F1: Preview Of The Canadian Grand Prix 2015
Montreal plays host to the 7th race of the 2015 Formula 1 World Championship this weekend
The 4.361 km Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosts its 36th race this weekend, with the Canadian track having made its 1st appearance on the schedule in Y 1978, a race won by the driver the circuit is now named after, Gilles Villeneuve.
Lewis Hamilton arrived in Canada wondering just how a strong run in Monaco saw him finish only 3rd, with the Mercedes AMG Petronas team making a tactical error to pit during the safety car period. The Briton has 3 prior Canadian Grand Prix victories, including in his rookie season back in Y 2007, and will be looking to return to the top of the podium this weekend.
Team-mate Nico Rosberg took advantage of Mr. Hamilton’s faux paux in Monaco to claim his 2nd victory in a row, and his 3rd Monte Carlo victory in 3 years. The German lost a near-certain win in Canada 12 months ago with a car issue, but will be looking to win 3 races in a row for the 1st time in his Formula 1 career this weekend.
Sebastian Vettel also took advantage of Mr. Hamilton’s problem in Monaco to claim 2nd , with his Scuderia Ferrari team continuing to be the closest challengers to Mercedes. The German driver won this event back in Y 2013, Mr. Vettel could and should be the driver Mercedes will worry about the most this weekend.
Having spent some of its engine ‘tokens’ for this weekend’s race in Canada, Ferrari could well be able to take a step towards Mercedes and challenge for a 2nd win of the season. Sebastian Vettel arrives in Montreal off the back of a surprising 2nd-place finish in Monaco, Kimi Raikkonen is focusing on an improved qualifying display after struggling last time out. The Finnish driver fighting for his Ferrari career, he will need to raise his game, starting this weekend in Canada on a track he won at in Y 2005. The power advantage may lie with Mercedes, but if Ferrari can make a step forwards, the Italian team will be in the mix this weekend.
The Williams Martini Racing team endured a grim weekend in Monaco, with neither Valtteri Bottas norFelipe Massa coming anywhere close to qualifying or finishing inside the top Ten, but the team insist their performance two weeks ago was specific to the Monte Carlo track, with both drivers hopeful of returning to their assumed position as the third best team in F1 this weekend.
The Infiniti Red Bull Racing team saw their best weekend of the season at Monaco, with Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo finishing 4th and 5th, but with their Renault power unit, they will struggle to match that performance in Montreal. Mr. Ricciardo will have the extra confidence this weekend having taken his 1st Formula 1 race victory at this event last year.
The same power unit powers sister team Scuderia Toro Rosso, with rookie drivers Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen likely to also struggle.
Romain Grosjean saw his 3-race pts scoring run ended following a clash with Mr. Verstappen in Monaco, but both he and Lotus F1 Team team-mate Pastor Maldonado will be looking to put behind them their disappointments to return to the Top 10 this weekend, with Mr. Maldonado seeking his 1st pts of Y 2015.
The Sauber F1 Team has been out run this season, but Felipe Nasr garnered 2 pts in Monaco, and both he and team-mate Marcus Ericsson are hopeful of taking advantage of their Ferrari engines to have strong Canadian weekend in Montreal.
The Sahara Force India team had a positive race at Monaco, with the layout of the circuit helping their under-developed car, but Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg could struggle this weekend to have as good a result in Montreal on a circuit with completely different characteristics.
The McLaren-Honda team finally secured their 1st pts of Y 2015 in Monaco, with Jenson Button finishing 8th, but the team may be hard pressed to emulate that performance around the Canadian Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Both Mr. Button and team-mate Fernando Alonso have won at Canada, but any thoughts of a victory this year will not be in anyone’s minds within the team.
The final team on the grid continue to be the Manor F1 Team, who are now the only team not to have scored a point in Y 2015. Roberto Merhi did beat Will Stevens to the Chequered Flag in Monaco, while the team continue to have a 100% finishing record for every race they started this season.
The Canadian Grand Prix is a favorite for many of the drivers and teams.
Montreal as a city embraces the Canadian race and gives it a great party vibe. Perhaps the most positive aspect of it among our readers is the timing of the broadcasts. After a string of early starts for races in China, Spain and Monaco, the Canadian Grand Prix is held entirely on EDT, making it friendlier for those in the USA to watch.
The action provided in Montreal is always entertaining. It’s very rare for there to be a ‘boring’ Canadian Grand Prix, and the 2015 edition should be no different.
2015 Canadian Grand Prix – Facts and Figures
Track: Canadian Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Laps: 70
Corners: 13
Lap Record: Rubens Barrichello 1:13.622 (Ferrari, 2004)
Tire Compounds: Super-Soft (Option); Soft (Prime)
2014 Winner: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
2014 Pole Position: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:14.874
2014 Fastest Lap: Felipe Massa (Williams) 1:18.504
DRS Zones: Casino Straight (T11 to T12); Main Straight (T13 to T1)
2015 Canadian Grand Prix – TV Times
Free Practice 1: NBC Sports Live Extra 10am EDT 6/5
Free Practice 2: NBCSN 2:00 p EDT 6/5
Free Practice 3: NBC Sports Live Extra 10:00a EDT 6/6
Qualifying: NBCSN 1:00p EDT 6/6
Race: NBC 2:00p EDT 6/7 (F1 Countdown on NBCSN from 1:30p EDT)
Stay tuned…
HeffX-LTN
Paul Ebeling
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