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#942 2016 Canadian Grand Prix

2023-01-16 00:00

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#2016, Fulvio Conti,

#942 2016 Canadian Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel is not at ease. On the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix, the seventh event of the F1 World Championship scheduled for Sunday, June 12,

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Sebastian Vettel is not at ease. On the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix, the seventh event of the F1 World Championship scheduled for Sunday, June 12, 2016, the Ferrari driver anticipates a challenging race. It's hard to blame him, considering that the circuit named in 1982 after Gilles Villeneuve is located on the perimeter roads of the artificial island of Notre Dame. It combines sections specifically designed for racing with stretches intended for regular traffic. Compared to the preceding races, the Canadian leg poses a real challenge in terms of power unit.

 

"I like the circuit, and returning to Montreal is always very nice. It's one of those old-style tracks: the walls are close, you have to brake sharply, and the chicanes require sudden changes of direction. Calculating the braking point will be crucial. It's a very demanding test for a driver, but it is also for the car, brakes, and tires because there's a significant deceleration during braking, followed by acceleration again. So it will be really important to have good traction as well. We hope to be ready to withstand all the demands".

 

Two tokens. Not to grab a double espresso and wake up properly after discovering that in Barcelona and Monte Carlo, not only Mercedes but also Red Bull performed better, but to understand if the dream of the championship, strongly desired and almost imposed by Ferrari's president, Sergio Marchionne, is still possible. The Ferrari spent two development tokens on the new turbo with an attached compressor that will be introduced in Canada. In a Grand Prix where the Maranello team has high hopes and which, more than ever, represents a decisive turning point for the season (the Honda, supplying engines to McLaren, also introduces a new turbo in this Grand Prix: this modification also requires two tokens. The British team will have a new type of fuel from ExxonMobil from this race). Although the chances might be ample in a very long championship, there is no doubt that this seventh championship event is a sort of dividing line, as Vettel himself admits, eager to shout to the world:

 

"That we are better than Red Bull, we have the right speed to beat both Ricciardo and Verstappen, and to specify that we can still fight with Mercedes, especially on this track. On paper, they remain favorites, but races are not played on paper; they are run on the track, and we have no intention of giving up".

 

The evolution presented in Montreal, at the circuit dedicated to the former Ferrari driver Gilles Villeneuve, only involves the turbo and compressor, while Ferrari denies the presence of a new rear suspension, which could improve braking performance, very useful in Montreal where braking points are crucial. It's a race where traction is essential, and in Bahrain, a similar track, the red car felt comfortable. The hope is that history repeats itself, and Ricciardo's threats, now convinced he can compete for the championship title, turn out to be empty.

 

"Hoping that the team doesn't make me lose another 12 seconds in the pits for a tire change".

 

And confident that his car is superior to Ferrari:

 

"We are the second force. Last year, we had a great race here, unfortunately conditioned by the poor result in qualifying. But this time, if we start well, we can really have fun".

 

Considering the uncertainty of the cold, with a temperature that no one expected to be so low, 11 °C, which could affect tire performance. As variable as the battle between Rosberg and Hamilton, who don't even look at each other in the paddock. They have the best car, but with their war, they could ruin everything, attracting more curses from Mercedes. On Friday, June 10, 2016, Lewis Hamilton is the protagonist of the first day of free practice for the Canadian Grand Prix. 

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The reigning World Champion is the fastest driver in both sessions, setting the best time during the afternoon practice session. The British Mercedes driver is also the best in terms of race pace, proving to be the man to beat for this weekend at the Montreal circuit. Behind him, however, there is an excellent Sebastian Vettel, who with the Pirelli Ultrasoft tires comes very close to the time of the British-Caribbean driver. But above all, he is faster than Nico Rosberg. The German on a flying lap does not go beyond 1'14"738, paying 0.5 seconds to his teammate. But even in the simulation of the race with the various long runs, the leader of the World Championship is behind Hamilton and Vettel. Of course, the results on Friday are always to be taken with caution, but the work done by the Ferrari team that has brought a new power unit with an upgraded turbo seems to be yielding results. On Saturday, in qualifying, there will be further verification. If Vettel can stay ahead of Rosberg or at least catch the second row, on Sunday, in the race, we could see the four-time World Champion fight for a place on the podium.

 

"I'm not entirely happy with the car's balance, so we'll have to work and improve, but overall, all the parts brought here seem to be working well. I look at whoever is in front of me: today, there's only one Mercedes; I hope on Saturday there's no one".

 

Kimi Raikkonen, on the other hand, faced some difficulties, only achieving the eighth-best time, trailing Lewis Hamilton by one second and his teammate by 0.8 seconds.

 

"The track was okay, but I struggled to get the car in the conditions I wanted. It was a challenging day in terms of outright pace, but if we work well for tomorrow, we can improve".

 

Before the Finn, the two Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo secured the fourth and fifth times, separated by only 0.12 seconds. Exactly one second behind was Valtteri Bottas with Williams, ahead of Jenson Button, who replaced the power unit on his McLaren after the first session. Closing out the top ten on Friday were the Force India of Nico Hulkenberg and the Toro Rosso of Carlos Sainz Jr. Fernando Alonso claimed the eleventh spot with the other McLaren, preceding Sergio Perez (Force India) and Felipe Massa, who managed to return to the track after his mechanics' significant efforts following the morning incident that heavily damaged the rear of his Williams.

 

"Promising".

 

This is the judgment of a satisfied Sebastian Vettel after this first Canadian approach, finishing second between the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, who was also very fast in the first session with harder compound tires, and Nico Rosberg. Vettel is confident, a sign that the two development tokens have been well spent and that the new turbocharger has brought relief and benefits.

 

"I think the picture is realistic, that the classification at the end of the second session tells the truth because I don't think our rivals can carry much more fuel than us. Mercedes continues to be intimidating, while I don't pay attention to Red Bull; it's behind. Yes, Verstappen is close to me, Ricciardo is less of a concern, but my feelings, seeing the car's response, are good. There's room for improvement; we haven't found the right setup yet, but we're there, fighting for victory. The important thing is not to make mistakes in qualifying, not to have the problems of last year".

 

When Vettel suffered a lethal power drop, forcing him to start from the back of the grid. 

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The German, in the first two rows, with a good start, can hope for a comeback, crucial in a race that closely resembles a last chance, considering that Ferrari, in pursuit of its championship aspirations, can no longer afford mistakes. One should not believe what the usual disenchanted Raikkonen claims. For him, it's not a decisive test; he assigns points like the others. And perhaps, in a sense, he is right. Straightening out the season is perhaps too challenging for him, as he finished eighth. Sebastian Vettel, on the other hand, is determined, as he is only 0.257 seconds behind Hamilton and has outpaced Nico Rosberg by 0.269 seconds. He feels comfortable on a warmer track, above 40 °C, a result of a temperature that finally reaches around 20 °C in a not-so-summery Canada. The only regret is the rain forecasted for Sunday, which could change everything. Ferrari asks the weather for mercy and at the same time hopes that certain rumors circulating, speaking of a possible departure of the technical director, James Allison, are not true. The chief is already working on next year's car; in Monte Carlo, they saw him talking to McLaren personnel, and in Montreal, there are rumors that Renault has offered him a five-year deal. His departure would be a significant problem. Allison speaks Italian well, swears to feel enchanted in Maranello, but English sources claim that after his wife's death, he would like to return to the UK to be closer to his children. And even in Maranello, they understand that this is plausible. Meanwhile, on Saturday, June 11, 2016, the third and final free practice session gives hope to Ferrari, as Sebastian Vettel is the fastest of all. The German driver closes in on the Mercedes, clocking 1'13"919. Sebastian Vettel precedes Max Verstappen with Red Bull by almost 0.2 seconds, Nico Rosberg's Mercedes by 0.3 seconds, and Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari, and Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes by about 0.4 seconds. Hamilton had been the fastest in Friday's free practice. Daniel Ricciardo, also on Red Bull, takes the sixth time, with a 0.5-second gap. The sky is threatening in Montreal, where rain falls in the last 20 minutes. 12 minutes before the end, the red flag was displayed for Kevin Magnussen's crash, ending against the barriers, with the track now dry. 

 

Shortly after, it was decided to permanently close the session. Due to the morning incident and the impossibility of repairing the car, Kevin Magnussen in the Renault does not participate in the qualifications. At the beginning of the qualifying sessions, the weather is better than in the last free practice, given the absence of rain. In the first phase, however, to avoid the possible arrival of precipitation, even the most competitive drivers decide to take to the track. Right at the beginning of the session, there is a misunderstanding between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton, which also penalizes Nico Rosberg. The battle between Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull is tight throughout the session. But Nico Rosberg prevails, leading the fellow German Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo. The last part of the session is characterized by the arrival of rain: Jolyon Palmer brushes against a wall, while Rio Haryanto crashes into a barrier, damaging the car. The two Manor drivers, the two Sauber drivers (with Pascal Wehrlein ahead of the Swiss team duo), and Jolyon Palmer are eliminated. In the second session, the pattern of the first one is partly repeated, with almost all drivers taking to the track immediately to avoid the rain becoming too strong and compromising the stability of the cars. After a few minutes from the start of the session, Carlos Sainz Jr. hits the wall at the exit of the last chicane: Q2 is interrupted to remove the debris from the car. The superiority of Mercedes persists in this session, but the fight for the top positions also involves Williams. In the last moments of the session, the battle for access to the decisive phase intensifies. Jenson Button is defeated at the last moment by Fernando Alonso. Not passing to Q3, in addition to the British driver, are also Sergio Pérez, Daniil Kvyat, and the two Haas drivers, as well as Sainz Jr.. Lewis Hamilton sets the best time of the session. In Q3, Lewis Hamilton makes a mistake in his first flying lap and is forced to postpone the search for time. In reality, all drivers set non-significant times in the first flying lap, trying two laps to warm up the tires. Lewis Hamilton takes the lead, followed by Nico Rosberg just a few milliseconds behind. Sebastian Vettel is third, before being overtaken by Max Verstappen. 

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In the second attempt, however, the German improves and returns to third place. The top positions remain the same until the end of the session, with Lewis Hamilton securing pole position number 53 in his career, the 59th for Mercedes as a constructor. At the end of the qualifications, Carlos Sainz Jr. is forced to replace the gearbox, resulting in a penalty and a loss of five positions on the starting grid. On the Montreal circuit, Lewis Hamilton secures pole position with a superb time of 1'12"812, narrowly ahead of his teammate Nico Rosberg, completing a front row monopolized by the Anglo-German team. 

 

Sebastian Vettel is third, leaving behind the Red Bulls of Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Dutchman Max Verstappen, as well as the second Ferrari of Finn Kimi Raikkonen. Sebastian Vettel is not entirely satisfied with his performance, to the point of apologizing in Italian over the team radio, heard by the entire F1 world.

 

"On the eve, I believed that the pole position was possible, and as a driver, you always think you can do more. I'm happy with my first qualifying lap, but in the second one, I lost time coming out of turn ten; maybe I pushed too early and lost traction on the straight. I lost some precious time, not two tenths, but maybe half a tenth, so I could have done a bit better. Overall, the lap felt good, but as a driver, you know that here you can always do a bit more. I missed it by a little (the pole, editor's note), I hope it goes better tomorrow. The car was great, we improved after last night's work, and I shaved the wall of champions. Let's see how it goes tomorrow. We are ready".

 

Scusàmi (Sorry), with the accent on the a. Vettel says this on the radio, addressing his team, asking for forgiveness.

 

"Why I wasn't perfect, and here we could have achieved the pole. You can always improve; I pushed like crazy, but I paid a high price for a mistake at the hairpin, turn 10, where I lost some traction. I was fast, but not fast enough".

 

He seeks mercy, but in reality, he was great, as he defines his car, he displayed a crazy lap, slightly inferior to the Mercedes, given that Hamilton, the pole man, was ahead by only 0.178 seconds (the closest advantage over Ferrari this season from the one starting at the front), and Rosberg, the second-placed, by 0.116 seconds. It's true, a small mistake may have spoiled Saturday's plans, but it doesn't take away optimism for the race.

 

"Because the new things are working well, the new turbo has improved our speed, we can compete until the end, we can win. We'll have to consider the weather; we don't know if it will rain during the race or not, and in that case, everything could change, but my feelings are excellent. I have a great Ferrari in my hands; the guys in the factory have worked at their best".

 

They have certainly done the same for Raikkonen, who represents the other half of the Ferrari team, the disappointed half.

 

"You can't be happy with a sixth time; I had problems entering the corner, I exited too slowly, especially at the hairpin, turn 10, and this penalized me a lot on the straight. On Friday, I struggled in almost every part of the circuit; I wasn't satisfied with many areas, the car has improved, but I'm still struggling. Plus, in my best lap, I encountered some traffic".

 

He exempts himself from the Ferrari response, which had to show in Canada that it was faster than at least Red Bull. Vettel was, Raikkonen wasn't, beaten by both Ricciardo and Verstappen, and he took almost 0.6 seconds from his teammate. Kimi risks leaving his teammate alone in the battle against Mercedes, and it's a pity because this time the fight doesn't seem uneven. 

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Hamilton has proven to be the usual lord of Canada: on this track, he obtained the first victory of his career, has already stood on the podium's highest step four times, and can now boast five poles out of the 53 obtained in his long career as a protagonist. Yet, he is not radiant:

 

"I have to be honest; I made several mistakes, I didn't have yesterday's pace; it's certainly not one of my most exhilarating poles. Considering how I went, I'm surprised to be in front, as well as very happy because with a good start, I can break away and get back into the race for the World Championship".

 

However, he knows that the battle, with Rosberg, dissatisfied with the balance, but also with Vettel, will be tough; in Montreal, you can overtake anywhere. The German Ferrari dreams:

 

"I want to have fun".

 

And not apologize to anyone anymore. On Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the start of the Canadian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel overtakes both Mercedes drivers and takes the lead. Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg attacks Lewis Hamilton but ends up in the escape route at the first chicane, losing positions to several cars and finding himself out of the points zone. Behind the Ferrari driver, the reigning world champion, followed by Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Kimi Räikkönen, Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa, and Fernando Alonso, holds his ground. Vettel, who builds a good advantage over Hamilton in the first lap, goes long into the last braking zone and is closed in by the British driver. Nico Rosberg starts his comeback, passing Alonso and securing the ninth position behind Nico Hülkenberg. On the tenth lap, Jenson Button retires with a fire on his McLaren, prompting a brief Virtual Safety Car period. On the eleventh lap, both Vettel and Räikkönen make their first pit stops, switching to Supersoft tires. The German rejoins the track in fourth place, behind the two Red Bulls. After several unsuccessful attempts, Sebastian Vettel overtakes Daniel Ricciardo during the 17th lap. During the 18th lap, he also passes the other Red Bull of Verstappen, moving up to second place. Verstappen pits on the 20th lap, followed by his teammate a lap later. In the following laps, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton also pit, with Hamilton opting for the use of Soft tires. Sebastian Vettel thus takes the lead, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Kimi Räikkönen, Daniel Ricciardo, and Valtteri Bottas. Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg, after passing Sergio Pérez, is in seventh place. On the 34th lap, Kimi Räikkönen, struggling with tires, makes his second pit stop. Two laps later, a mistake by Ricciardo at the last chicane allows Bottas to move up to fourth place.

 

Felipe Massa retires on the 37th lap, while Sebastian Vettel stops for the second time and switches to Soft tires. Lewis Hamilton returns to the lead, with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen in pursuit. On the 38th lap, Rosberg passes Ricciardo, who returns to the pits, where a small delay by the mechanics costs the Australian about a second. The Mercedes driver is fifth, behind Bottas. On the 46th lap, as Sebastian Vettel closes in on the race leader, Max Verstappen makes his second pit stop, rejoining the race in fifth place. Rosberg is forced to make a second tire change on the 51st lap due to a puncture. Upon rejoining the track, the German driver is only seventh. Between the 54th and 57th laps, Nico Rosberg passes first Daniel Ricciardo and then Kimi Räikkönen. Sebastian Vettel, attempting to catch up with Lewis Hamilton, makes some driving mistakes and cannot close the gap. In the final laps, Rosberg attacks Verstappen, but the Red Bull driver holds on until the penultimate lap when he is passed by the German at the last chicane. However, Rosberg loses control of the car, remaining behind Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton wins the Canadian Grand Prix, using a one-stop strategy compared to the two stops by Sebastian Vettel. Valtteri Bottas finishes third, followed by Max Verstappen, Nico Rosberg, Kimi Räikkönen, Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz Jr., and Sergio Perez. It's a masterpiece race for Lewis Hamilton, winning a spectacular Canadian Grand Prix, outsmarting the equally fantastic Sebastian Vettel, who is relegated to second place by a bold race strategy. 

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Valtteri Bottas is third, and a skillful Max Verstappen finishes fourth, successfully holding off a charging Nico Rosberg. The fantastic reference to Vettel is due to his exceptional start: from third, he quickly took the lead, starting a race as a true leader until he attempted the gamble of two pit stops, effectively giving Hamilton a clear path. It's referred to as a bold strategy: true, it's easy to say now, but in F1 (and racing in general), the rule always stands that those in front play defense, while those behind attack. But not this time: Ferrari took the gamble when it honestly wasn't necessary, handing the race to Hamilton. Moreover, at that moment, Vettel was not only leading but was also the fastest driver on the track (let's remember that). Conversely, at the start, Hamilton caused yet another disaster, almost standing still and letting his competitors pass. Then, the usual scene at the first corner: a spin (quite violent) between the two Mercedes, with Rosberg getting the worst of it and dropping to the back, while Hamilton launches his pursuit of Vettel. A sad spectacle for Lewis, who, however, managed to redeem himself with qualifying-paced laps on old tires towards the end.

 

"I dance like a butterfly, sting like a bee". 

 

And he drives perfectly, so well that one can forgive him for quoting the great idol Ali, to whom he dedicates this umpteenth Canadian triumph. Hamilton has accomplished a true feat, beyond his fifth victory in Montreal, a track he loves and where he reaffirms himself as the undisputed king. A superb performance, because it's not easy to drive for 46 laps on the same tires, although he gives credit to Pirelli.

 

"Perhaps thanks to the low temperatures, they wore very little".

 

It's not easy to come up with a tactic that outsmarts all rivals, especially the disappointed Ferrari of the unleashed Vettel and the subdued teammate Rosberg. Hamilton has outperformed and in comparison, it's child's play. Once out of the car, he dances like Ali and mimics some boxing moves, just to let the cameras and the world know that the seal can only have one recipient. Yet, in his triumph, there's also a clear sensation: that he has completely reopened the fight in the World Championship. He is now only 9 points behind Rosberg with fourteen races still on the calendar, and on a psychological level, he may have even surpassed his rival, once again lost in his eternal loser nightmares, as shown both at the start (Hamilton had a terrible start, but he didn't shine either, and in the corner, he was pushed onto the grass by his teammate) and at the end when, trying to overtake Verstappen and fiercely gain a fourth place, he dared too much, spun, and almost lost ten valuable points. Hamilton, on the other hand, with his usual arrogant look, seems to have only certainties. He admits:

 

"Today I had another very bad start, probably I had a clutch overheating, while Seb and Nico started well. The team had told us at the beginning how many laps we could go, and what could we do. In the race, though, even with the ultrasoft, I wasn't very sure because I had graining when I was behind Seb, and I was a bit nervous. I could have gone further with the ultrasoft, but we stopped because we were sure that the soft would last a lot. It was beautiful; I didn't push much at the beginning because I had to manage them. I was aware that those behind us were pushing, so I enjoyed this battle. We exchanged fast laps repeatedly with Sebastian; it was very nice to see how fast they were today; they really gave us a hard time. The best strategy was one stop: it was a fantastic job by the team. I didn't expect Vettel to make that strategy; we also planned two stops, but after the VSC, we decided to change. They told me to stay out, and I liked the battle with Ferrari; it was really cool. I think I managed the tires well today; I didn't lock or damage them, no excessive wear. The balance was perfect, and the car was really fantastic to drive. (on his start) My start wasn't great. Nico and I were again too close. For once, I would like to have a clean release (of the clutch), but something keeps not working. Honestly, the contact was totally unintentional; we both braked very late in the turn. I tried not to lose ground; he tried to gain it. We both entered, and we touched. I have to review the replays, but I think neither of us did anything intentional, even though we lost potential points for the team. Overheated clutch and low torque. When I released the clutch, I followed the procedure exactly as required, so I didn't make any mistakes. Mercedes is investigating to understand why. It's not the first time it happens; we haven't figured it out yet, and it's something we absolutely need to work on. Anyway, I'm relieved that it's not due to my mistake, but this clutch always puts us in difficulty".

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Meanwhile, Rosberg complains:

 

"Well, I was very angry at the moment. I tried in Barcelona on the outside, but it didn't work here. He was very aggressive, almost pushed me out. I lost many positions, but that's racing. Next time, I have to make sure I'm the one ahead, and he's the one going out. (on the first laps) So at the moment, I was very angry. I fought to come back, I was about to go on the podium, but then I got a puncture. And that was another annoyance. I tried again to come back, but in the end, I was out of fuel. It was a fight on the edge with Max. Okay, it's racing, but what he was doing was very on the edge, but he did well. But I couldn't pass him. I had many alarms in the car, from the fuel that wouldn't let me finish the race, to the brakes being too hot, to the car being too hot. But that's how it is; you have to manage everything".

 

And Bottas is ecstatic on the podium:

 

"I am very satisfied with today's race. As a team, it was a very competitive race for us. The pit stops were excellent, perfect timing for the stop; the car gave me great feelings. I am very happy to be here on the podium; I want to thank Williams for the fantastic job and also thank the Montreal audience. We always knew this would be a good track for our car. It wasn't an easy day. I have to thank the team for the decision of the one-stop strategy, and also for the pit stop, once again perfect and incredibly fast as it has been all season. Today's result repays us for the work done; for now, we are satisfied, but we have to continue like this".

 

On the other hand, there is enormous disappointment for Ferrari because this time, thanks to the superb start and fantastic race by Vettel, they truly believed in victory. Instead, the Canadian nightmare, where they haven't won in twelve years, second only to the Monaco taboo, materialized once again, forcing the German to smile for a second place, talk about a great weekend, an excellent car but not about success, which would have been the first of the season and would have been crucial psychologically. No chance. Hamilton is ahead, and Vettel can only be content with beating a subdued Rosberg, the inconsistent teammate Raikkonen, and the diminished Red Bulls. He smiles nonetheless, although the movement of his lips seems a bit forced, while the team boss Arrivabene is sobbing without brakes, someone who never minces words in the heat of the moment. Is one pit stop like Hamilton or two better?

 

"With hindsight, the two-stop strategy proved to be a mistake. We got the tactics wrong; the best strategy is always the one that leads to victory".

 

Mercedes took a bold approach by keeping Hamilton on the same set of tires for 46 laps, risking defeat by Vettel, especially after a disastrous start. Vettel had a lightning-fast start, but it ultimately translated into nothing more than a second-place finish. In light of the performance of the resurgent Ferrari and a somewhat stuttering Mercedes, this outcome could be considered truly cursed, according to Arrivabene.

 

"We tried, following our instincts and aligning with our computer data. We were convinced that two pit stops were necessary, but unfortunately, it didn't work out".

 

Although it's fair to note that these pit stops were exceptionally quick - Vettel spent just 2.4 seconds in the second one, a negligible amount compared to Red Bull's Ricciardo. However, the fleeting glory does not interest the team principal, who is eager to give the demanding president Marchionne the first victory of the season.

 

"Satisfied with second place? Never. We can't be; we are Ferrari. We should always aim for victory".

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With Vettel, of course, who observed with interest the storm unfolding in front of him, he finished sixth. Nothing changed, so his words from Saturday, when he admitted:

 

“How can one be happy with a sixth place?”

 

Vettel, however, may be content, fully absolving the team, despite acknowledging that the strategy might have been wrong.

 

"Our weekend was great; we were very fast. They were too. I struggled a bit to brake in the early laps. Perhaps we could have opted for a different tactic, but it's never easy to seize the right moment and make the right decision. I gave it my all; the tires made it a bit challenging. We see that the car has good potential. I enjoyed this race, had fun, and it gives me great hope for the future. There is enormous pressure on Ferrari, born out of the great passion of the Italians. I understand the desire for victories, but I believe they will come sooner or later. We are not out of this championship; in Canada, we realized that we can compete. I'm happy about the updates to the car and the progress; there has been a step forward, and that motivates us not to give up".

 

In the heat of the moment, as mentioned, Maurizio Arrivabene, the head of the Ferrari team, is very upset.

 

"We got the strategy wrong; the one that makes you win is the right one. We made two pit stops and finished second".

 

The team principal speaks of a tactical error, with the clarification that it's easy to say in hindsight, but it's still a mistake. A few hours later, Arrivabene is less upset and more inclined to look at the positive aspects, anticipating the next race in Baku, a Grand Prix that should erase the disappointment in Montreal and, more generally, look toward the future. Vettel drove superbly, and Arrivabene emphasizes this.

 

"The start was monstrous, one of the most effective I've ever seen. The car showed encouraging progress. It doesn't make sense, at least until we return to victory, to talk about a single area, but I think the new turbocharger has allowed us to match Mercedes at least in terms of the power unit and top speed. I'm sorry we didn't win this Grand Prix; Vettel deserved it, but with a clearer mind, I'm not even so convinced anymore that our strategy was wrong. Exploiting Button's retirement and the virtual safety car, we only advanced the pit stop by a few laps, but it was inevitable that we had to make two pit stops. From the rumors we heard in the paddock, all teams were supposed to behave that way. More than anger at our tactics, I can recognize the surprise at Hamilton, who managed to do forty-six laps on the same tires. A lot. And without losing performance".

 

The evidence that once again Mercedes, especially when driven by the unleashed Englishman (Rosberg seems to have returned to the shadows, lost in his nightmares as the eternal loser), knows how to amaze and is almost unbeatable. However, Ferrari does not want to give up. Baku, the next Grand Prix, is new on the calendar and is an unknown for everyone. Teams arrive with a lot of simulator testing, but without having the certain track data. There is a lot of emphasis on the long straights, but it is known that in other points, it's worse than Monaco, where overtaking is impossible, and where, at turn 8, if you miss the trajectory, you risk hitting the castle tower. Arrivabene urges Vettel.

 

"He has shown that he is back in great form".

 

And once again, he is lenient in commenting on Raikkonen's disappointing performance.

 

"He had many problems, and in the end, we told him to slow down because he had consumed too much fuel".

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The fact remains that the Finn in the crucial battle practically does not exist; he was beaten even by Verstappen's diminished Red Bull and by Rosberg, who in Canada struggled with a slow start, a run on the grass at the first corner (wheel to wheel, Hamilton never gives discounts), a punctured tire, a spin in the overtaking attempt at Verstappen. Everything happened to him, but Raikkonen finished behind him. Vettel, on the other hand, had the sacred fire within and does not want to extinguish it. In Montreal, he swears he had fun.

 

"Because the Ferrari was responding well".

 

He defends the team.

 

"Even if we had made a mistake in strategy, I work with the best strategists in the paddock".

 

And he swears to Hamilton a tough fight until the last race.

 

"We will never give up, and I don't see why we should, considering that in Canada, the car was fantastic. The comeback is difficult, but the World Championship is long. And I can only think positively. Inviting the fans to do the same".

 

Perhaps the one who made the biggest mistake of all was Maurizio Arrivabene. Not in approving the strategy devised by Inaki Rueda, the strategy manager, with his team divided between Montreal and Maranello, where all data is collected and studied, collective work involving many engineers, including another prominent figure like Jock Clear and Vettel's car chief. Still, in criticizing the two stops made by the German, effectively attributing the defeat to Hamilton. He was more reckless, admitting that he was wrong, regretting it, and a few hours later, after reviewing the data in Ferrari's possession, apologized to the team's guys, who had decided to change the tires twice before the race. He understood that was the fastest way to make Vettel complete the Grand Prix. The next day, after studying both their performance and Mercedes', the Maranello team has no doubts: there was no other way, Vettel had to stop twice, especially after making the first stop at the end of lap 11 out of the 70 planned, a choice that the driver reiterated to share:

 

"Because at that moment, we were losing speed, and with the new tires, I knew I could start flying again".

 

After the first pit stop, there could only be a second one, otherwise the tires would degrade definitively, and there would be a significant loss of performance in the final laps. Moreover, the history of F1, even just thinking about Ferrari, tells of spectacular successes or failures due to tactics: the miracle of the four pit stops made by Schumacher in 2004 at Magny-Cours or, on the contrary, the disastrous strategy on Alonso's car in 2010 in Abu Dhabi, with the Spaniard unable to pass Petrov and marking the wrong driver with Ferrari seeing the title slipping away at the last moment and tactical Chris Dyer losing his job. You can win or perish, but you must never forget everything else, starting with the potential of the car. With the Ferrari of 2004, Schumacher would have won even with five pit stops, as he was much faster, while in Abu Dhabi that season, overtaking was impossible, and no one should have taken such a gamble. Reasonings that, after the disappointment, have lingered in the minds of the engineers at Maranello for a long time. In defense of the latter, two possible scenarios have been hypothesized, which would have condemned Ferrari anyway. In the first case, one stop each, and Vettel ahead, the magic word 'undercut' would have laid the German low, with Hamilton chasing and anticipating his pit stop by a lap, forcing the rival to take action the next lap. Since Mercedes has an undeniable advantage in the pit exit, warming up the tire first, when Vettel re-enters the track, he is behind the Englishman. Another hypothesis, the German who has already stopped, does not return, and is ahead of Hamilton. Since he has an advantage of 1.3 seconds and, in the considered case, must necessarily have the same tires as the Mercedes driver, he does not have the strength to resist, and in the last laps, when the gap is minimal, he will witness the overtaking on the track. Ferrari, with its data, understood that in any case, victory was not possible. But not because of the tactic, because they are almost as fast as them, but not quite like them.


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