Canadian Grand Prix 2011, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve - Race 7/19

[Glaucus]

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Friday 10 June
First practice: 1455-1635, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/online
Second practice: 1855-2035, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/online

Saturday 11 June
Third practice: 1455-1605, BBC Red Button/BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/online
Qualifying: 1715-1915, BBC One/BBC Radio 5 live sports extra/online

Sunday 12 June
Grand Prix live: 1700-2015, BBC One/BBC Radio 5 live/online
F1 forum: 1915-2015, BBC Red Button/online
Highlights: 1900-2000, BBC Three

Standings:

Track:

Track Diagram

Track DRS
The FIA has confirmed drivers can activate their Drag Reductions Systems twice per lap during the Canadian Grand Prix.

However there will only be one detection point, situated at the exit of the L’epingle hairpin. Any drivers within one second of the car in front can activate their wings in both of the following points.

The first is further up the straight leading from the hairpin, and the second is at the beginning of the pit straight at the end of the lap.

This should give the drivers a significant opportunity to overtake and pull away, as Fernando Alonso explained:

“On paper, whoever manages to pass in the first zone will then have a big advantage because they will be able to use the movable wing again on the main straight, even though they are ahead of the car they are battling”.

Circuit information
Lap length: 4.361km
Race distance: 70 laps (305.270km)

Car performance
Full throttle: 60%
Top speed: 323kph (200mph)

Brake wear: High
Downforce level: Low

Strategy
Fuel use: 2.067kg/lap
Pit lane time loss: 14.1 seconds

2010 tyres: medium (prime, no strip), super soft (option, stripe)

- Team Preview
Pirelli

Red Bull Not uploaded yet
McLaren
Ferrari Not uploaded yet
Mercedes
Renault
Williams
Force India Not uploaded yet
Sauber
Toro Rosso Not uploaded yet
Lotus
Hispania Not uploaded yet
Virgin


Classic F1
Paul di Resta - classic F1 2011
Scotland's Paul di Resta, who has made such an impressive start to his grand prix career with Force India this season, is the latest driver to feature in our revised classic Formula 1 series.

Paul Di Resta's classic F1 - Australian Grand Prix 2011
Watch highlights of world champion Sebastian Vettel's victory for Red Bull Racing in the 2011 season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Paul Di Resta's classic F1 - French Grand Prix 1979
Watch highlights from the 1979 French Grand Prix as Jean-Pierre Jabouille scores the first F1 win for a car powered by a turbocharged engine while Gilles Villeneuve does battle with Rene Arnoux over the final three laps.

Paul Di Resta's classic F1 - European Grand Prix 1993
Watch highlights from the 1993 European Grand Prix as Ayrton Senna wins one of the finest races of his career at a rain-soaked Donington Park.

Paul Di Resta's classic F1 - Brazilian Grand Prix 2008
Watch highlights from the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix as Felipe Massa wins but Lewis Hamilton is crowned champion after a dramatic final lap at Interlagos.

Classic F1 - Canadian Grand Prix 2010
Highlights from Montreal as Lewis Hamilton leads a McLaren one-two for the second race in succession.

Technical Changes - Monaco

Weather Forecast
Practice 1 Fri 10:00
Practice 2 Fri 14:00

Practice 3 Sat 10:00
Qualifying Sat 13:00

Race Sun 13:00

News

• McLaren say they’re quick enough to beat Red Bull
  McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe is confident about the teams’ championship chances, saying “we’re in a very good position to win a lot of races”.
• Button sure his win drought is about to come to an end
  Jenson Button is fired up to end his long victory drought in Canada next weekend - and to win in North America for the first time in his Formula 1 career.
• Ferrari: Montreal upgrades see another step forward
  Last month’s Monaco round saw Ferrari finally shake off the issues that had so far blighted their 2011 season and take a genuine step forward, with Fernando Alonso challenging the might of Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel to the finish line. Although a second safety car eventually cost Alonso any chance of sweeping past Vettel for the win, his second-place finish was a positive performance from a rejuvenated team.
• Mercedes keen to see effect of double DRS zone
  Mercedes say they are interested to see how the introduction of two DRS zones at the Canadian Grand Prix will affect the racing in this weekend’s race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
• Renault avoid Canadian GP livery drama
  Renault have received permission from the Quebec authorities to run their usual black and gold livery in next weekend's Canadian Grand Prix, after fears that anti-tobacco legislation would force changes.
• Di Resta expects Montreal debut to be a 'real adventure'
  Paul di Resta admits his first experience of driving at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will be a “real adventure”, although one he is looking forward to.
• Perez: I want to race in Montreal
  Less than a week after the qualifying crash that ruled him out of racing in Monaco, Sauber’s Sergio Perez is feeling fit enough to compete at next weekend’s Canadian round. However, if Perez is to race in Montreal he will have to undergo - and pass - an FIA medical test which will ascertain if he is ready to return to the cockpit.

Driver Chnages
De la Rosa to stand in for Perez in Canada
Formula One veteran Pedro de la Rosa is to replace Sergio Perez at Sauber for the remainder of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend on safety grounds, after the Mexican rookie felt unwell following opening practice.


The track and TV coverage starts


FIA Press Conference
Canada preview quotes - HRT, Williams, Force India, Virgin & more
They may both have temporary waterside locations, but there aren’t many similarities between last weekend’s Monaco event and the forthcoming Canadian round. Whilst the cars wound their way around Monte Carlo’s tight and twisty seaside streets, in Montreal they will be unleashed around a riverside track dominated by long straights and low-speed chicanes. But for all their differences, they are equally popular. The drivers and senior team personnel explain why the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is such a firm favourite and discuss their prospects...

Canada preview - now or never to halt Red Bull rampage?
The Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2011 is the race in which McLaren and Ferrari must stake strong claim to Red Bull’s dominant position. Sebastian Vettel has won eight of the last nine races, and if the two legendary teams are to get back into the world championship fight they must beat the machines from Milton Keynes this weekend.

FIA Thursday press conference - Canada
Drivers - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Pastor Maldonado (Williams), Sergio Perez (Sauber), Vitaly Petrov (Renault), Adrian Sutil (Force India).

Friday practice - selected team and driver quotes
Sebastian Vettel, Kamui Kobayashi, Adrian Sutil and Jerome d’Ambrosio on their brushes with the Montreal walls; Pedro de la Rosa on his unexpected call-up for Sauber; and Fernando Alonso on setting the pace around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Drivers and senior team personnel on day one in Canada…

FIA Friday press conference - Canada
Senior team personnel - Eric Boullier (Renault), Pat Fry (Ferrari), Andrew Green (Force India), Paddy Lowe (McLaren), Sam Michael (Williams).


Technical changes Monaco


Practice 1

Practice One - Mercedes lead, Vettel crashes out
Nico Rosberg proved correct Jenson Button’s pre-event prediction that Mercedes would be very strong here in Montreal, by dominating Friday morning’s opening practice session for Sunday’s Canadian round.

Highlights - Canadian GP first practice
Watch short highlights from first free practice for the Canadian Grand Prix as Nico Rosberg is fastest while world champion Sebastian Vettel slams into the infamous 'wall of champions'.

Sebastian Vettel crashes into 'wall of champions' in Canada
Friday practice for the Canadian Grand Prix is red flagged as reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel crashes into a wall at the final chicane at the Giles Villeneuve circuit.


Practice 2

Practice Two - Alonso heads Vettel in disrupted session
Fernando Alonso jumped into contention with the fastest lap time in Friday’s second practice session in Montreal, taking his Ferrari round the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 1m 15.107s, to go 0.369s clear of world champion Sebastian Vettel’s 1m 15.476s.

Highlights - Canadian GP second practice
Watch highlights from second free practice for the Canadian Grand Prix as Fernando Alonso sets the pace while the session is red flagged twice.


Practice 3

Qualifying

Grid

Race

Standings

 

[Shimmy]

Always love Montreal, wall of champions!

Should be a good race, chance of rain. Not so keen on double DRS zones though.

 

[PinkFloyd]

Great post as always. Really looking forward to the weekend here

Wonder where they will put the twin DRS zones, I'm not sure how much they are really needed here; I'm worried it might end up being too easy to pass like in Turkey. We'll see I guess.

Hoping for a good weekend from Mclaren!

 

[utajoker]

one of my favorite tracks, cant wait for this one.

hope hamilton can have a better race this weekend and mclaren can match red bulls pace.

i dont think this track needs the drs zones, it got some good overtaking spots.

i also hope the track eats tires just as it did last year

 

[Kerming]

Thanks once again AcidHell for the imfo.

 

[SteveOBHave]

hope hamilton can have a better race this weekend and mclaren can match red bulls pace.

Hope Hamilton can keep his toys in the cot this time!!!

Canada is a fav of mine also - excellent track.

 

[TaKeN]

Thanks Acid, been wondering when this would pop up

I'm visiting the GF this weekend though.. so likely to not get to watch this. I'll have to sky+ it.

 

[FrankJH]

well done AH - excellent as always

Really looking forward to this one, hoping JB gets the win his last drive deserved

 

[Masterdog]

Not sure about the twin DRS zones, but should still be a good race. Hoping for good things from McLaren. Quite enjoy the evening races as well!

 

[Guerrilla]

Thanks again Acid

Really looking forward to this one, Canada was probably my favourite race of last year.

 

[Skeeter]

Wonder where they will put the twin DRS zones, I'm not sure how much they are really needed here; I'm worried it might end up being too easy to pass like in Turkey. We'll see I guess.

This. I am not convinced this track needs DRS to promote overtaking. It does a good job on its own. I hope it wont be like Turkey. I think they got it spot on in China. Overtaking there was possible, but not a given.

 

[Dutch Guy]

I can't think of another good spot for a DRS zone other than the large straight

 

[deuse]

Thanks Acid

I hope it's as good as last years race which was awesome in every way race of the season for me and many others.

1-2 Mclaren again

 

[El_Watcher]

I can't think of another good spot for a DRS zone other than the large straight

They could put one zone before the hairpin, and then the other along the main straight before the last chicane.

 

[ins0mn1ac]

Christ my girlfriends going to have a fit when she finds out what time these are on this weekend

 

[therealnerd2]

Christ my girlfriends going to have a fit when she finds out what time these are on this weekend

Mine tends to like the far eastern ones - over by the time she's awake. Although as the race filters through she has had some strange dreams about cars....

 

[ins0mn1ac]

Yeah I think I'll be single by Saturday night, worth it though

 

[Deleted member 651465]

My favourite track of the year

Here's hoping Hamilton can pull it out of the bag. I expect some epic tyre management early on, as per last year!

 

[pingwing]

Definitely one of the best tracks of the year! Think the double DRS zone will be horrendous overkill but should be a good laugh to watch

Di Resta with a nice set of races there too!

 

[Dave M]

Ooh goody late qualifying, I'm likely to be getting up about that time Saturday. Not so keen on late race Sunday, guess I'll have to go outside or something.