The Official 2016 Canadian Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[Dr Z]

Date(s): Friday 10 June - Sunday 12 June 2016

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1, with highlights shown on Channel 4.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	1445	-	1500	1000
Practice 2	Fri	1845	-	1900	1400
Practice 3	Sat	1445	-	1500	1000
Qualifying	Sat	1700	2230	1800	1300
Race	Sun	1730	2230	1900	1400

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve







Live timing for all sessions available here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Info such as lap times, PU use, technical reports, stewards decisions etc for the weekend will appear here:

http://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-ch...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Canada/Circ...

Day	Comment	Ambient Temp (C)	Rainfall (mm)
Fri	Overcast	16 C	0.1
Sat	Partly Cloudy	23 C	0.0
Sun	Light Rain	12 C	1.0

The tyre choices requested by the teams:



2015 Grand Prix Results

Pos.	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid
1	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	70	1:31:53.145	1
2	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	70	+2.285	2
3	Valtteri Bottas	Williams-Mercedes	70	+40.666	4
4	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	70	+45.625	3
5	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari	70	+49.903	18
6	Felipe Massa	Williams-Mercedes	70	+56.381	15
7	Pastor Maldonado	Lotus-Mercedes	70	+1:06.664	6
8	Nico Hülkenberg	Force India-Mercedes	69	+1 Lap	7
9	Daniil Kvyat	Red Bull Racing-Renault	69	+1 Lap	8
10	Romain Grosjean	Lotus-Mercedes	69	+1 Lap	5
11	Sergio Pérez	Force India-Mercedes	69	+1 Lap	10
12	Carlos Sainz, Jr.	Toro Rosso-Renault	69	+1 Lap	11
13	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull Racing-Renault	69	+1 Lap	9
14	Marcus Ericsson	Sauber-Ferrari	69	+1 Lap	12
15	Max Verstappen	Toro Rosso-Renault	69	+1 Lap	19
16	Felipe Nasr	Sauber-Ferrari	68	+2 Laps	14
17	Will Stevens	Marussia-Ferrari	66	+4 Laps	17
Ret	Roberto Merhi	Marussia-Ferrari	57	Driveshaft	16
Ret	Jenson Button	McLaren-Honda	54	Exhaust	20
Ret	Fernando Alonso	McLaren-Honda	44	Exhaust	13

Fastest Race Lap: 1:16.987 (L42; K. Räikkönen, Ferrari)


2015 Qualifying

Pos.	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Q3
1	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:15.895	1:14.661	1:14.393
2	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	1:15.893	1:14.673	1:14.702
3	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:16.259	1:15.348	1:15.014
4	Valtteri Bottas	Williams-Mercedes	1:16.552	1:15.506	1:15.102
5	Romain Grosjean	Lotus-Mercedes	1:15.833	1:15.187	1:15.194
6	Pastor Maldonado	Lotus-Mercedes	1:16.098	1:15.622	1:15.329
7	Nico Hülkenberg	Force India-Mercedes	1:16.186	1:15.706	1:15.614
8	Daniil Kvyat	Red Bull Racing-Renault	1:16.415	1:15.891	1:16.079
9	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull Racing-Renault	1:16.410	1:16.006	1:16.114
10	Sergio Pérez	Force India-Mercedes	1:16.827	1:15.974	1:16.338
11	Carlos Sainz, Jr.	Toro Rosso-Renault	1:16.611	1:16.042	-
12	Max Verstappen	Toro Rosso-Renault	1:16.361	1:16.245	-
13	Marcus Ericsson	Sauber-Ferrari	1:16.796	1:16.262	-
14	Fernando Alonso	McLaren-Honda	1:17.012	1:16.276	-
15	Felipe Nasr	Sauber-Ferrari	1:16.968	1:16.620	-
16	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari	1:17.344	-	-
17	Felipe Massa	Williams-Mercedes	1:17.886	-	-
18	Roberto Merhi	Marussia-Ferrari	1:19.133	-	-
19	Will Stevens	Marussia-Ferrari	1:19.157	-	-
-	Jenson Button	McLaren-Honda	no time	-	-

---

My thoughts/notes for the race:

Unlike Monaco, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s layout serves to accentuate deficiencies in a way that helps the team that had done the best homework on the new V6 Turbo-Hybrid regulations, in relation to outright power and efficiency. This circuit has therefore been showcasing Mercedes dominance for the past two years to some extent, and crucially for us fans, their unreliability.

Ricciardo has good memories of this track, as he won his first race in 2014 due to Mercedes unreliability with Hamilton suffering a DNF due to brake failure and Rosberg nursing the car to a second place finish. Even during last year’s race, the Mercedes pilots had to nurse their cars, afflicted with MGU-K problems and brakes being marginal in the second stint. This meant that Rosberg couldn’t really mount a proper challenge throughout the second stint. In any case, I’d have to say Hamilton had the measure of Rosberg here last year and this circuit is to him, what Barcelona is to Rosberg.

Last year the Mercedes car had an advantage of 0.5s/lap in the first stint over the second best car (Ferrari) in race pace. Mind you, this is using Kimi as a reference--which may not be quite so reliable. The pace advantage to Williams (Bottas) was around 0.7s/lap, and the pace advantage to Red Bull was...a crushing, 2 seconds per lap.

From what we’ve seen so far this year, I’d say Ferrari should be on par with Mercedes at this track. It seems Ferrari are considering another PU upgrade to somehow get off the ground for their championship challenge. The Red Bull chassis and Renault Tag-Heuer PU combo have undoubtedly made bigger leaps in performance from last year than any other in the field, but I very much doubt they overcame a 2s/lap deficit. Hopefully, I can eat my own words because Red Bull at the front would upset the status quo nicely.

Tyre compounds available are the same as in Monaco, and last year’s race was done on a 1-stop but hopefully a dry race would mean that the Ultra Softs would necessitate a 2-stop at least and therefore allow cars to explore more of their performance potential. However, fuel use is high for this circuit (~1.8kg per lap) which might affect some teams more than others but mostly McLaren-Honda. Ugh. Also, from the tyre choices, I’m noticing that a couple of teams have no sets of one tyre compound, so they are already quite confident of their tyre strategy. Still it’s nice to see some variability among teams.

I seem to remember driver coaching was at a higher level last year with drivers being told exactly when to lift and coast to save fuel/brakes. I wonder if the driver coaching ban might have some effect here, with more drivers retiring due to inability to manage brakes/fuel etc?

What are your thoughts? Predictions? Are you going? Let us know.

Edited by Dr Z on Wednesday 1st June 12:05

Edited by Dr Z on Thursday 9th June 13:04

[suffolk009]

In total contrast to Dr Z's wonderful post:

Quali: Lewis, Nico, Ricc

Race: Lewis, Seb, Kimi

[VladD]

Quali: Lewis, Nico, Seb

Race: Lewis, Seb, Nico

Based on Lewis qualifying on pole, Seb pitting first forcing Lewis to pit next and Seb undercutting Nico before he gets in.

If it rains, I'm going for Lewis and Nico crashing off the start, Seb racing off into the lead, but then blowing it on the last lap under pressure from Button.

[deadslow]

VladD said:

If it rains, I'm going for Lewis and Nico crashing off the start, Seb racing off into the lead, but then blowing it on the last lap under pressure from Button.

every time I think of Canada I am reminded of Brundle and Coulthard talking for hours and Button coming though to win. It was an epic Sunday.

[LivingTheDream]

deadslow said:

every time I think of Canada I am reminded of Brundle and Coulthard talking for hours and Button coming though to win. It was an epic Sunday.

Particularly when watching it in a big tent in Le Mans after the race with about 100 Motorsport fans

[VladD]

LivingTheDream said:

deadslow said:

every time I think of Canada I am reminded of Brundle and Coulthard talking for hours and Button coming though to win. It was an epic Sunday.

Particularly when watching it in a big tent in Le Mans after the race with about 100 Motorsport fans

I was there then too. Speedchills tent IIRC.

[confucuis]

I think the redbulls have flattered to deceive for the last two races. They suited their car, however this track with its long straights will return things back to the status quo.

For me its Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel.

[Vocal Minority]

But Catalunya has a very long straight.

Mercedes out front - I think Hamilton will shade it. Vettel and the Red Bulls fighting over the last Podium

[thegreenhell]

If the Mercedes boys take each other out again or otherwise have problems then Canada will also suit the Red Bull car. Otherwise a healthy Mercedes car will win unchallenged by another make.

[Vaud]

Just a thanks to the OP for continuing to set the standards for the opening of these threads...

[Jasandjules]

Vaud said:

Just a thanks to the OP for continuing to set the standards for the opening of these threads...

I think it is safe to say no-one else will ever start an F1 thread as they will simply not be able to compete!!

The OP does a sterling job.

[Leithen]

Odds on Max and a wall getting too close and personal?

Which Merc gremlin will appear in which car?

Are Red Bull going to give Ricciardo wings or a ball and chain?

Can the Sauber drivers find an original way to cock it up for each other?

Can Ferrari retreat further back into it's disharmonious past and find more things to blame each other for?

Is it worth tuning into to find out.....?

[Crafty_]

Looking for an improvement in form for Williams here, they should be ahead of Red Bull.

We should get to see the full potential of the Renault engine upgrade, I wonder if Palmer can keep it off the walls for long enough ?

Ferrari will have an upgrade too. Just how close will it get them to Mercedes ? I was surprised that Vettel struggled so much in Monaco, maybe they need some chassis upgrades before mounting a realistic title bid ?

Lewis generally either wins or DNFs here (4 wins, 1 3rd, 3 DNFs - two his fault, 1 engine). He took pole by 4 tenths last year, so provided he can keep it on the bubble he should do well.

Of course, if it rains the form book goes out the window.

[cgt2]

confucuis said:

I think the redbulls have flattered to deceive for the last two races. They suited their car, however this track with its long straights will return things back to the status quo.

For me its Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel.

Hamilton usually has a clear pace advantage over Rosberg on this circuit. Four tenths last year.

[Steve Barrett]

Hamilton
Rosberg
Perez (Hopefully)

[Blayney]

Statistically Hamilton will either win or retire...

2007 - Win
2008 - Retire (bit embarrassing that one...)
2009 - N/A
2010 - Win
2011 - Retire
2012 - Win
2013 - 3rd
2014 - Retire
2015 - Win

If he were to win it would be his first back to back Canadian GP wins.

[NM62]

Jasandjules said:

Vaud said:

Just a thanks to the OP for continuing to set the standards for the opening of these threads...

I think it is safe to say no-one else will ever start an F1 thread as they will simply not be able to compete!!

The OP does a sterling job.

+1 - OP Should be made "Official Thread Starter"

Qualy 1. LH 2. NR 3.DR
Race 1. LH 2. DR 3.NH

The Force India's usually go quite well here making their tyres last.

[HustleRussell]

confucuis said:

I think the redbulls have flattered to deceive for the last two races. They suited their car, however this track with its long straights will return things back to the status quo.

For me its Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel.

Basically agree. Hoping for another good one. Canada is a Hamilton track IMO.

HAM
ROS
VET
MAS

[williamp]

Love the Canada GP. Almost always a good race, often rain affected, the wall of champignons, and a Lewis track. Would be great if Jenson can do some magic here too

[TheInternet]

confucuis said:

I think the redbulls have flattered to deceive for the last two races. They suited their car, however this track with its long straights will return things back to the status quo.

RB/Renault have the engine upgrades here, non? I can imagine the former surpassing Ferrari but not Mercedes.