
Fresh from the Indy 500, and fresh with doubts. Fernando Alonso, 35 years old, hasn't tasted victory in a while. Unbearable for a two-time World Champion. He was already tired before heading to America, skipping the Monaco Grand Prix. He's back in Montreal, but the issues persist: his McLaren, or rather, the Honda engine, isn't performing.
"It's been three years since we've been in a competitive position in the championship. If we don't win in the next races, after the summer, I'll sit at a table and decide what to do".
The Spanish driver postpones his fate to September. Though it seems he might have already made up his mind:
"Moreover, if the World Championship calendar were to increase to 25, 26 races per season, I'll leave F1. I prefer choosing a better quality of life over increasing the number of championships".
He went to Indianapolis to take a break. Forced to retire due to an engine failure 21 laps from the end of the race, despite leading at some point, Alonso takes pride in that experience:
"I've always sought new motivations, and the qualifications there were fabulous. At some point, I even found myself leading the race; it was really nice, a different experience, with different rules, a different car. With many new things to learn. It gave me certainty for the future: I now know I can be competitive in other categories. It was a good decision to go; it tests you and is good for motivation".
Not to mention what Fernando found around him in Indianapolis; in fact, he says:
"The atmosphere is different; everyone is much happier and proud to participate in the Indy 500. I don't want to say it's different here, but with the business of recent years, controversy is always around the corner. There, there are 33 drivers thinking about the race; here, it's all bigger. Will I go back to Indy? My priority is and remains F1. I want to win the third world championship: in the last 16 years, I've developed my skills to drive F1 cars to the best of my ability, which remains the best car to drive".
Of course, if the car follows your abilities.
"We have to win. If we win before September, I'll decide to stay. Even though it's June, and you can't be 100% sure. I joined the McLaren project because I want to become world champion. But if you don't see things changing and you're not competitive, then maybe the plans need to be revised. That's what I can say now. Until I address the issue after the summer, I can't say anything else".
But on the fact that F1 can no longer take away his life, he is certain about this:
"I started in F1 when there were 16 races on the calendar plus tests. Now, races continue to increase year after year, and we've already reached 20/21. There's no more life between Grand Prix preparation, sponsor events, and tests. If we want to get to 25 or 26 races as it's said, then I'll stop. At this point in my career, I think a good quality of life is more important than doing more seasons in F1. If the calendar remains as it has been in recent years, I'll be happy to continue, but if it grows too much, it's no longer for me".
The Ferrari double in the Monaco Grand Prix reiterated a concept in the F1 World Championship: between the Maranello team and Mercedes, it's a real challenge, and it's not certain that it's the red car chasing. Toto Wolff admits it too.

The Mercedes team principal speaks honestly - also trying to put pressure on rivals - five days before the Canadian Grand Prix:
"This year, we're not the favorites for the title, it's painful but that's how it is".
On the other hand, the numbers in the two championship standings speak clearly: Vettel first among the drivers, with a 25-point lead over Hamilton, Ferrari leading in the constructors with a 17-point advantage over Mercedes.
"At the moment, the favorite is Ferrari, having a very strong package. We need to raise the bar to prove once again that we are the team to beat. There are still fourteen races to go, and everything is open. Now we focus on Montreal and the possibility of achieving another great result, hoping to provide valuable answers to some tough questions".
Lewis Hamilton shares a similar sentiment:
"At the moment, Ferrari is faster and is the favorite. We are working hard, and I hope to attack this weekend".
The Mercedes driver, however, remains confident ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, where he achieved his first Formula 1 victory and won four more times.
"I remember my father's smile on the podium in 2007; it was a fantastic experience, a moment that made me very proud. Since then, my connection with Canada has grown every year. I love coming here; it's something spectacular. This is a beautiful race, a unique circuit in one of the most beautiful cities we visit. The atmosphere during the race is wonderful, and overall, I feel very good".
Meanwhile, McLaren's executive director, Zak Brown, expresses frustration and issues something of an ultimatum to Honda, the team's partner in Formula 1 for three years.
"We would like to win the World Championship with Honda, but if that is not possible, there comes a time when you have to decide whether to move forward or not. And we have many doubts about that".
In the current World Championship, the team has not yet scored a single point, and according to Brown, the promised developments on the cars will not arrive for the Canadian Grand Prix.
"Honda is working hard, but the impression is that they have lost their way a bit. They have just informed us that we will not have the announced upgrade, and there is no specific timing. We are disappointed, as are the drivers (Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne), who were counting on the new developments. But at this point, it's clear that we cannot go on like this indefinitely".
Lance Stroll stayed at his dad's place. Home, so to speak: the Stroll houses are an unspecified number of luxurious residences scattered around the world, and this one is in the greenery of Montreal not far from the Gilles Villeneuve circuit.
"A dream come true to be able to race here".

Not that for the billionaire's scion, the size of the dream is exactly like that of a common eighteen-year-old: Lance has what he desires. He is the first Canadian to race on the home track since 2006, following Jacques Villeneuve, son of Gilles Villeneuve, who won in Quebec in 1978.
"Villeneuve? I couldn't see Gilles race, but he was an extreme talent and much loved. He took risks that others didn't take. It's an honor to race after Jacques, the champion in 1997, the year before I was born. I have many memories of when I came to watch the races here as a kid, and now I'm racing, a dream".
In an F1 where Alonso talks more and more about retirement, rookie Lance Stroll is the testimonial on the track drawn on the Olympic basin of Ile de Notre-Dame.
"It seems interesting to drive here, and our cars have performed very well in the past".
He is the rookie of Williams, who has won seven times here. As for cars, he has broken a few less so far: retirement in Australia, China, Bahrain, and Monaco. Eleventh place in Russia and sixteenth in Spain. Trivialities that don't matter when there is the rest, and the rest is plenty: dad Lawrence, 58 years old, has built a fortune estimated at 2.6 billion dollars from his father's small clothing company, dealing with American sportswear brands in Canada. Mom Claire-Anne Callens, Belgian, has her own line of luxury sportswear, organic cashmere, manufactured in Italy. They live in Geneva. The many responsibilities to bear are compensated by a delightful family playground: a 97-meter yacht for 18 guests and 34 service personnel with an evocative name (Faith), four private jets that, one might say, arrive when the little prince fancies prized Kobe beef. The Ferraris for which Stroll senior has a fervent obsession are certainly not mere trinkets: he is credited with 25, including a 1967 Gtb/4 S NART spider, which was a deal at 27.5 million dollars. The red mausoleum is kept in a room on the Mont Tremblant estate, 140 kilometers from Montreal, where Lance began karting and which are owned by his family. With the generous enthusiasm of his parent, Lance was in the Ferrari Academy for five years from 2010, followed by Michael Schumacher's track engineer (Luca Baldisserri). He trained on simulators better than those of the teams, with a dedicated staff. The entry into the top series would have been prompted (legitimately) with about 80 million dollars invested by dad. With Prema, he won F4 and F3 last year: 28 wins, 44 podiums. Now he plays at home. Pardon, on his golden island.
"I've had some financial help, but I've also earned my place".
A lot of spinouts, a few squirrels, rain threatening but not falling, and at the end of the day, amidst the variables and surprises. On Friday, June 9, 2017, the first free practice sessions in Montreal tell a script already seen, yet it remains interesting: the Mercedes-Ferrari duel continues. The Anglo-German cars, forced to chase the ones from Maranello after the beating in Monte Carlo, have returned to competitiveness in Canada, at least judging by the first free practices: Lewis Hamilton, who suffered from the discomfort of his car's tires in Monaco, finds himself again on the circuit named after Villeneuve, the man with five wins on the Quebec circuit. The Briton is the fastest in the first practice session, clocking in at 1'13"809, beating Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari by 0.198 seconds. Valtteri Bottas follows in third, and Kimi Räikkönen is about 0.4 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton. The track conditions, with little rubber, lead to several mistakes by the drivers, with the two Ferrari drivers spinning out. The two Spanish drivers, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr., effectively do not practice due to technical problems with their cars. Also, Daniel Ricciardo, due to an ERS failure, limits his work during the first session. In the afternoon, the positions shuffle, but the game is still between the same players: Kimi Räikkönen sets the fastest time, clocking in at 1'12"935, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. Fourth time for Valtteri Bottas, with the other Mercedes.

For the Finn, these are the first signs of revenge after the personal disappointment of the pole position in Monte Carlo, which turned into a second place behind Sebastian Vettel, favored by better pit management and disadvantaged by traffic he couldn't avoid. But above all for Lewis Hamilton, who won his first F1 race in Canada ten years ago, it's an initial, though not definitive, sign that he and his car are still in the game: he has to recover the 25-point disadvantage to Sebastian Vettel and regain confidence in his abilities. Not that he lacks the attitude, but if there's a place to fish for good vibes, it's this one: a fast track, with straights where you reach 300 km/h, abrupt braking, and downshifts. Aggressive, just like him. Max Verstappen also approaches the times of Ferrari and Mercedes but is forced to abandon the practice session due to a mechanical problem. The race direction, to allow the removal of his Red Bull Racing from the track, interrupted the session with the display of red flags. The other driver from the Anglo-Austrian team, Daniel Ricciardo, is again penalized by a technical problem, this time with the engine. Alonso, after the morning difficulties, sets the seventh-best time. Dusty and low-grip asphalt, many slips including those of Räikkönen and Vettel. Then Bottas, Vettel again, and Kvyat also slide. Verstappen's Red Bull stopped with the engine smoking fifteen minutes before the end, and despite this, the Dutch prodigy achieves the fifth time. But it's the context, with the Ferrari-Mercedes duel at its center. With a confident Räikkönen:
"I'm happy, but it's only Friday. Things went well, I had positive feelings, but we can still improve; we'll certainly try to get the pole".
And an equally aggressive Vettel:
"Sure, we'll try everything to secure pole position and get the car on the front row. Today has been a mixed day. The track was very slippery in the morning, but it improved later on. I spun a couple of times and had some disagreements with the car, but towards the end, I figured out what I need, so tomorrow should be a better day".
Two Ferraris leading, followed by Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes. The cars from Maranello are so confident and dominant that they finish the third and final free practice session in Montreal almost ten minutes before the session ends. Just a few hours before the qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel leads the final practice with a time of 1’12"572, giving his teammate a 0.292-second gap. Behind the two Ferrari drivers is Lewis Hamilton. The gap isn't huge (0.354 seconds behind the German), and neither is the one separating him from the Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen, who, with a great lap and a slight kiss on the champions' wall, finishes fourth, four-tenths behind Lewis Hamilton. The prodigy leaves behind the second Mercedes, driven by the Finn Valtteri Bottas, who is only fifth after giving a gentle touch to the wall, and the Renault of the German Nico Hülkenberg. For the pole position, the two championship contenders will obviously fight, with the Ferrari drivers confident of securing it and Lewis Hamilton equally ready to redeem himself from the issues in Monaco, which seem to be overcome in Canada. The Briton - after Schumacher - is, on the other hand, the most successful on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. In the 37 editions of the Canadian Grand Prix held in Montreal, the race has been won 17 times starting from the pole position. The British driver will have to try to reduce the 25-point gap from Vettel: the weekend started well for him with the fastest time in the first practice and the second in the final session. He definitely shouted that the war wasn't over under the finish line in Monaco. It's worth believing him. In fact, that's what Formula America can't wait to see.
"We want to create exciting events for fans worldwide, with stories and drama".
Behind the 19th-century mustaches, the new Circus boss, Chase Carey, has a very New York accent and equally new ideas:
"We want big characters and personalities on and off the track. We respect the tradition of this wonderful sport, but we want to build on it with a show similar to American sports, involving the audience and the new generations more, also through multiple consumption platforms".

On Saturday, June 10, 2017, in the first phase of Q1, all drivers, except those from Scuderia Ferrari, use Ultrasoft tires. The top position in the standings is contested between Ferrari and Mercedes drivers, although Kimi Räikkönen touches the wall, as does McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne. In the final moments of Q1, Pascal Wehrlein goes off the track, damaging the front of his Sauber. The yellow flags, immediately displayed, prevent at-risk elimination drivers from improving. Eliminated, in addition to the German, are the other Sauber driver Marcus Ericsson, then Kevin Magnussen, Lance Stroll, and Vandoorne. In Q2, Carlos Sainz Jr. almost causes an accident but avoids damage to his car, while Sebastian Vettel, after a mistake, is only fourth, behind the two Mercedes drivers and Kimi Räikkönen. In the final minutes of Q2, no one manages to beat Lewis Hamilton's time, and those excluded from the decisive phase are Jolyon Palmer, Romain Grosjean, Carlos Sainz Jr., Fernando Alonso, and Daniil Kvyat, who, touching a wall, also suffered a puncture. In Q3, the two Mercedes drivers immediately set exceptional times, with Lewis Hamilton breaking the track record. Sebastian Vettel manages to get within 0.005 seconds of the British driver's time, but Hamilton lowers his limit again. Vettel also attempts a second fast lap but without success. The second row is entirely Finnish, with Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Räikkönen. At the end of the sessions, the gearbox on Pascal Wehrlein's car is replaced, resulting in a five-position grid penalty. Following further changes to the German's car, he starts from the pit lane. A return to the roots for Hamilton. A wide-open door to the future for Vettel. The Canadian Grand Prix, the seventh, is a key race that brings the championship overseas and its contenders into a possible upheaval of forces. Ten years ago, Lewis won his first F1 race here with McLaren; he was a fresh-faced, slightly chubby guy, not the star with the necklaces, dark glasses, and ripped jeans after three world championships.
"I remember my father's smile that day, perhaps the biggest smile I've ever seen on his face".
Now, at 32 years old, after three seasons at the helm with his Mercedes, facing no opponents except internal ones (Rosberg), Hamilton is forced into the unusual condition of showing annoyance and grimaces. He has to play the chaser, accustomed to being the one chased. Against a less flashy, less televised but solid and shamelessly in-form rival like Sebastian Vettel, who has handed him a 25-point gap after the disastrous Monaco Grand Prix where his Mercedes lost its taste and luster. Struggling with a car that hasn't found a connection with the more high-performance tires, the Briton in the Principality was eliminated in Saturday's heats and could only make a cameo appearance in the race (finishing seventh) while the Reds claimed the throne with a one-two finish. But Montreal is a different story, and Lewis knows it well: he has won here five times (and as many pole positions) out of nine participations, second only to Michael Schumacher (with seven victories). The circuit named after Gilles Villeneuve, 4.361 meters of smooth asphalt, long straights at 300 km/h, sharp brakes and turns, groundhogs and squirrels crossing the track, and the Wall of Champions, also known as the Wall of Tears for obvious reasons, is where Mercedes must figure out if it's still in the running to compete in a championship where Ferrari is leaving its mark. Ferrari could even defend its three victories so far and the excellent performances from the beginning of the year. Seb doesn't say it, who has won here once, with Red Bull in 2013, the same year he won the title, but you can tell he's serene:
"Montreal is different from the previous races, but the important thing is that we've always been competitive, and the car seems to be fast everywhere. If we also demonstrate good potential here, it will be fantastic. But we also know that the season is long, and the dynamics can change with technical developments and updates".
Lewis Hamilton secures pole position number 65 of his career in Montreal, just like his idol Ayrton Senna, and receives the yellow helmet of the former Brazilian driver as a gift from Senna's family, enclosed in a transparent case. The date: 1987. Hamilton is moved:
"I have no words".

Then he takes it out of the case, kisses it, hugs it tightly, and takes it for a spin on the track.
"A fantastic gift, it's an honor for me to receive it. I thank Senna's family. Ayrton was my favorite driver, the one who inspired my choices".
He must have inspired something invisible that took shape, and this is it: the World Championship reopens here. His Mercedes catches up with Ferrari after the Monaco collapse. The second row is for the Finns Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Räikkönen, with the second Ferrari. The third row is for Red Bull Racing, with the Dutchman Max Verstappen setting a better time than Daniel Ricciardo. But the front row will be composed of the two contenders, Lewis and Seb, the gladiators of the championship also in the battle for the starting order, which simulated the pure and true race: two seconds from the end of the session, only 0.004 seconds separate the lions. The German says:
"I didn't know at that moment that the gap was so small, but I knew I had to improve. I have to congratulate Lewis for what he did today; he was the best. However, I'm not happy. Maybe I attacked a bit too much and lost in turn 2. I'm optimistic for tomorrow; it will be a very close race".
The final attempt proves him right, and the lead goes to the Englishman, who finishes with a sensational lap.
"I didn't do a clean lap; I could have done better, but I really like the car. In the race, we should still be competitive, and I'm optimistic for tomorrow".
On Gilles Villeneuve, there will be 4.361 stressful meters, smooth asphalt, lots of traction, and brakes. To go fast (exceeding 300 km/h), the key is to properly warm up the front tires. Almost everyone used the Ultrasoft, Pirelli's softest tires, which predict a race with only one pit stop but also suggest a quick change of strategies due to weather conditions and possible entries of the Safety Car on the track. Hamilton knows it like his childhood. He achieved his first pole and first victory here ten years ago. Since then, five victories in Quebec, only two less than the king Schumacher. Perhaps that's why a group of Mexican supporters in the stands unfurls a banner:
"Hamilton Territory".
It's certainly a reclaimed field, a fertile region, a new sign for the Briton who, starting from pole here, has won four out of five times. Lewis gets on the medical car for the customary lap after qualifying, leans out of the window, hanging there while drinking a concoction of minerals. He greets the crowd from under the purple cap:
"Thank you, I love you; you make this Grand Prix special. It was a tight battle with Ferrari; I gave it everything, I did an even sexier first and second lap. I improved; we learned from the mistakes last time in Monaco; the team did a good job".
Here, they hand him Ayrton's helmet. The braggart disappears, and here's the man and the child.
"If I am who I am, I owe it to him. Matching Senna and receiving this trophy as a gift is the greatest honor. If today were my last day on Earth, I'm already inside the history of my sport".
On Sunday, June 11, 2017, during the warm up lap of the Canadian Grand Prix, Daniil Kvyat doesn't start immediately but remains stationary on the grid for a moment before being assisted by his mechanics to get going.

The Russian will be penalized during the race for failing to regain his position on the starting grid. At the start, Lewis Hamilton maintains the lead, with Max Verstappen in second place, followed by Valtteri Bottas. Sebastian Vettel is fourth, with his front wing damaged by the Red Bull Racing driver; the other Red Bull driver, Daniel Ricciardo, is fifth after overtaking Kimi Räikkönen. In the back, at the first chicane, Romain Grosjean collides with Carlos Sainz Jr.'s car, causing him to lose control and crash into Felipe Massa's Williams. These two drivers are forced to retire. The race officials neutralize the competition by deploying the Safety Car. During the third lap, the race resumes in its sporting aspect: Verstappen immediately attacks Hamilton, who successfully defends his position. Bottas tries to take advantage of the situation by attempting to overtake Verstappen, but the attempt is unsuccessful. Kimi Räikkönen puts two wheels on the grass, loses speed, and is overtaken by Sergio Pérez. In the fifth lap, Vettel returns to the pits to replace the damaged wing he lost at the start, dropping to eighteenth and last position. Verstappen's race ends on the tenth lap due to a battery failure. The Dutch driver parks the car in a dangerous spot, prompting the race officials to implement the Virtual Safety Car. After four laps, the race resumes: Lewis Hamilton maintains the lead, followed by his teammate Valtteri Bottas, then Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Pérez, Kimi Räikkönen, Esteban Ocon, and Fernando Alonso. During the 17th lap, Kimi Räikkönen makes a pit stop. Later, on the 18th lap, Daniel Ricciardo also pits and switches to Soft tires. Meanwhile, with various drivers making pit stops, Sebastian Vettel climbs up to tenth place after overtaking Nico Hülkenberg. Sergio Pérez stops on the 20th lap but maintains the advantage over Kimi Räikkönen. Later, Sebastian Vettel also passes Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen, moving up to eighth place, behind Fernando Alonso. On the 23rd lap, Valtteri Bottas pits and switches to Soft tires. Ocon is now second, behind Hamilton, followed by Bottas, Ricciardo, Pérez, and the two Ferraris, with Vettel passing Alonso on the 27th lap. Shortly after, Kevin Magnussen receives a 5-second penalty for overtaking Stoffel Vandoorne under Virtual Safety Car conditions. On the 31st lap, both Vettel (for the second time, switching to Supersoft tires) and Ocon make pit stops. The German driver of Scuderia Ferrari re-enters the track in seventh place, just behind the French driver of Force India.
On the 41st lap, Kimi Räikkönen makes his second pit stop, rejoining the track behind his teammate. As the battle for the third position heats up, with Ricciardo defending against Pérez, Vettel makes a third pit stop on the 49th lap, returning behind Räikkönen. On the 57th lap, Kvyat retires after a long pit stop, during which the mechanics attempt to replace the just-mounted Supersoft tires with a set of Soft tires. Earlier, the Russian driver had served another 10-second penalty for violating the regulations at the start, having already been penalized with a drive-through penalty. On the 60th lap, Kimi Räikkönen misses the braking point at the final chicane and is overtaken by Sebastian Vettel. In the closing laps, Sebastian Vettel approaches the two Force India drivers, passing Esteban Ocon on the 65th lap with a maneuver at the first corner and Sergio Pérez two laps from the end, securing fourth place. Lewis Hamilton wins the Canadian Grand Prix, achieving the fourth Grand Slam in F1. For Mercedes, it's their 37th one-two finish, thanks to Valtteri Bottas's second place. Daniel Ricciardo is third, followed by Sebastian Vettel, Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon, Kimi Räikkönen, Nico Hülkenberg, Lance Stroll, who earns his first career points, and Romain Grosjean. The news from Canada includes two main points, and neither is good for Ferrari. First, Lewis Hamilton seems to have overcome the crisis that slowed him down earlier in the season, winning the Grand Prix effortlessly (with a 19-second lead over his teammate, Valtteri Bottas) and significantly closing the gap in the World Championship (now 12 points behind Sebastian Vettel). Second, for the first time this season, Mercedes appears to have solved the tire comprehension issue with Pirelli. While one race doesn't determine a trend, it's reported that the Anglo-German team has invested a lot (in terms of hours, work, and money) specifically in this area. The actual effects of this work and its material consequences on the championship are yet to be seen. Hamilton's ease in driving the car in Montreal resembled the dominance of previous seasons rather than the clumsy and awkward performance shown in Monaco (and beyond). Behind the two Mercedes, there are Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel. Vettel had an extraordinary race, marred at the start by an unconvincing maneuver. The German seemed to be too focused on marking Valtteri Bottas and didn't notice the kamikaze entry of Max Verstappen, who took away the second position, momentarily confusing Vettel.

The start cost Vettel not only two positions on the track but also the breakage of the front wing (with a subsequent pit stop for replacement). Rejoining the race in last place - perhaps Ferrari could have used a Safety Car better - Sebastian started a beautiful comeback, concluding with a fourth place that seems like a miracle. On the contrary, Kimi Räikkönen had a race of exactly the opposite nature. The Finn started worse than his teammate, and despite not facing any particular difficulties, he was overtaken by Sergio Perez's Force India. Instead of reacting, he seemed to doze off, spending the rest of the race in a rather anonymous seventh position. Finally, it's worth noting the first two points earned by Lance Stroll in front of his home crowd and the duel involving the two Force India drivers, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon - a dramatic chapter that included everything: overtakes, team orders imposed and betrayed, mistakes, and controversies. In short, a small compendium of Formula 1.
"Here I got my first pole and also my first victory, exactly ten years ago. Repeating it this weekend is infinitely special. I really want to thank my team who made this possible, and also the guys at the factory who worked hard to fix the issues we had in the last race. And Valtteri also did a great job, and together we brought home a lot of points. I'm over the moon, yesterday I equaled Ayrton's record, and I work with a fantastic group. I'm glad to be a link in this great chain of success. (On Sebastian Vettel) I asked about him often because I had time to think, and I was trying to understand what was happening behind me. The more information I had, the better I could plan. Basically, I was at a cruising speed, managing the car and tires. I wasn't pushing to the maximum, so if Vettel had started running in the low '14s, I would have had to push to extend the gap. I wanted to be ready. (On Mercedes' work to avoid the Monaco problem) We haven't completely solved the Monaco problem, but we know what it is. Now we have to develop this path in the next four or five races, and on this track, we found a compromise solution. There were medium-low-speed corners here; on a track with more fast corners, it would have been different. At least we have an understanding of our troubles at this point in the season, and we can make progress."
Lewis Hamilton said at the end of the race. Returning to talk about what happened in Monaco, the British driver adds:
"In the Principality of Monaco, we were on the wrong path. Later, we did several analyses. At the moment, we focus on the engine and other parts of the car. We have to make sure that the simulations are good because they haven't been perfect. We have to try to understand why the simulator and the wind tunnel gave us two different results. On Thursday, the technicians completed all the analyses, and then we discussed what they found. That same Thursday, we had a clear idea of how to solve our problem. The credit for the victory really goes to the team. (On his teammate, Valtteri Bottas) Yes, it's different with Valtteri. It feels better than with a pair with Nico. Valtteri supports me a lot; he's at a completely different level in terms of professionalism: as a team, we are more united than ever. And when he needs it, I will help and support him. (On the fastest lap) I certainly didn't do it for fun. It's just that I had never pushed the car to the limit during the race, and we needed to gather information for the engineers. There is a lot of data collected on the car in 70 laps, and it seemed right to push the car to the limit to see first how the tires would react, to understand if after so many laps they would wake up, if they would get worse, how the car would react on the curb. I did a great lap, and we gathered a lot of information from that single lap. If I hadn't done that lap, we would have finished the race without some fundamental information".
Sebastian Vettel talks about his Grand Prix and the comeback that saw him as the absolute protagonist:
"I think my start wasn't good, but not so negative either, then I was a bit surprised by Valtteri. I didn't understand where he wanted to go because the grip was very low on the inside, and then you can discuss whether Max could have given me a little more space, but in the end, it went like this. After the SC came out, we didn't realize we had a problem, and we stayed out missing the opportunity to make a free pit stop. In the end, we made a good comeback, too bad for the missed podium. I think it was one of those days a bit like that. The comeback was good since we were last. The car wasn't bad; we had some damage here and there; I damaged the bottom at the beginning, but the car was fast even though you can't make comparisons because I was there fighting. It was fun, maybe even more than when you keep the same position from the first to the last lap, but it's clearly not the result that the team and the car deserved today. I think it was clear that we could have finished higher; there's no need to discuss it, but now we arrived fourth. There are a couple of things we need to improve, and we can work on, but overall, we know we are strong; we have a competitive car. As mentioned, we had a bit of bad luck at the start, then the SC, and we pitted when the others were at their best; that's how it went...".

The Mercedes team returned to head down to work in the factory. For ten days, 24 hours a day, the lights in the 60.000-square-meter workshop 112 km northwest of London stayed on. Eight men directed emergency interventions on their cars that had returned home mortified from Monte Carlo: uncontrollable on the softest tires, unmanageable, or rather hostile. Suddenly not competitive, they who had dominated undisturbed for three seasons, while the Ferraris raced ahead. They didn't sleep on it at Brackley. The humiliation suffered in the Principality by the two cars from Maranello, which have been continuous and performing on every track since the beginning of the World Championship, transformed the self-sufficiency and perhaps the presumption of the Anglo-German team into industrious humility. Ten feverish days in the sheds, trying head down for 24 hours a day to simulate aerodynamics, mechanics, setup, tires, and the driving of Hamilton and Bottas. Ten days later, Lewis and Valtteri conquer Montreal. Certainly, also thanks to the bad luck that struck Vettel at the start with the front wing damaged by Verstappen's intemperate overtaking, perhaps repaired too late when there was the opportunity right away with the Safety car after the incident between Sainz and Massa. The team principal of Ferrari, Maurizio Arrivabene, says:
"Unfortunately, our race was compromised right from the start with damage to Seb's car, preventing him from expressing his full potential. Initially, from our data, this damage didn't seem too severe. Only in the following laps did the wing give way, causing further damage to the turning vanes and the car's floor. In Maranello, we will conduct a detailed analysis of the race, making the most of the information gathered and preparing for the next appointment in Baku".
Seb's Gina was still impressive even in such a condition, rising from hell to the fourth position, demonstrating once again its competitiveness. Can the same be said for Lewis and Valtteri's cars? The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, doesn't claim a miracle. After attributing the difficulties to the pre-season tests with Pirelli (with them entrusting them to Pascal Wehrlein, while Ferrari used the regular drivers), the team principal describes their recovery process:
"After Monaco, we identified fairly quickly the reasons why we weren't competitive. We went back to the tests and reviewed the entire weekend. A group of engineers dedicated themselves to this analysis, a real marathon at the simulator in all areas, including the suspension".
No new components, there wouldn't be time.
"Lewis confirmed to us that he finally has good traction, which improved session after session, but Valtteri didn't have the same feedback. There are still question marks; it's better to wait. We didn't get down after Monaco, nor do we want to get carried away after Montreal, saying that all the problems have been solved. We will understand more in Baku, where an important check awaits us".
Another race on the Caspian Sea's oil, a noir affair.