13/06/2010
NEWS STORY
 |
It would appear that the two main protagonists in terms of the world championship are preparing to do some gambling this afternoon.
With tyre wear the main cause of concern, McLaren - which qualified on the super-soft (option) tyre - is hoping for a safety car in the early stages of the race. While Red Bull - which qualified on the medium (prime) tyre is gambling that there isn't an early safety car, that it made the right choice in starting the race of mediums and that McLaren didn't.
With no overnight rain, and the forecasters now saying that we're in for a dry afternoon, it appears that the weather will not be a factor here. Instead, we will have to focus on those bits of rubber at the corner of each car, the more over-enthusiastic drivers out there and the unforgiving Montreal walls.
There is a long history of safety car periods here, however, the question is whether we'll see it at the very beginning of the race or later in the afternoon. Then again, there is every chance that we'll see more than one appearance by the fabulous silver Mercedes AMG.
McLaren came here as favourites, indeed, all the Mercedes powered cars looked to have the edge, due to the sheer grunt of the British built powerplant and - in McLaren's case - a highly efficient F-duct. However, tyre wear has caused many of us, not least the teams, to think again.
That said, McLaren, certainly in terms of Lewis Hamilton, appear to have the edge, though Jenson Button is legendary for his Prost-like silky-smooth style which is very kind to its tyres. Nonetheless, we could, for the first time this season, see drivers making two - maybe even three - scheduled tyre stops this afternoon.
That said, on a day when there is a lot of gambling going down, anything can happen and probably will.
While Michael Schumacher looked disappointing, we have a sneaky feeling that the German was looking ahead to today's race and was more than happy to miss Q3, thereby having the option of choosing which tyres with which to start the race. We might be wrong, we usually are, but time will tell.
Other than McLaren and Red Bull, watch out for the Ferraris, which are doing much better here than expected, Robert Kubica - a proven winner here - and the Force Indias, which, other than the Mercedes engine, have an efficient aero package.
The Williams duo qualified eleventh and twelfth, and, providing they can keep out of trouble could add a point or two to the Grove outfit's tally. Vitaly Petrov has been working hard all weekend but in all honesty appears to be overdriving the Renault, and that can only end in heartbreak on this kind of track.
The Toro Rossos are struggling here as are the Saubers, with Kamui Kobayashi lucky not to be out-qualified by Heikki Kovalainen. Meanwhile, Hispania and Virgin continue their own private battle with neither team appearing to make progress.
Hamilton, Alonso, Kubica and Schumacher have all won here before, the German six times, but, all things considered, it is the Englishman who must be favourite to repeat the feat here again today.
Just over an hour before the race is due to get underway, a Tweet from Red Bull reveals that the team has opted to change the gearbox on Webber's car, the Australian therefore incurring a 5-spot grid penalty. Consequently, the championship leader starts behind Massa and ahead of Kubica.
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. It is bright and sunny, with the sell-out crowd looking forward to what promises to be a fascinating race.
Schumacher is starting on a brand new set of prime tyres, indeed, many of the drivers outside the top ten are starting on new sets of hard. Never mind Montreal, this is more like Las Vegas, such is the amount of gambling going on here today.
No problems on the warm-up lap, they all get away cleanly. A lap later the field forms up behind pole-setter Hamilton.
The front couple of rows get away cleanly with Hamilton holding position, however, there trouble behind at the first corner with Liuzzi being clouted by Massa. Vettel does well to hold off Alonso.
At the end of lap 1, it's Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Button, Webber, Kubica, Sutil, Schumacher, Hulkenberg and Alguersuari. De la Rosa, Massa and Liuzzi all pit, while Kobayashi has problems with Hulkenberg, the Japanese hitting Champions' Wall and bringing his race to a premature end.
Webber is all over Button while Alonso is harrying Vettel. Out front, Hamilton enjoys a one second advantage.
As Webber makes a move on Button at Turn 4, Hamilton has posted a new fastest lap (22.109). Kubica, Sutil and Schumacher all running close behind Webber. Massa, now running in last position, posts a new fastest lap (21.060).
Webber makes another move, this time at Turn 3, and this time it works, while Kubica closes right in on the battling duo. Both McLarens on their soft tyres are struggling now.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 5 as does Trulli, as Vettel climbs all over the back of the race leader.
Button pits at the end of lap 6, as do Sutil and Hulkenberg, while Hamilton is under enormous pressure from Vettel. Webber and Alonso close in.
At the end of lap 7, Hamilton and Alonso both pit, leaving Red Bull in first and second. Hamilton and Alonso head back down the pitlane side by side, the McLaren almost hitting the Ferrari as he is released. It will be interesting to see if there is fall-out over this later.
As Vettel extends his lead over Webber to 1.2s, Hamilton loses ground to Alonso with Kovalainen running in between the two in seventh. Yes, a Lotus in seventh.
Kubica pits at the end of lap 9 promoting Schumacher to third. Button is now eighth, with Kubica ninth ahead of Sutil and di Grassi.
The stewards announce that they are investigating Petrov for a jump start. Elsewhere, Alonso is told that he is quicker than the two Red Bulls as Petrov is handed a drive-through.
On lap 11, Button posts a new fastest lap ((19.845) as he attempts to close the 5.1s gap to his teammate. The 2009 champ is running 2s a lap quicker than the leaders.
At the end of lap 12, Schumacher pits as Button posts another fastest lap (19.808). The German exits the pits just ahead of Kubica, the Pole attempts to pass but the Mercedes driver is having none of it. There's a slight clash in Turn 3.
At the end of lap 13, Webber pits, staying on the harder tyre he rejoins in sixth. Elsewhere, a great scrap between Buemi, Alonso and Hamilton as Vettel pits, leaving the Swiss in the lead. Vettel changes to softs as Schumacher pits again, probably having damaged his car in the clash with Kubica.
Alonso makes a move on Buemi and Hamilton is all over the pair of them, however, the Toro Rosso driver does well to hold them both at bay. As the Swiss dives into the pits, Hamilton passes Alonso to re-take the lead going into the final corner.
Consequently, after 15 laps, it's; Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Vettel, Webber, Kubica, Sutil, Buemi, Rosberg and Hulkenberg. Schumacher is twelfth, despite having made two stops.
With the harder tyre also degrading, far more than expected, we could well be seeing three stops by some drivers this afternoon.
On lap 17, Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (19.431), as Alonso remains just 0.6s behind the race leader. Two retirements thus far, Senna and Kobayashi.
Petrov, who has already served a drive-through, now stops for a new nose. De la Rosa also pits.
Some interesting battles developing including Kubica and Sutil for sixth and Alguersuari and Schumacher for eleventh.
Given the times and pace of the drivers behind him, Alonso - now 0.5s down on Hamilton - responds, "it's looking good". Elsewhere, Petrov gets another drive-through for causing a collision at the start of the race… which, let us not forget, he jumped.
At the end of lap 23, Massa, now running sixteenth, pits, as Vettel is told that he must keep the team informed regarding his tyres. "Rears falling off slowly," the German responds.
As Hulkenberg and Liuzzi pit, Kubica - having clearly suffered some damage in that incident involving Schumacher - is under intense pressure from Sutil.
Suddenly Alonso is right up with Hamilton, putting the McLaren under intense pressure. At the end of the main straight however, the McLaren driver dives into the pits for another set of hards. Elsewhere, Kubica makes a last minute decision to pit, cutting across the front of Sutil.
At the end of lap 27, Button and Vettel both pit, leaving Alonso leading Webber as Rosberg gets a drive-through for speeding in the pitlane.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 28, having previously posted a new fastest lap (19.050). The Spaniard rejoins in third behind Webber and Hamilton but ahead of Button, Vettel and Buemi, who is having a great race. Elsewhere, the two Force India are battling for twelfth.
Webber leads Hamilton by 8.9s with Alonso a further 2s down the road. Button is 1.7s down on the Spaniard, ahead of Vettel, Buemi, Kubica, Rosberg, Schumacher and Alguersuari. De la Rosa pulls to the side of the track, smoke pouring from his Ferrari engine.
Webber, still on his second set of prime tyres, posts a personal best (19.310) ass he extends his lead to 10.7s. Button and Vettel also post personal bests. "Do I have to pass Button to win," asks Vettel. "Yes," is the response that he clearly wasn't expecting. Elsewhere, Schumacher makes his third stop of the afternoon, rejoining in tenth just ahead of Hulkenberg.
On lap 35, Massa posts new fastest lap (19.024) as Buemi makes his second stop of the afternoon. The stewards announce that they are investigating the incident involving Kubica and Sutil.
Button goes quickest in the first sector, as he closes to within 2.8s of Alonso.
"Keep doing what you're doing", Webber is told. "Hamilton is leading a group of four cars all hoping to make their tyres last to the end". That group included Webber's teammate Vettel.
Massa catches up with the two Force Indias, Liuzzi already having had a clash with the Brazilian this afternoon. Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (18.868).
With 31 laps to go, Webber reveals that his tyres are beginning to fall away, meanwhile, Hamilton, now only 10.2s behind, posts another fastest lap (18.810). Hamilton is told that Webber is struggling as Vettel (fifth) posts a new fastest lap (18.650).
Liuzzi and Massa having great fun as they battle for thirteenth, neither driver giving anything away.
Hamilton now closing to within 8.8s of Webber as Massa dives into the pits. Elsewhere, Hulkenberg gives Sutil a hard time, the Williams driver cutting the final chicane, and not for the first time this afternoon.
On lap 43, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (18.567) at a time when Webber is lapping in the 20.5s. The Australian must surely pit soon, his lead now down to 6.6s.
Next time around, Alonso posts another fastest lap (18.207) as he closes to within 0.7s of Hamilton. "Cars ahead are going to the finish, try and pass," Christian Horner tells Vettel. Game on!
Trulli stops in the pitlane, smoke pouring from his brakes. His race is over.
Conversation between Vettel and his crew suggests that there is a reliability issue, the Austrian team is giving nothing away other than to say that it is "managing an issue".
On lap 49, Hamilton is 0.5s down on Webber with Alonso only 0.8s behind. Elsewhere, Sutil, Alguersuari, Liuzzi and Massa all running as one as they battle for eleventh.
Hamilton nails Webber on the pit straight at the end of lap 49 as Alonso also closes in on the Red Bull. Once past, Hamilton immediately begins to pull away.
At the end of lap 50, Webber pits. He switches to the option tyre which will have to last him for the remaining 19 laps, rejoining in fifth.
Consequently, after 52 laps, it's: Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Vettel, Webber, Kubica, Rosberg, Schumacher, Buemi and Hulkenberg.
A superb move by Massa sees the Brazilian pass two cars in one move, releasing the Ferrari driver who can now haul in Hulkenberg, currently the last of the points runners.
Almost unseen, Button passes Alonso, who appeared to be concentrating on passing Chandhok. Consequently, with 14 laps remaining it's a McLaren 1-2. Out of the Spaniard's dirty air, the Englishman immediately goes quickest in the first sector of the next lap as he closes to within 3.1s of his teammate.
Although stunned by Button's move, Alonso hasn't given up and remains just 0.4s behind the McLaren. Elsewhere, Petrov visits the pits for the fourth time this afternoon.
Button's legendary tyre management is beginning to pay off as the reigning world champion closes to within 2.2s of the race leader. Elsewhere, Kubica and Hulkenberg both pit.
A fantastic move by Buemi sees the Swiss drive snatch eighth from Schumacher, a great move by the Toro Rosso driver. That said, the wily German hasn't given up and pursues the youngster.
On lap 61, Hamilton sends out a clear warning to his teammate, posting another fastest lap (18.025). However, moments later, Kubica (seventh) crosses the line at 17.606 as he closes in on Rosberg.
"You clearly have the pace," Hamilton is told, "look after your tyres". Elsewhere, another fastest lap for Kubica (17.178).
Massa closes right in on former teammate Schumacher, however, the German is having none of it and forces the Brazilian slightly off track and lightly into the wall, damaging the front wing on the Ferrari. Another incident which could result in repercussions. Next time around the 2008 championship runner-up pits for a new nose.
As Vettel indicates that he want to up the ante he is told "don't even think about it", advised that there is a problem with his car and that he must take it easy and short-shift. The stewards announce that they will investigate the Schumacher/Massa incident.
With three laps remaining, Button appears to have settled for second while Alonso, 3.5s behind, seems happy with third. Elsewhere, as Kubica posts another fastest lap (16.972), Liuzzi closes in on Schumacher who is having a dreadful afternoon.
Hamilton takes the flag and Button makes it a 1-2 for McLaren, while Alonso gives Ferrari a well deserved third. For the fourth time this season, despite taking seven poles, neither Red Bull driver is on the podium, while Rosberg takes sixth ahead of a hard charging Robert Kubica with Sebastien Buemi eighth.
On the final lap, Liuzzi finally passes Schumacher, who doesn't make it easy for the Italian, far from it, the German unnecessarily sloppy and even colliding with the Force India. As if the seven-time champ's weekend wasn't bad enough, Sutil passes him in the final corner, squeezing him out of the points.
Behind Schumacher, Alguersuari finishes twelfth, ahead of Hulkenberg, Barrichello, Massa, Kovalainen, Petrov, Chandhok and di Grassi.
While some have insisted on talking up every race since Bore-rain, this really was a great race, one that had plenty of passing, plenty of incidents, an ever changing script and even the odd bit of naughtiness.
Like all gambles there are winners and losers and while it paid off for McLaren, Red Bull took a chance and lost, though one has to wonder why they left Webber out there so long on that second set of tyres.
Stuff the World Cup, there hasn't been a really outstanding game thus far, however, today was what F1 should really be about, and what better place for that to happen than the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
A number of great drives, a number of dumb drives and while the stewards need to throw the book at a couple of drivers one has to thank god that we didn't see a serious incident at the final corner as drivers made last minute decisions to dive into the pits.
However, for once, let's end on a positive, that was great race at a great track - we didn't even. need the weather gods. Now, in the words of Oliver Twist, can we have some more…. please.