Canada Welcomes the 2011 Formula 1 Tour

Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic

As a Canadian motorsport journalist, forgive me for giving an extra loud cheer as the 2011 Formula 1 season makes its stop at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. For the most part a staple on the world grand prix tour from 1978 to 2011, the race had only been absent from the Formula 1 racing schedule twice in 1987 and 2009 due to sponsorship issues.

For 2011, the Canadian Grand Prix plays host to a 24-car Formula 1 contingent led by a dominant Sebastian Vettel. Winning five of six races, the defending Formula 1 World Champion Vettel has spent a great deal of 2011 at the front of the field for Red Bull Racing. 

Though the chances that Sebastian Vettel could continue his tear on the 2011 Formula 1 racing schedule with lasting strength in Montreal, the race has been an unpredictable affair in the past. Based on 2010, the Canadian Grand Prix could the dent in the Red Bull Racing armour teams such as McLaren and Ferrari are intent to exploit. The only driver other than Vettel to win a grand prix in 2011, Lewis Hamilton has 2 wins on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve circuit including the future world champion's first Formula 1 victory in 2007.

For Ferrari, the Italian team literally owned the race through Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 reign in the early 2000s. Schmacher and Ferrari won the Canadian Grand Prix 6 times together. Ferrari as a team has won 10 times total since the race was held at the track on the island off the coast of Montreal. The first driver to win on the circuit for Ferrari was Canadian and the current track namesake the late Gillles Villeneuve. In 2011, Ferrari is paired with 2006 Canadian Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso.

The best time for Formula 1 racing fans in North America to enjoy the live spectacle of the globe's most premier form of open wheel racing, many drivers and teams also share excitement in the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. Williams F1's Rubens Barrichello shared prior to heading to Montreal that "Canada is always a very special event. The atmosphere is so relaxed and the racing is fantastic.". Barrichello continued to express interest in one of two exciting segments that delight the fans as much as the drivers. "The hairpin is probably one of the most exciting parts of the track as the fans that base themselves there are great." Barrichello said. Rookie teammate Pastor Maldonado is visiting the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the first time as a Formula 1 competitor but has fond memories of a 1998 visit in go karting.

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

Team Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen himself calls the Formula 1 visit “Canada is one of the highlights of the whole season.." Impressed by the race track, Kovalainen is well acquainted with the spirit and following of the series in the French-Canadian province. "It’s obviously not the same intensity as Monaco when you’re away from the track, but the whole city buzzes when we’re in town and they get behind the whole event right across the city so there’s an amazing atmosphere wherever you go. The crowd are also very knowledgeable and you can see what it means to them when the race takes place in their back yard as it’s packed from Thursday right through to Sunday." Team Lotus' Heikki Kovalainen complimented. Kovalainen's Team Lotus team is looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix as presenting an opening which the sophomore team can claim their first manufacturer points.

A challenging 4.361 kilometer (2.71 mile) temporary street course that burdens tires and brakes, the Formula 1 drivers will find little relief after competing in the tough Monoco Grand Prix. New Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli is likely to become a major focal point during hte weekend. Throughout the 2011 season, Pirelli's first year adapting to the grand prix schedule has left teams making more guesses at the start of the race weekend. Friday and Saturday practices will be most important in understanding best set-up the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.

With two practice session on Friday, teams will be zeroing in on finding speed for Saturday's qualifying as well as the race on Sunday afternoon.  

Vettel Finds Top Velocity for Bahrain GP Pole

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

Following two practices in day one and a third before Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying (a session where the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso set fastest pace), the inconsistency in team times has led to few conclusions for where most of the Formula 1 teams measured for 2010. Many observers watch as the Bahrain Grand Prix grid would be set through day 2 qualifying. With starting positions for the first Formula 1 race of 2010 at stake, every driver will be pushing their race cars to yet-unexplored limits.

Starting on the pole position in the Bahrain Grand Prix is 4-time winner from 2009 Sebastian Vettel. Adding to the confusion after the two Friday practices, Vettel and his Renault-powered Red Bull Racing car was no where close to the top of the time sheets. Considerably off-song against the other competitors on day 1, a problem with the Red Bull-Renault's driveshaft was cited as the reason. Obviously with the driveshaft issue corrected and some other tweaks to the car, Sebastian Vettel was able to go from zero to hero at Bahrain.

Just as expected, one team eventually managed to show some early season poise. While missing the pole position, both Ferrari F10s showed consistent front-running performance qualifying on the Bahrain circuit. Timing in just 15/100ths of a second slower than the Red Bull-Renault, Felipe Massa did manage to beat new Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso for a front row starting spot. While the factory Scuderia Ferrari team took the lower positions on the starting podium, the teams partaking in the Italian company's customer engine program showed two different leagues of performance. BMW Sauber (who should earn points for simply staying in the sport in 2010) and Toro Rosso were well down the starting order placing just ahead of the new Formula 1 teams.

From an Italian auto company to a German auto maker, the Mercedes-Benz effort in 2010 Formula 1 competition consists of three teams including their first full factory F1 team since 1955. Consuming all but one of the starting positions from 4th through 8th place, the Mercedes GP team and McLaren-Mercedes cars were within 4/10th of a second off each other's best times. Lewis Hamilton led the grouping followed by the factory Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. In the middle of the Mercedes-engine quartet, Mark Webber clocked his Renault-powered Red Bull into 6th place through the session. Two rows behind his teammate Vettel, Webber harshly censured the manner he drove his best lap indicating he made several avoidable mistakes.


Robert Kubica, making his Renault F1 team debut, had
a mixed result through qualifying placing 9th overall.
Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

Timo Glock, driving the all-new Virgin-Cosworth car, took the honours as the fastest driver amongst the 6 new Formula 1 cars. The Lotus Racing group filed behind Glock with the remaining Virgin as well as the two HRT vehicles rounding out the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix starting grid. More than 5 seconds behind the new Formula 1 teams, it appears clear that the 3 new teams have a significant amount of ground to make up through the season. However, with retirements common through the first Formula 1 race of the season, there remains a serious opportunity for one or more of these cars to steal some points by finishing in a top 10 position.


2010 Formula 1: Bahrain Grand Prix
Starting Order

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2. Felipe Massa Ferrari
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
8. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
9. Robert Kubica Renault F1
10. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
11. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
13. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
14. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
15. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
16. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
17. Vitaly Petrov Renault
18. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
19. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
21. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
22. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
23. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
24. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth

The 2010 Formula 1 Season Quick Notes

Here are some quick notes for getting acquainted with the 2010 Formula 1 season:

• 2009 World Champion driver Jenson Button has joined the McLaren F1 organizing teaming up with 2008 champ Lewis Hamilton.
  
• Fernando Alonso, two-time Formula 1 driver's champion, joins Felipe Massa driving for Ferrari.
  
• Brawn GP is now Mercedes Petronas GP. Announcing Nico Rosberg first as a driver for the team, Mercedes GP's #1 pilot provided an early Christmas present by facilitating the return of living Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher.
  
• Three new teams (Lotus Racing, HRT F1, and Virgin GP) will make their debut in Bahrain Grand Prix. The USF1 team was supposed to have provided a fourth new team on the grid but were unable to meet time constraints.
  
• Canadian Grand Prix returns to the Formula 1 tour after a one year absence. Race date June 13th.
  
• There will be no refueling allowed during Formula 1 pit stops. This will cancel out the advantage fuel weight plays on the race track.