Proving that the second place in Monte Carlo was not an isolated exploit is the goal of Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, who arrive in Canada where the Formula 1 circus stops on Sunday, characterized so far by the supremacy of Red Bull and McLaren.
"The second third of the season begins, and the situation in the standings is certainly not favorable. It's true that many Grand Prix races are still ahead, but it's clear that we need to try to make a turnaround in terms of points in this championship. Let's try to start immediately on a track named after one of the most beloved Ferrari drivers, Gilles Villeneuve".
The Spaniard has found the team eager to prove in Montreal that what happened in Monte Carlo was not a fluke and that there are premises for it to happen again. Alonso, who will conclude his career with the Maranello team after the recent extension until 2016, explains the reasons that make him confident.
"Despite having very fast sections, the Canadian circuit suits cars that handle the curbs well without getting too upset and that can have good traction coming out of slow corners, characteristics that are part of the strengths of the 150th Italia. Here, aerodynamic efficiency, currently our Achilles' heel, is less relevant, so we think we can have more chances to fight for the top positions. Brakes are also a crucial element on this circuit: we'll have to work well during the free practices to understand the right level of cooling to avoid the risk of struggling in the race".
Another important aspect that will play a role is the tires and therefore the strategy.
"Even in Montreal, we will have the two softest tires prepared by Pirelli, the Soft and the Supersoft. Last year, this was one of the few races where we saw more pit stops than the traditional single stop because tire degradation is quite high. Although Pirelli tires are different from Bridgestone, I don't think we'll see anyone managing to go all the way with just one tire change, as happened in Monaco. Strategy? As we've seen this year, it will be important to identify the right time to make the pit stop so as not to lose too much time compared to the direct opponent".
Then the Spaniard focuses on a novelty that will characterize the race.
"For the first time this year, we will have two points where on Sunday it will be possible to use the DRS (rear wing mobile, editor): the first after the turn of turn 10, the second on the straight of the pit lane. And I'm curious to see what will happen: on paper, whoever managed to overtake already in the first zone will then have a nice advantage because they can reuse the mobile wing even on the main straight, although they are already ahead of the direct opponent".
In 2010, Alonso finished the Canadian Grand Prix in third place.
"Last year, I managed to get on the podium, but we left Montreal with the clear feeling of deserving more than the final third place. There were a couple of unfavorable incidents that prevented us from seizing the victory that was within our reach. Also in Monaco, ten days ago, we had the chance to win, and it would be nice to succeed here because we have been missing the victory for too long now. It will be very difficult because I expect McLaren and Red Bull to be very strong, but we must not take anything for granted".
Coming off an eleventh place and two retirements (Spain and Monaco), Felipe Massa also wants to take advantage of Ferrari's improvements and finally finish a race with a smile. Will the Canadian Grand Prix be the right opportunity? The Brazilian hopes so:
"I hope the black streak ends in Montreal; we don't give up. In the last period, I rested, but I also dedicated time to training, and I always kept in touch with the team to know the latest developments of the 150th Italia. Everyone in Maranello is working hard to try to improve the car to allow Alonso and myself to be competitive. In the last races, we have seen that it is possible to fight for the top positions, even though I have not collected any points".
Massa explains:
"In the past, when we arrived in Canada, the course of the championship was already quite outlined. Now, however, the calendar has been extended, and nothing can be taken for granted. The circuit is not one of my favorites, but the city is very beautiful, the people are very welcoming and passionate about Formula 1, with many Ferrari fans always in the stands. I have never achieved great results here; the maximum was the fourth place in 2005. In 2008, I was having a good race, but I had a refueling problem, then I managed to climb back from the bottom to the fifth place. I would like to improve my record here; a podium would be fantastic".
And he continues:
"A car that works well on the curbs is needed here, with good traction at the exit of the slow corners, but, being a fast track, you also need good top speed, so it's not so easy for drivers and engineers to find the right level of aerodynamic load. In addition, the conditions of the asphalt change quickly, starting from an almost total lack of grip in the first Friday morning practices".
In the World Championship, Vettel and Red Bull have now taken a considerable lead, but Massa continues to believe that the games can be reopened:
"We will certainly not give up. Sebastian is having an exceptional season: he has won five out of six races, and in the sixth, he came second! He and his team are very strong, but we try to face the championship race by race. Everyone is pushing to the maximum to make this car competitive; we want to fight until the end of the season".
Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone, after learning about the dissatisfaction of the F1 teams, asks to review the Formula 1 calendar, canceling the Bahrain Grand Prix and reinstating the race in India on October 30. FIA President Jean Todt says, in a letter sent to FOTA, that he is willing to address any problems and difficulties constructively.
"I have listened to the last-minute objections, and for this reason, we have asked the commercial rights holder to submit a new proposal to the FIA World Council".
Todt, in a few words, makes it clear that the blame for the current situation is not on the FIA but on Ecclestone, who did not resolve the situation satisfactorily before last week's meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.
"The Formula 1 World Championship is governed by the Concorde Agreement, whose provisions replace those of the International Sporting Code (ISC). Under the Concorde Agreement, the responsibility for setting the calendar and presenting it to the FIA for approval lies exclusively with the holder of the commercial rights (Article 10 and Annex 9 of the Concorde Agreement). Consequently, it is the responsibility of the holder of the commercial rights to conduct all necessary analyses before submitting its calendar proposal to the World Council".
Todt also adds that the issue of the Bahrain Grand Prix is not a new problem, as it was already on the agenda on March 8. Furthermore, Todt says that the proposed calendar change presented by Ecclestone received the favorable vote of Stefano Domenicali, representative of the teams' commission. Todt concludes by hoping that a solution to the dispute can be reached promptly. On Thursday, June 9, 2011, on the eve of the Canadian Grand Prix, the current Formula 1 World Championship is discussed again. In Monte Carlo, the words expressed by Fernando Alonso after the race resembled a surrender. Perhaps he expressed himself poorly, or maybe he changed his mind because in Canada, the bellicose Spanish driver does not wave the white flag. Sebastian Vettel may be an extraterrestrial at the wheel of the Red Bull Racing spacecraft, but Ferrari and the Spaniard, on the eve of two favorable races, the all-throttle-and-brakes Montreal and the tortuous Valencia, still have a lot of fighting spirit.
"In Canada, we should be fast; we can scare Red Bull, we have the right chances to win, but precisely for this, beware of mistakes. 'Last resort' is a term I don't like, but maybe this time it's really appropriate. Let's say a decisive crossroad, maybe it's less harsh, even though the substance doesn't change".
It's now or never, Alonso knows it and doesn't shy away. It could be a summer of passion, of comeback, but only if Ferrari starts closing the gap right away. Montreal, a friendly track for the characteristics of the red car, is the ideal place.
"Aerodynamics is our weak point, but on this track, it's not so crucial. Here, you need a car that can handle the curbs, is reliable with brakes and gearbox, at high risk of breaking, defends well on slow corners, as there are not many high-speed ones, has a powerful engine like ours, to exploit the long straight, get help from the rear wing, and make the most overtakes".
His Ferrari meets these requirements. Plus, here, it should have the favored tires, the two softer compounds from Pirelli, tires that fit well on the car, unlike the hard ones that give it a truck-like pace.
"In Monaco, we already understood the difference between one type of tire and another. To make the hard ones work, to bring them to the right temperature, your car has to be glued to the ground, something that Red Bull, with its aerodynamics, does great, and we don't. In those conditions, there's nothing to be done; we pay more than a second per lap. With the soft ones, instead, we are almost on par; plus, I think they will degrade quickly, and there will be a flood of pit stops".
Emotions, a strategy that rhymes with a lottery, a brawl that could help Ferrari and penalize the invincible Red Bull army. The rest will be up to the driver.
"Victory excites me, and I haven't celebrated one for too long".
Not this year, and the wait is becoming unbearable. Montreal, the right opportunity. Otherwise, it's over.
To understand his opponent, you just have to translate his last name into Italian. Vettel in German means witch, and no one more than this elusive young man has bewitched current Formula 1. While Lewis Hamilton, to defend his pirate-like driving in Monte Carlo, compares himself to Gilles Villeneuve, immortal Canadian glory, or to Ayrton Senna, the unrepentant Sebastian Vettel is snatching up all the records of this world, at 23 years old he has invaded the statistics like not even that cannibal Michael Schumacher dared, and with his naive smile, not glamorous according to marketing experts but so captivating according to the circuits' people, he threatens to bring home the second consecutive world championship well in advance. Even in Montreal, where he has never won, the usual film is staged on the eve: Vettel against everyone, the hare and the hunters. So far, in five out of six races, the film has always ended in the same disarming way, the hare escapes, the hunters shoot in vain and can't even touch it. Maybe in Canada, it will be different; Vettel, perhaps out of superstition, takes it into account:
"Why aerodynamics matter less here, my Red Bull could encounter some difficulties, the tires will wear out easily, there will be many pit stops, a thousand unforeseen events, maybe something goes wrong".
Certainly, miracles can always be hoped for, and someone who seems to believe, at least in hindsight, is Hamilton, ready to consider the World Championship open again in case of his victory and a reduced gap from the leader (currently impressive, 58 points).
You can indulge in illusions, but beware when Vettel speaks a bit less diplomatically.
"Canada is a place I love; I really like the track. There's no reason why I can't win here".
As he has already done in Australia, Malaysia, Turkey, Spain, and Monte Carlo. There's no reason, given that he always acts like a fool, as he showed to those unfortunate ones he took around the circuit with an Infiniti Coupe, a task imposed by a Red Bull sponsor. He had to oblige, the precocious German did it with passion, bringing out the maximum from the car and making the hair stand on end for all the guests he took on board. After all, he doesn't know half measures. In the great book of Formula 1, he will be remembered not only as the youngest World Champion in history, the fastest from an age perspective to win a race, to achieve a pole position, to score points, to finish first even in the useless Friday practices but also as the fastest to pay a fine, a few minutes into his first track test, a forgotten speed limiter, an excess along the pit lane, a shiver-inducing infringement. Vettel never stops, and if the track is wet (so far in the dry in 2011, he had no problems, but the forecasts for Sunday speak of heavy rain in Montreal), maybe it's even worse, considering that the experienced Giorgio Ascanelli, who had him at Scuderia Toro Rosso, describes him as a true rocket on the water, more skilled than Ayrton Senna himself. He's someone for whom everything goes well; in Monaco, luck certainly helped him, and when he talks about his discomfort during the outbound air journey:
"I was in first class, but there was a catering strike; luckily, I had brought sandwiches from home; otherwise, I wouldn't have eaten".
Some of his rivals are starting to hope that finally, the wheel of fortune has started to turn. He must make a decisive U-turn, though, because so far, his Kinky Kylie (that's what he calls his car, as beautiful as Kylie Minogue's backside) has left nothing for the opponents. The son of a carpenter, a Beatles enthusiast, has even tired the betting organizers, who, tired of paying, now quote at very low levels (at 3) even the possibility of beating the record of records, thirteen Grand Prix wins in a season, held by Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel's idol at the beginning of his career, and the first (for having seen him in action in his karting track, in Kerpen) to have believed in him.
"That boy will become a Champion".
Michael said with a long eye. Indeed. He risks taking away all his unbeatable records. Prior to the event, Virgin Racing announces they will end their partnership with Wirth Research, the company responsible for designing and developing the team's racing cars. In order to cut costs, Wirth Research designs the cars exclusively using computational fluid dynamics, and unlike their competitors, Wirth does not utilize a wind tunnel. The approach is not successful as the team fails to qualify higher than 20th so far in the season, leading to the conclusion of the partnership. Virgin Racing's CEO Andy Webb, who aims to challenge for a podium position at the inaugural Russian Grand Prix, expresses that ending the partnership means that the team will take greater control of its own destiny. Wirth Research continues to develop the car until the end of the 2011 season, while Virgin Racing ups its own technical department under the control of former Renault Director of Engineering Pat Symonds. Several teams make major technical updates to their cars for the Grand Prix. McLaren and Ferrari alter the brake ducts on their cars, improving the cooling to manage the high brake temperatures encountered in Montreal. Ferrari and Mercedes revise their rear suspension layouts, while Red Bull brings a new front wing optimized for lower downforce. Renault and Williams bring new rear wings, which are designed specifically for low-downforce circuits such as Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the location of the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. On Friday, June 10, 2011, Nico Rosberg is the fastest driver in the first practice session, ahead of Alonso and Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher. Vettel causes the session to be suspended after crashing into the circuit's Wall of Champions on the last corner, heavily damaging his car. After the morning session, Sergio Pérez, who had suffered from concussion after a crash at the previous race, withdraws from the Grand Prix. Although he has passed the FIA's medical examination, Pérez says:
”I only want to drive when I'm a hundred per cent well. I need some more time to recover".
He is replaced by McLaren's reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa, who had competed for Sauber in 2010. Alonso is fastest in the second session, ahead of Vettel, Massa, and Hamilton - although the McLaren driver receives a puncture midway through practice. The session is disrupted by incidents as Kamui Kobayashi and Jérôme d'Ambrosio strike the barriers - both accidents requiring a suspension as marshals clear the track of debris - and Adrian Sutil's Force India breaks its suspension in a crash at turn 7.
A red flash among the red flags. Montreal confirms itself as a challenging track, with brakes put to the test, incidents abound, and interruptions too, two in the last free practice session, to repair Kobayashi's damaged Sauber and d'Ambrosio's battered Virgin. But the Montreal circuit also proves indigestible for Red Bull Racing (they have never won there) and Sebastian Vettel, the victim of a frightening accident in the first free practice session, with significant damage to the car and many shivers for that impact on the wall, not reassuring at all despite its "Welcome to Quebec" sign, incapable all day of assimilating its traditional grind pace. A favorable place for the cars from Maranello, with Alonso closing the last session at the top, happy, optimistic, able to shave almost four-tenths off the championship leader, still second even in difficult times. The Spaniard knows that here the story could be different.
"We have a great chance, we will try to exploit it. I don't delude myself too much; I know that Red Bull transforms in qualifying, that Vettel will unleash all his potential in the battle for pole, but we are also there. Where aerodynamics matter less, we are competitive, that's why this time confidence is not lacking. The soft tires suit our car well; we can make them work great, and this could also be an advantage".
However, watch out for accidents, more abundant than ever. Alonso explains:
"It's not the fault of the asphalt but the difficulty of the track. In Montreal, a small mistake is enough, and you kiss the wall; this circuit forgives nothing. When the tire is very worn, when grip starts to fade, the risks are very high".
Vettel also paid the price in the first round. The German says:
"My fault, I made a mistake, I lost the rear, and I couldn't control the car anymore. However, it was not a terrible accident, and above all, there were few practical consequences. I remain confident for qualifying and the race".
Behind the two fierce rivals, another sign of a good Ferrari day, we find Felipe Massa in third, managing to outpace Lewis Hamilton (almost 0.9 seconds behind Alonso), Jenson Button (separated from his McLaren teammate by only 0.012 seconds), Paul di Resta's Force India, and Mark Webber, disappointingly slow with his Red Bull. The saddest part of this Friday, however, is Mexican Sergio Perez. Considered recovered after the Monte Carlo incident, he was stopped as a precaution in the first session. He had a severe headache. In his place, Spanish driver Pedro de la Rosa. He quickly switched from the McLaren suit (he is the third driver) to that of the Swiss team. On Saturday, June 11, 2011, during the third session in the morning, Vettel is the fastest, leading Alonso, Rosberg, and Massa. Mark Webber's RB7 couldn't participate due to a Kers failure. A red flag was brought out in the final minute because of a crash by de la Rosa, leading to the premature end of the session due to limited time remaining. A few hours later, the qualifying session in the afternoon is divided into three parts. The first part runs for 20 minutes, eliminating cars that finish 18th or lower. The 107% rule is in effect, requiring each driver to set a time within 107% of the quickest lap to qualify for the race. The second part of qualifying lasts 15 minutes, eliminating cars that finish in positions 11 to 17. The final part determines positions from first to tenth and decides pole position. Vettel achieves his sixth pole position of the season and his first at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with a time of 1 minute and 13.014 seconds. Alonso joins him on the front row, with teammate Massa in third, marking Ferrari's best qualifying performance of the season. Webber, unable to use his car's Kers, qualifies fourth, four-tenths of a second behind Vettel.
Hamilton and Button qualify in fifth and seventh, respectively, with McLaren attributing the slow pace to excessive levels of downforce on the high-speed circuit. The Mercedes drivers qualify in sixth and eighth, and Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov complete the top ten. Paul di Resta is in 11th position, ahead of fellow rookies Pastor Maldonado and Kobayashi. Adrian Sutil struggles with grip throughout the session and is 14th; following him are Sébastien Buemi, Barrichello, and de la Rosa. Jaime Alguersuari, qualifying in 18th, complains of insufficient grip and brake balance. At the back of the grid are the Lotus, HRT, and Virgin drivers. D'Ambrosio does not qualify after failing to set a time within 107% in the first qualifying session. However, the stewards allow him to race, considering he is using a new chassis after an accident in Friday practice, where he had set faster lap times. The best Saturday of 2011 is not enough. Fernando Alonso is a demon on the curbs of the Canadian circuit, but Sebastian Vettel refuses to be exorcised and clinches yet another pole position. He maintains his grip on the fastest lap crown, the sixth time in seven battles, mocking the Spaniard in the statistics as well, reaching a career total of 21 pole positions, one more than Alonso, who is already tenth of all time despite not yet turning 24. Vettel secures his position with strength, as his advantage over the Ferrari driver is a mere 0.185 seconds, a hair's breadth. And this time there are no boasts, like setting the stopwatch on fire, completing an unbeatable lap for everyone, and returning to the pits ahead of time to watch others struggle on the track. Vettel keeps his hands on the wheel until the last moment, earning the crown just in time, leaving behind, in addition to a furious Spaniard, the other Ferrari of Massa, who finishes third and fast, just 0.018 seconds slower than the team leader's.
Vettel jokes this time, only because he has the impressive lead in the standings, and 74 points ahead of Alonso can only provide calm nerves. When asked how he plans to handle the expected heavy rain on Sunday, he candidly responds:
"I'll put on good tires and bring an raincoat and an umbrella from the hotel".
But he is well aware that winning in Canada (which he has never done) will not be a walk in the park.
"Because Ferrari is there, very close, only details separate us".
Those details, small in Montreal, huge on other tracks, make his Red Bull unbeatable on Saturdays, a monster of a car and a monster of a driver, since Mark Webber is only fourth, behind the Ferraris, suffering a significant gap and, unlike his teammate, has been dealing with kers issues for days, with the system on his car working only intermittently. Vettel has never had problems, and when told that the kers, crucial for attacking or defending, might be a concern, he says, referring to Ferrari:
"They are doing better in this area, and they are also preferred in terms of the engine. But why should I have problems? What do you know, maybe it's the Ferrari engine that will break".
It's easy to imagine Fernando Alonso's face nearby, while Felipe Massa spreads his hands in a gesture of surprise and reproach. Ferrari cannot afford breakdowns. Ferrari is there this time and must stay in the game until the end.
"Starting so far ahead is a big advantage".
Alonso states, not having claimed the front row since September 25, 2010, eleven races ago (the only downside being a mechanic's foot being run over during a pit stop, fortunately without consequences).
"Now the goal is to repeat Barcelona and Monaco, start strong and overtake immediately at the first turn".
Attack. And then head down again. Massa asserts, for reasons not entirely clear:
"Our strategy should be better".
And the most accurate tactic, besides having the car in front, in this Safety car and red flag-prone circuit, could have a value higher than tires, brakes, and aerodynamics. Alonso prefers to be more realistic:
"Our progress has been enormous, partly thanks to the team, much due to the characteristics of the circuit. I am sure we will be competitive in both dry and wet conditions, but in case of rain, luck could be crucial, being in the right place at the right time".
An easy thought to translate. Since this is a complicated and demanding track, where boredom is impossible, as Vettel defines it, accidents are likely to be frequent, especially with worn tires or treacherous puddles lying in wait. Alonso swears:
"You'll see more Safety cars than pit stops".
And if when that happens, with the car lining everyone up, you may have to stop at the pits to change tires and drop to the back of the pack, your race is damaged. But on the most beautiful Saturday, it would be absurd to be dominated by negative thoughts. Better to call everyone together:
"Here and in Valencia, we have a lot at stake".
Everything, as the new technical chief Pat Fry has made clear. Either Ferrari rises or it already makes way, in the factory's thoughts, for what will come.
"It's a result above expectations, the best of the year: we have a chance to win".
But Fernando Alonso enjoys the excellent performance of his Ferrari.
"I am very confident, although we have to continue taking one step at a time. I am only a few tenths behind Red Bull, it's the best result of the year, decidedly better than we expected. We couldn't hope for anything better; now let's see what conditions we have in the race. We have a chance to win".
Sebastian Vettel may need the additional horsepower from the kers to resist the Ferraris in the first meters of the Canadian Grand Prix. The kinetic energy recovery system caused problems for Mark Webber's Red Bull, forcing him to skip the final free practice session.
"If I have a problem, I have no choice and can't stop them. I haven't had any issues this weekend, and the system is working at its best. Mark had a problem today; I think the team can fix it, but we still have to wait and see. We know this is not the most suitable track for us, as we like fast corners. But today we had the fastest package, so we can be confident. It's never easy, and it won't be easy tomorrow, as it has been in the last two races. We are ready to fight, let's see what happens".
Felipe Massa smiles after securing third place in the qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix. The Brazilian Ferrari driver is behind his teammate, Fernando Alonso, who is second on the grid.
"It's a good weekend for us; so far, we have delivered excellent performances. We've managed to maintain a good pace compared to Red Bull, the gap is minimal. It's nice to start from a better position than we have achieved so far. The weather will probably change, but we can still rely on an excellent starting position".
On Sunday, June 12, 2011, the track is wet before the race, as rain showers have hit the area throughout the day. The Canadian Grand Prix is due to start at 1:00 p.m. local time, and heavy rain is expected to arrive an hour into the race. The air temperature ranges between 17–19 °C, with the track temperature between 18-20 °C. Standing water on the track, which is causing heavy spray and impairing visibility, means that the race will start behind the safety car, and all cars will use the full wet tires. Alguersuari starts the race from the pitlane, as he modifies his Toro Rosso's set-up to optimize the car for the wet conditions. The race begins behind the safety car, with no formation lap, and despite the slow speed, drivers struggle for grip on the wet surface. The safety car comes into the pits after five laps, and the cars are allowed to overtake. Vettel retains first place, withstanding Alonso's attempts to pass, while behind Hamilton and Webber collide at the first corner - dropping the drivers to seventh and fourteenth respectively. Button loses fifth place mid-lap after running wide, losing two places to Schumacher and Hamilton. At the end of the first racing lap, di Resta has moved up to eighth position, followed by Heidfeld and Kobayashi, who makes three places off the grid. Vettel extends his lead over the next lap, while the positions behind continue to change. Kobayashi has improved to eighth, and Webber recovers to twelfth, while di Resta falls back to thirteenth. Hamilton loses sixth position, running wide on a failed overtaking move on Schumacher, and falls behind Button.
He attempts an overtake on the pit straight, but the two drivers collide, and Hamilton hits the pit wall. The accident causes Hamilton's retirement, which prompts a safety car deployment at the end of lap eight. The race is resumed on lap 13, and Button, who has changed to intermediate tires before the safety car period, is given a drive-through penalty for speeding behind the safety car, emerging in 15th place. Vettel begins to enlarge his lead over Alonso and Massa in second and third. Alonso and the Mercedes pit for intermediate tires, leaving Massa in second and Kobayashi in third by lap 17. Barrichello, who switches for intermediates as the safety car comes in, begins setting times at the same pace as the leaders and gains 15th position as the drivers in front change tires. On lap 19, a rainstorm arrives at the circuit, forcing the drivers on intermediate tires to switch back to full wets. Alonso and Button, who are in fifth and eighth respectively, fall to ninth and eleventh, while the drivers on the full wet tires begin pitting for fresh wet tires. The safety car is brought out on lap 20 due to the intensity of the rain, and Vettel, Webber, Massa, and Buemi, who have not changed tires, go to the pitlane for fresh full wets. After six laps under the safety car, the conditions are getting worse, and the race is suspended. Torrential rain prevents the resumption of the Grand Prix for over two hours until the rain eases at 3:50 p.m. local time. The race is restarted behind the safety car with the drivers in the positions held before the suspension. Vettel is first, followed by Kobayashi, Massa, Heidfeld, Petrov, and di Resta. Webber is in seventh place with Alonso, de la Rosa, and Button behind. The safety car remains out for seven laps, during which the circuit begins drying enough to be suitable for intermediate tires, and D'Ambrosio pits on lap 33 to change from the full wets. Vettel begins to extend the lead over Kobayashi once the safety car comes in on lap 35, as Massa and Heidfeld fight for Kobayashi's second place. Schumacher leads several cars into the pitlane to change to intermediate tires, while Button, Heidfeld, and di Resta are among those who pit the next lap. Vettel and Karthikeyan are the only drivers not to change tires by lap 37 when Button comes upon tenth-placed Alonso as he exits the pitlane. As Button attempts to pass at turn 3, the two cars touch, and Alonso's Ferrari spins and beaches upon a curb, bringing out the safety car.
When the race resumes three laps later, Vettel, Kobayashi, and Massa retain their positions, as Heidfeld, di Resta, Webber, and Schumacher fight for fourth place. Button has a punctured tire after the collision and is in twenty-first and last place, but immediately begins to make up positions and is 14th by lap 44. Di Resta damages his front wing attempting to overtake Heidfeld; the subsequent pit-stop and drive-through penalty drop him down to last. Schumacher, having overtaken Webber, passes Heidfeld in fourth place and sets the fastest lap of the race. DRS is enabled on lap 46, as Barrichello and Rosberg are contesting eighth position. Button has caught Maldonado and Alguersuari and passes both cars for tenth place. Mark Webber is the first driver to switch to slick tires and is followed by Barrichello and Buemi. Kobayashi and Massa, fighting for second place, are both passed by Schumacher on lap 51; Massa then passes Kobayashi for third place. As the drivers pit for slick tires over the next three laps, Massa damages his wing, forcing him into another pitstop, while damage to Adrian Sutil's car leads to his retirement. Button has risen from ninth after his pit-stop to fourth and is catching the leading trio of Vettel, Schumacher, and Webber. On lap 56 Heidfeld, while battling Kobayashi for fifth place, collides with the rear of the Sauber which damages his front wing. The wing then detaches and folds under the car, and Heidfeld, after losing control of his car, runs down an escape road on turn 3. The debris on-track from the accident calls the sixth safety car period of the race. Following the pitstops and safety car deployment, Petrov has gained sixth place while Barrichello, Alguersuari, Rosberg, and Maldonado are in the remaining point-scoring positions. Schumacher and Webber, who have contested second place before the safety car, resume their fight as the race resumes on lap 61. Barrichello is passed by Rosberg and Alguersuari before Massa, who has been in eleventh place, overtakes both Williams cars for ninth. Kobayashi loses fifth place to Petrov, and Maldonado retires by spinning off on the wet track at turn two. Webber, passing Schumacher using DRS, cuts the chicane on lap 64 and cedes the position back to avoid a penalty. Button passes Webber, after he again cuts the chicane, and Schumacher on the same lap and gains second place. As Button begins catching race leader Vettel, Webber overtakes Schumacher for third place on lap 67.
On the same lap, di Resta retires because of a puncture, and Massa gains eighth position from Alguersuari. The fastest lap of the race is set by Button on lap 69, setting a time of 1'16"956 as he is closing to Vettel for the race lead. Vettel leads by 0.9 seconds on the final lap, before he runs wide at turn six. Button passes him to take the lead and holds it to win the race. Vettel recovers from going off-track and finishes second, ahead of Webber in third and Schumacher in fourth. Petrov takes fifth place, while Massa passes Kobayashi on the finish line for sixth place. Alguersuari, Barrichello, and Buemi fill the final point-scoring positions, and Rosberg's car has lost the front wing, dropping him to eleventh. De la Rosa is twelfth, and Liuzzi, d'Ambrosio, Glock, Trulli, and Karthikeyan are the final classified drivers. A drip. Jenson Button wins, demonstrating his strength in extreme conditions once again (he had triumphed in a similar context in Malaysia two years ago), mocking Sebastian Vettel a few meters from the finish line. However, this Canadian Grand Prix will be remembered as one of the craziest in history. Crazy and bitter for Alonso, who dreamed of starting Ferrari's comeback from here but instead leaves empty-handed. Probably marking the definitive end of his championship dreams. Because now his gap from Vettel is 92 points, an abyss. A utopia, considering that the German, even in Montreal, has shown to be almost perfect. It's fair to say 'almost' because, right at the end, he had a fatal hesitation and handed the victory to Button. But before that, and on the wet Sunday in Montreal, everything happened, and Red Bull never lost their lead, neither on the track nor in the pits. Perhaps the same cannot be said for Ferrari.
Unfortunate, certainly, as Alonso claims, but also careless in strategies, completely wrong in the first part of a race that lasted more than four hours in total (due to a two-hour and 5-minute stoppage). Tactics that weigh on the final result, beyond Alonso's crash with Button. The Spaniard had anticipated Safety cars, accidents, tricky strategies, a lottery race where luck would play a crucial role in winning. Still, no one could have imagined that the Canadian Grand Prix would turn into such a ordeal. In this elimination battle, Ferrari's driver was the most penalized: a terrible race, full of errors and bad luck, bringing him back to Europe empty-handed. He had high hopes, knowing that his car could revive on the twisty Montreal track, but his dreams never took off. The ending was bitter, a collision with Button on lap 37, the car sliding and hitting the wall, sealing his exit from the race. But Alonso's bitterness started even earlier. Starting under heavy rain behind the Safety car, the Spaniard followed Vettel closely for the first fifteen laps. When it seemed that the asphalt was drying and the rain was easing, here comes the first fatal mistake. Alonso is called into the pits to switch to intermediate tires, while Button had already done so, gaining more than three seconds per lap on everyone. It would be a brilliant move if the clouds indeed cleared up, but it turned out to be a colossal mistake. A few seconds later, it started raining heavily again, and Alonso had to hastily return to the pits to switch to the more suitable extreme wet tires. Nothing wrong with that, except that due to this wrong tactic, Alonso lost six positions, dropping from second to eighth place. He complained, but the stewards decided that the race couldn't continue like this. Vettel, who was as usual ahead of everyone, radioed the pit to communicate that the race should be interrupted.
"Why can't you see anything?"
Said and done. The Grand Prix is suspended, and the interruption lasts two hours and five minutes, an exhausting dance, where it's unclear whether the race will resume, with everyone pushing to run, organizers, the FIA, teams, drivers, but no one knows whether it's advisable for the safety of those who must dance in those puddles at breakneck speeds. After 25 laps, only 10 were real racing, while 15 were spent with a queue led by the Safety car. Massa, third at the start, could have waved the red flag of the stop in front of everyone. However, just one lap before the interruption, as his extreme wet tires were completely worn out, he was called into the pits. Thus, he lost the lead, and Vettel, who had passed through the garage, returned to the front, but also the second position, now held by Kobayashi, who never stopped with his Sauber. Before the second start, Massa explained the difficulties encountered in the first round:
"Aquaplaning was terrible; driving in those conditions was impossible".
When the serious racing resumed, the Safety car kept covering miles continuously, trying to overtake Kobayashi, but the Japanese resisted every attack. While Vettel pulled away, the timely decision to switch to intermediate tires to better face a drier track, Alonso ended his disastrous day. From eighth, he attempted another gamble, immediately switching from extreme wet to intermediate tires, but there was contact with Button, and any aspirations were gone. Ferrari made mistakes. After much struggling, Massa managed to pass Kobayashi at lap 51, out of 70 scheduled, but there was no time to breathe a sigh of relief. The old Schumacher slipped between the two and claimed the second position, much to the dismay of Massa and the Japanese. Everything had to be redone, and Ferrari tried to come up with something, calling the last remaining driver into the pits. However, this turned out to be another wrong move because, on lap 53, Massa skidded and crashed his car's nose into the wall. Another pit stop, a quick replacement, but now he was eleventh. Amidst rebounds and surprises, Hamilton fared even worse. He stayed out of everything, meaning he messed up everything right away. A collision with Webber, just as the race got real, then a collision with his teammate, forcing him to park his car permanently on the side of the track. He is to blame, but perhaps this eagerness to race at all costs should also be condemned. Because in some accidents, the worst was really at risk, up to the possible drama of a track worker, who had to remove debris, invaded the wet asphalt, slipped, forcing Petrov with Renault and Barrichello with Williams to brake sharply to avoid hitting him. True emotions, real racing battles, only happened in the final laps when Vettel flew towards the finish line, but behind him, there was a furious battle for the second place between Button, Schumacher, and Webber. Button had a considerable advantage, not only distancing the two but also catching up with Vettel. And on the last lap, here's the definitive heart-stopping moment. A few meters from the end, the Red Bull driver, German, makes a mistake, and Button takes away the victory. Behind, Webber overtakes Schumacher, while Massa narrowly beats Kobayashi for the sixth position. Winning by a few millimeters after four hours and 5 minutes from the first start. Mind-boggling. Jenson Button, before celebrating his incredible victory, apologizes to his teammate, a nice gesture that honors him.
"It was truly an incredible race; I have to apologize to Hamilton, but I didn't notice anything. It was perhaps my best race".
Sebastian Vettel doesn't hide his disappointment for losing the first position on the last lap:
"It was a difficult race; I led the whole race except for the last part. I was too 'conservative' when I was in the lead; after the last Safety car, I should have created a greater gap. Then I made a mistake, locked the rear, and went off in the wet; it was easy for Button to pass me. Many cars didn't finish the race; valuable points were scored, and it went well for the team. Of course, I had the victory in hand, and I threw it away; it's not a good feeling".
Mark Webber surrenders:
"Today, Button was unreachable. In the final part of the race, it was impossible to keep him behind, an apparent tire advantage".
He had promised to behave well this time, but there he is again on the gamble accelerator: on the eighth lap, Lewis Hamilton attempted an overtaking that seemed destined to end against his teammate, Jenson Button. The latter, squeezing towards the wall at that moment, forced the McLaren of the Englishman into impact. Left rear suspension out, the car on the track, and the intervention of the Safety car to remove the vehicle. For Lewis, farewell to the race in the rain.
"Jenson braked a bit late and came out of the turn badly, but I did well, and I got alongside. I don't know if he saw me, but at that point, there was no more space, only the wall. I don't think he intentionally squeezed me; I know him, he would never do that. Fortunately, we didn't both go off".
No, indeed, despite Lewis, Button wins and says:
"I have to apologize to Hamilton, but I didn't notice anything".
A few laps earlier, on the fourth lap, Hamilton had hit Mark Webber's Red Bull, sending the Australian into a spin. He lost ten positions but eventually finished third. Hamilton's maneuvers are often at the limit—it happens frequently. Things aren't going any better for the Maranello team. Another forgettable Sunday for Ferrari, with the Canadian Grand Prix ending in the worst way possible: Fernando Alonso stuck on a curb after a collision with Button, unable to move, and Felipe Massa, in the midst of a podium battle, damaging his front wing on the guardrail and finding himself at the back. The positive feelings from the days leading up to the race, with Alonso nearly securing pole position and both Ferrari drivers finishing behind the formidable Vettel, who now leads by almost a hundred points in the standings compared to Alonso, shattered in a race filled with mistakes. Although Alonso disagrees, attributing it solely to bad luck:
"The incident with Button? I think we were close, unfortunately, we touched: he continued, I didn't. Luck sometimes helps you, sometimes not. When you retire and don't score points, the only thing to do is turn the page, think about the next race. We were unlucky; we had the best car in the dry, and it rained. We put on intermediate tires, and it started pouring immediately. Massa could have been on the podium, but during a lapping, he went on the wet part and broke the nose. These are facts, not feelings".
It almost seemed like Alonso felt it, as he had declared beforehand:
"Luck will be crucial".
Just on the day when the Ferrari cars were supposed to demonstrate the progress seen in Monte Carlo (Alonso's second place), thanks also to a circuit favorable to the current strengths of Ferrari, always dealing with perpetual aerodynamic issues. Even Montreal was a circuit where these limitations that make Ferrari so distant from Red Bull Racing could have been partially masked. However, in the end, Alonso and Massa were left with little more than nothing:
"We hope that Ferrari can be equally competitive in Spain; for two races, we have shown that we can fight for the podium. Valencia is also a circuit that could suit us well, with long straights and slow corners, but above all, the Red Bull is slower. We hope to take advantage of it and finish on the podium".
Alonso's start, as soon as the Safety car returns to its place, is positive, with an immediate attempt to put pressure on Vettel. It doesn't last long because the German quickly pulls away. But it's only the prologue to the first mistake, a strategic one: at the first pit stop, intermediate tires are mounted on Alonso's car, but just two laps later, Alonso is forced to return to the pits to switch to the hard tires, as the rain increased significantly. And indeed, the judges stop the race for two hours. Alonso restarts from a modest eighth place, which does little for Ferrari's aspirations. There's a desire to try to make a comeback, but a few laps after the restart, there's contact with Button: race over, and a dejected return, with the helmet in hand, to the pits. At this point, Ferrari's hopes are all on Massa, who is then in third place and chasing Kobayashi for second. But during a lapping, the Brazilian is forced to move to the still wet part of the track, loses grip, can't control the car anymore, touches with the left front wing, nose into the guardrail, and he has to stop to change it. Time lost in the pit stop: finishes in sixth place overall. Achieved, moreover, with a spectacular overtaking right on the finish line against Kobayashi. But it's not enough for Ferrari's expectations. Stefano Domenicali jokes about it:
"We will organize a trip to Lourdes to see if we can reverse the situation".
The Canadian Grand Prix trip satisfies no one. Now, Alonso and Massa have a respective 69 and 32 points behind in the World Championship standings, which Sebastian Vettel dominates authoritatively with 161 points. And the constructors' championship is even worse: Red Bull has 255 points, and Ferrari is third with 101. In short, a massacre.
"In the last race, I had said that we would wait for the next two Grand Prix and that we would have to score points. I am disappointed with the outcome of the race: we didn't collect the loot we deserved, given our performances. Now we have to get the maximum in Valencia".
Luca Montezemolo, president of Ferrari, comments on Ferrari's disappointing result in Canada:
"Everything went wrong. After qualifying, I thought our drivers could do very well. I thought we could even win since in qualifying we were only a tenth away from Vettel's Red Bull".
Montezemolo has a regret:
"When the incident between Alonso and Button occurred, I believe that each had a 50% chance of winning. Well, Alonso is out, and Button won the race. And then, if there hadn't been rain, we would have been even more competitive".
The result convinces the president to work harder.
"Tomorrow I will be in Maranello; we must continue to push. In Canada, there was a very competitive Ferrari; I believe it will also be competitive in Valencia. But I am confident because we are working in the right direction to improve a car that didn't start well".
The incident that happened to Massa, forced to replace the damaged nose in the overtaking of a lapped car, brings back the discussion about the current F1 problem.
"There is always this problem of slow cars and inexperienced drivers. This topic is starting to annoy me".
Montezemolo gets even darker when he thinks about the future introduction of 4-cylinder engines starting from 2013.
"We don't make motorcycles; we make cars. This distorts Formula 1. Formula 1 is not just about aerodynamics: we make cars, not satellites or airplanes. F1 must be a combination of factors: mechanics, brakes, engine, and the driver's skill. Today, aerodynamics counts too much. And I don't like premature choices regarding ecological technologies".
The president reserves the last joke for Michael Schumacher, who finished fourth with Mercedes:
"I find it incredible that in a year and a half, he hasn't managed to step on the podium. I was glad to see him there, and I wish him all the best. I don't forget everything he has given us".