11/06/2017
NEWS STORY
While Toto Wolff's continued claim the Mercedes is the underdog took a bit of a battering from Lewis Hamilton yesterday afternoon, there is no doubt that Ferrari would dearly love to prove the Austrian correct today.
While the Briton's two qualifying laps were little short of magnificent, and fully deserving of the Ayrton Senna tribute, but for mistakes from both Ferrari drivers it could have been entirely different.
Furthermore, unlike Monaco and various other tracks, pole position is not that important here.
On the other hand, getting through the first couple of corners is.
For much of the weekend the Ferraris have looked invincible, suggesting that Wolff may have a point. However, when the chips were down Hamilton dug deep and the underdog took a bite of the Prancing Horse's rear.
That said, the Ferraris looked good for a reason, and there is a feeling that today's warmer temperatures added to Mercedes issues with getting its tyres up to working temperature quickly could see the Maranello team prove victorious.
A typically strong start from Vettel and Raikkonen could see the race pretty much decided at the first corner.
However, Montreal has a reputation for producing the unexpected, and therefore we could be entering no-mans-land here.
It was in Canada, albeit at the Mosport Park circuit, that F1 first witnessed the Safety Car, and it's worth noting that 13 of the last 18 races here in Montreal have witnessed at least one appearance by the Safety Car or VSC, courtesy of the fast nature of the track and those unforgiving barriers just a few inches from the edge of the track.
Consequently, let's not write off the Red Bulls pulling a surprise today, or maybe even a Force India.
In terms of tyre strategy, there are a number of options. The quickest is a one-stopper, whereby its ultrasofts for 22 laps then a 48-lap stint to the end, alternatively ultrasofts for 33 laps then a 37-lap stint on supersofts.
On the other hand drivers could opt for a two-stopper; comprising two 22-lap stints on ultrasofts and a 26-lap stint on supersofts.
Last year, Hamilton won the race on a one-stop strategy, while second placed Vettel opted for two stops.
Two drivers who really do need a result soon are Jolyon Palmer and Lance Stroll, though starting from 15th and 17th today both will be hard pressed to make an impression. Indeed, with an eye on those barriers both would be well advised not to try any heroics.
While many believed Monaco was the perfect opportunity for McLaren to open its 2017 points account, with its hard-earned fearsome reputation Montreal might be the place where the planets finally align.
As the pitlane opens, the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40 degrees. It is bright but with lots and lots of cloud. A significant factor could be the strong wind blowing across the pit and back straights.
Indeed, Sainz reports on his way to the grid that he struggled to get top gear on the back straight due to the wind.
The drivers head to the front of the grid for the national anthem and another (sigh) minute's silence, this time for last week's terrorist atrocity in London... and possibly Manilla...
As they head off on the warm-up lap, all are on the ultrasofts bar Magnussen and Wehrlein who are on softs. Incidentally, the German is starting from the pitlane after Sauber changed his rear wing overnight following his Q1 crash.
All get away except Kvyat who is left stranded on the grid until his crew get him going and will therefore start from the back.
A great start from Hamilton, while Verstappen rockets up the outside taking those ahead completely by surprise, not least Vettel, the youngster ripping off part of the German's front wing. As they come out of T2 he already second.
Into T3 and a spinning, out of control Sainz hits Massa having only just avoided taking out Grosjean previously, the Spaiard running the Haas off track.
"What the... what a mental guy!" cries Grosjean. "What the!"
The Safety Car is deployed as Sainz and Massa climb from their cars.
Behind the Safety Car, Hamilton leads, Verstappen, Bottas, Vettel, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Perez, Ocon, Hulkenberg and Kvyat.
At the end of lap 1, Grosjean and Wehrlein pit.
The Stewards are investigating the Sainz incident but no mention of Grosjean who was involved, hence the stop for a new wing.
"What they are doing?" asks Alonso. "Crazy start... they need to calm down."
At the end of lap 3 the Safety Car is withdrawn, Verstappen is all over Hamilton. Meanwhile, a piece of front wing blew across the track at the re-start, but who's?
It was Vettel's, the German, having lost a bit more of his car following that first corner clash, pits at the end of lap 4. Elsewhere, replay shows Raikkonen having a big moment and losing out to Perez.
In fact, Vettel doesn't pit and instead continues in 4th, but the car will be horrible to drive.
Next time around he does pit, rejoining in 18th on supersofts with a new nose.
After 5 laps, Hamilton leads Verstappen by 1.9s with Bottas 1.3s down on the Red Bull.
"Debris between Turns 7 and 8," Hamilton is warned, as the stewards investigate Kvyat for failing to regain position before the Safety Car line on formation lap.
Replay shows Verstappen cutting across Vettel at the re-start causing the damage to the German's front wing.
As Ricciardo is given a gee-up and get clear of Perez, Verstappen grinds to a halt at T2. The VSC is deployed.
Hulkenberg takes advantage of the VSC to pit, while the camera cuts to a dejected Helmut Marko in the Red Bull garage. Palmer and Ericsson also pit.
On-board coverage shows Verstappen's power suddenly cutting out, leaving the teenager less than happy.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Montreal, here.
Magnussen reports that there is a Ferrari cap on the track under the bridge. "Can it be removed," he asks.
The VSC ends at the end of lap 13, as Kvyat is handed a drive-through.
Stroll makes a great move on Vandoorne at the hairpin to take 10th. The McLaren is passed by Hulkenberg also for good measure.
Kvyat pits at the end of lap 15 to serve his penalty. He rejoins in 11th.
After 16 laps, it's: Hamilton, Bottas, Ricciardo, Perez, Raikkonen, Ocon, Alonso, Magnussen, Stroll and Hulkenberg.
A superb scrap between Magnussen, Stroll and Hulkenberg down the pit straight into T1 for 8th.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 17, the Finn going for the undercut.
Magnussen is under investigation for overtaking under the VSC.
Next time around (lap 18) Ricciardo pits as Vettel closes on the Magnussen. Stroll and Hulkenberg battle.
Ricciardo rejoins in 6th, ahead of Raikkonen, but on the soft rubber.
Perez pits at the end of lap 19, the Spaniard rejoining in sixth, behind Ricciardo but ahead of Raikkonen.
As Alonso moves up to 4th, Vettel passes Hulkenberg to take 10th.
As Vettel leaves it late, late, late to out-brake Stroll in the final corner, Ricciardo and then Perez pass Alonso.
"Sitting duck," says the two-time world champion. He is subsequently passed by Raikkonen but continues to harry the Finn.
Vettel closes in on Alonso which means the next target will be Ferrari teammate Raikkonen.
Told not to short-shift, Alonso argues; "where, where am I doing that?".
Bottas pits at the end of lap 23, as Stroll battles with Magnussen for 9th. Bottas rejoins in 3rd.
As he posts a new fastest lap (16.269), Hamilton is told that he may be changing to softs when he stops, advised that Ricciardo is on the yellow-banded rubber. Bottas also.
As Magnussen is handed a 5s time penalty for overtaking under the VSC, Hulkenberg finally gets past Stroll, who pits. Previously, the German had run wide as he battled with the Williams driver.
Told his pace is good, Alonso responds: "You are not giving me the correct information. I need the pace of Magnussen."
However, the Spaniard might have other things to worry about, for Vettel is just 0.855s behind. In no time at all, the German is through.
Fastest man right now is Bottas who is closing in on Ocon who has yet to stop.
Hulkenberg makes a bold move on Magnussen to take 9th.
Perez, in fifth, asks what his teammate is doing. The Mexican is advised that the Frenchman has yet to stop but that his pace is good.
Another great move on Magnussen, this time from Kvyat, who passes the Dane in the infamous T1.
Despite the fact Bottas is on fresher tyres, Ocon is holding the Finn at bay, the youngster doing a magnificent job.
After 31 laps, Hamilton leads Ocon by 26s with Bottas a further 0.5s behind.
As he nearly loses out to Bottas, Ocon complains of low grip.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 32, the Briton switching to the supersofts. Ocon also stops.
While Hamilton is still leading, Ocon has dropped to sixth, sandwiched by the two Ferraris of Raikkonen and Vettel.
Kvyat is clearly a very unhappy bunny. The Russian emits a series of naughty words, though it is not clear who he is referring to. "Cop," comes the reply. "But watch your words though."
"Embarrassing power in this mode," complains Alonso.
At half-time, it's: Hamilton, Bottas (+ 10.3), Ricciardo (+ 13.1), Perez (+ 1.8), Raikkonen (+ 1.5), Ocon (+ 1.1), Vettel (+ 2.3), Alonso (+ 11.8), Hulkenberg (+ 3.6) and Kvyat (+ 2.3).
Check out our Sunday gallery from Montreal, here.
Ferrari reveals that Vettel has a damaged floor as it is revealed that Verstappen suffered a battery issue.
Oh dear, we can expect some more choice language, Kvyat has been handed an additional 10s penalty as the original penalty was incorrect.
Is that the decision the cause of his earlier outburst?
Leading Bottas by 12.026s, and with Vettel 30.4s behind, Hamilton ponders the German's strategy. "I'm guessing he is doing a two-stop," he says.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 41, switching to the ultras and rejoining in 7th just ahead of a vicious scrap between Alonso and Hulkenberg.
If nothing else, that stop allowed Vettel to pass his Ferrari teammate.
Stroll passes Grosjean for 13th while Hulkenberg finally nails Alonso on the back straight.
The Spaniard responds by making his first stop of the day, leaving his McLaren teammate as the only other driver still to stop.
"Do we believe the other cars have to stop?" asks Vettel. "No we don't," he is told.
Raikkonen is told that "Seb will stay out to battle with the Force Indias". In other words, when you get there, don't hassle your teammate.
"The car behind is Stroll," Vandoorne is told. "Hold him off if you can." Sadly, there is little the Belgian can do, the Williams gets by. Vandoorne pits.
Stroll subsequently makes short work of Alonso, much to the delight of the Williams crew who applaud the youngster.
Though Vettel is down in seventh, Hamilton continues to ask for updates. "Is he coming through the pack," he asks. "Negative," is the reply.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 49, the German rejoining in 7th on the ultras.
"Will we get them at the end," asks Vettel. "Yes," comes the reply. In other words, Ferrari believes Vettel can challenge the two Force Indias and possibly Bottas and Ricciardo who are both on the softs.
As Ocon closes on Perez, the Mexican is told his teammate feels he has a better chance of taking on Ricciardo. It's more of a gee-up for the Mexican than an order to stand aside.
On that fresh rubber, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (15.431).
Despite being passed by Stroll, Alonso remains right on the back of the Williams.
Kvyat pits after reporting an issue however, before the team gets to work he serves his 10s penalty. After an agonisingly long stop the Russian is told to stop his engine.
"It's a waste of time," says Perez, the Mexican insisting that he can challenge Ricciardo but without the pressure from his own teammate.
Perez is warned that the team wants Ocon to have a go at Ricciardo before the Ferraris arrive. They assure him that it is strategy not team orders.
"Leave me alone, give me than chance now," urges Perez.
As he laps Stroll, Hamilton gives him a polite thumbs-up.
As the Force India duo argue among themselves, Raikkonen has closed to within 4.9s with Vettel a further 3.8s down the road.
Back in the pits, Kvyat's day appears to be over.
Vandoorne moves aside for the Ricciardo, Perez and Ocon train.
Lap 60 sees Vettel go quickest (14.964) and also take 6th as his teammate made a mistake at the final chicane which saw him run wide and allow the German through.
Moments before he'd been told: "Okay Kimi, you know the score. The front of this battle is the podium."
With 8 laps remaining, Vettel is 1.87s down on Ocon and hot to trot.
Raikkonen appears to have a brake issue, though the team is trying to talk him through it. A brake issue is the last thing you want at this circuit. He is currently losing 5s a lap.
As Vettel closes on Ocon, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (14.551).
As Vettel applies the pressure, so Ocon uses DRS to try and pass his Force India teammate.
As Raikkonen is told to ease off, Vettel makes a mistake at the hairpin. He recovers and as Ocon makes a move in T1, Vettel tries to pass the pair of Force Indias in a brave, bold. In the process Ocon runs wide and the German takes 5th.
The German subsequently runs wide thereby allowing Ocon to close in again.
Out comes the double yellows as Alonso stop on track. "Engine, engine blow up," reports the Spaniard.
Again, another bold move from Vettel who nails Perez in the final chicane.
With two laps remaining he sets off after Ricciardo who is 3.4s up the road.
Alonso heads into the crowd and throws his gloves to the fans.
Hamilton begins his final lap. As he subsequently takes the flag, Ocon makes a late challenge on Perez however the Mexican holds his position.
As Hamilton is congratulated, Stroll waves to the crowd, the youngster finally opening his points account and on home soil to boot.
On his cool down lap, Hamilton holds the Union Flag aloft.
"Nice work Lewis," he is told over the radio, "a walk in the park for you today."
The radio traffic at Force India is not as pleasant. "That is not fair," says Ocon. "I mean he cannot do that guys."
In the ante room, Hamilton asks Ricciardo: "Tough one?" "Yeh," replies the Australian, as he congratulates the Mercedes duo.
MC for the podium interviews is Sir Patrick Stewart. Having paid the traditional thanks to the "Great crowd" his team and his teammate, Hamilton adds: "I had my first pole here, my first win here, ten years ago, so it makes it more special. It's great to really bring it to the Ferraris. I'm over the moon!"
"After a tough race in Monaco I'm really impressed how much we have improved," says Bottas, "I'm very proud to be part of this. Lewis was controlling the race, I knew in the end I just had to bring the car home, bring the points. This was good for us."
"Today I only had fun when I saw the chequered flag," adds Ricciardo. "We weren't that quick and I had pressure, pressure. But it's awesome to be on the podium here.
"I think I hear something, I have to do something," he says, and then bends down to pick up his boot and pour in the Champagne. Having drunk from the cup he invites Stewart to sup, he duly obliges.
Some great drives today, not least from Vettel who did a remarkable job of limiting the damage, and heads to Azerbaijan with a 12 point advantage.