as much as it can on a tiny island in th.. never mind. It almost forms a mini-corkscrew esque corner, which is quite lovely - with the exit of the chicane solely comprising of a concrete wall... A slight curve at turn five feeds into the second, and least enjoyable of chicanes at 6 and 7. A chicane that will remain famous for Vettel's last lap powerslide and handing Jenson Button the victory in that epic 2011 race. Just for consistency there is also a concrete wall on the outside - which Jacques Villeneuve collided with in his last season for BMW.
There are no real points for guessing what comes next, for it would in fact be another chicane, and in the grand ranking system of Canadian chicanes on a tiny island - it would just make the top three. It is the largest of the chicanes across the lap, in the sense that the distance between the two apexes is greater
After the hairpin a long back straight returns drivers to the start line, but there is of course room for one more chicane - a chicane that is probably more famous than any other part of the track. Not because it is an especially challenging chicane in comparison to the others, but because people do tend to crash there a lot. It has the same immovable wall on the exit than others and is not really any tighter, but it is approached at over 200mph and is almost invisible until you're right on top of it. That and it is at the end of the lap and represents the last opportunity to make time, therefore several people end up in what is know as the wall of champions. Named because many world champions have planted their race winning machinery firmly in that particular barrier, so have a few other people as well - including everyone's best friend Pastor Maldonado: Road Warrior...
The Form Guide
Because this is going out on a Friday once more, generally because I forgot that Thursday was in fact Thursday and not some other sort of day, FP1 has already been completed and FP2 is currently taking place. So I have a slightly better insight into how things might play out - I say slightly because FP1 is never the most accurate indicator as drivers are still ironing out setups and things. The consensus is that Mercedes are very comfortably in the lead of this one at this stage - 1.5s clear of the nearest car. However Ferrari haven't really shown their pace yet, as Grosjean and Hulkenberg filled out the effective second row. Williams are also lagging a little further behind then one might expect - so when qualifying and the race roll round, I would expect those two to be closer to the front.
Because Canada is more of an engine and traction track rather than aero, Mercedes powered cars are doing quite well in the one session we've had. Lotus and Force India showing potential, while Red Bull and Toro Rosso are not looking likely to replicate the form they had in Monaco - Carlos Sainz Jnr in 18th in the first session. But the Spaniard did encounter technical difficulties curtailing his running. Not much was learned in FP2 - as rain fell after the half-way stage which reduced the track action only Mercedes really bothered to potter about in the wet and Hamilton went and put it gently into the barrier at the hairpin.
The rain probably won't hang on for the rest of the weekend and therefore a replica of the mad race of 2011, probably won't be on the cards. But even on a bad day the Canadian GP generally brings something to a season...
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