19/06/2022
NEWS STORY
Over the years the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve has provided us with some genuine thrillers - which is only right when you consider the legendary driver it is named after - and today's race could be up there with the best of them.
Whether we will be able to use adjectives such a thrilling and exciting remain to be seen, but it definitely has the potential.
With the Weather Gods having done their work yesterday, we have the sort of grid Ross Brawn had in mind when pushing for reverse grids - by the way, whatever happened to dear old Ross, we haven't heard from him lately.
OK, we have a usual suspect on pole, but in terms of that Q3 lap deservedly so, however, look where Charles Leclerc is starting.
Though Carlos Sainz starts from third, like his teammate there are reliability concerns, while Sergio Perez is down in thirteenth after hitting the barriers in Q2 and consequently pretty much out of the equation, certainly in the early stages..
Saturday's conditions meant the porpoising that has plagued Mercedes all year wasn't quite as evident, but in today's sunshine we can expect to see Lewis and George bouncing away as usual.
While this will hamper them in pursuit of the leaders it will also leave them open to attack from those behind.
And look who we have behind... Magnussen, Schumacher, Ocon, Ricciardo, Zhou, Bottas and Albon. Honestly, you couldn't make this stuff up.
Surely nobody would begrudge the Haas pair a decent points haul, especially young Mick, while Zhou is clearly gaining confidence having out-paced his teammate for the second time this year.
Then there's the piece de resistance, Nando.
God alone knows how it will look once given the Drive to Survive treatment, but that moment in the dying seconds of Q3 when the Spaniard's Alpine emerged from the spray to claim third was iconic, and in all honesty we were cheering with the rest of them.
Over the years - so many years - Fernando has shown himself to be a wily old fox, indeed a fox with the soul of a Samurai, and the fact is that you write him off at your peril.
In Monaco and Baku he frustrated Hamilton and the McLaren pair, making his car as wide as legally possible, and digging deep into his sizeable bag of tricks to thwart their every move.
Today, other than seeking to hold off countryman Carlos Sainz, Alonso will be keen - an understatement surely - to similarly thwart the ambitions of Max Verstappen.
The two-time world champion admits he hasn't a hope in hell of winning the race, but to lead the field out of Turn 2 would give him great pleasure, and when the Spaniard warns of "maximum attack" you can be sure he means it and were we alone in smiling when the Samurai insisted he would not try a Kamikaze move on the run to Turn 1?
For his part, Verstappen would be best served allowing the Alpine driver his moment in the spotlight and instead concentrate on the threat from Sainz, but as we all know the Dutchman can never walk away from a scrap.
Over the years we've seen numerous first lap incidents here, let's hope that today we can get through those first few corners cleanly, for this lottery-style grid has the potential to provide some great entertainment and it would be a great pity to compromise it with some needless red-mist silliness before the race is barely underway.
Along with porpoising, another issue worrying drivers this afternoon will be reliability, and with that in mind Ferrari and Red Bull will be hoping they have got on top of the various problems that have plagued them this year.
A one-stopper is expected to be fastest today, with best way being to start on the medium and then move onto the hard. There's broadly comparable degradation between the soft and the medium, but the medium offers a wider pit stop window and more driveability than the soft, so starting on it gives drivers more options.
Soft to hard is also a viable one-stop strategy, but it commits the drivers to stopping slightly earlier than they would on the mediums. The big unknown is safety cars, but there is no way to prepare for those other than to consider as many options as possible.
A two-stopper is slightly slower, but under the right circumstances it could work: especially as you lose less time in a pit stop here than on any other circuit on the calendar, also because the drivers effectively cut out the first and last corners by using the pit lane.
For those starting further down the grid, there might be an argument for starting on the hard tyre and going long: hoping to make the most of a safety car, for example, by avoiding a pit stop and then switching to a faster tyre at the end. This is a circuit where you can overtake, so track position isn't quite as paramount as other places.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out.
Air temperature is 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40 degrees. It is bright and sunny. Risk of rain is 0%.
Ahead of the formation lap, Perez is told: "Patience, it's going to be a long race, it will come to us. Save the tyres, save the brakes for when we need them, build up the margin and then make it count when we do."
All are starting on the mediums bar Bottas, Perez, Norris, Stroll and Leclerc who have gone for hards.
They heads off on the formation lap, all getting away cleanly. However, the field is quite spread out with Verstappen setting an unusually keen pace.
The grid forms.
They're away! Verstappen makes a great start, Alonso not so. Heading into Turn 1, Hamilton and Sainz are side by side. The Spaniard, with the inside line, gets ahead and is level with Alonso, but now the Alpine driver has the advantage in Turn 2.
Behind, Hamilton and Magnussen are side by side, as are Ocon and Schumacher, while further back Bottas runs wide.
Hamilton continues to battle Magnussen and in Turn 3 they touch.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Alonso, Sainz, Hamilton, Magnussen, Ocon, Russell, Schumacher, Ricciardo and Zhou. Bottas misses the final chicane and to make matters worse, doesn't follow the race director's instructions in terms of rejoining the track. At the back, Leclerc is up to 17th and Gasly 18th.
At the end of lap 3, Sainz passes Alonso on the pit straight, as Magnussen is warned he has "small front wing damage".
Alonso is now under attack from Hamilton who is 2.3s clear of Magnussen. Having been thwarted by the Spaniard in Monaco, Hamilton will be keen for payback.
After 4 laps, Verstappen has a 3.4s lead.
Perez is eleventh, while Leclerc is up to 16th.
Russell passes Magnussen for 5th, the Briton 3.6s down on his Mercedes teammate.
Vettel and Gasly both pit at the end of lap 5, as Magnussen is shown the black and orange flag.
Zhou passes Ricciardo for 9th in a move that Zak Brown won't appreciate. Teammate Norris is currently 14th.
Vettel and Gasly have both switched to hard suggesting their mediums were graining.
As Sainz posts a new fastest lap (17.963), Magnussen pits for a new front wing, much to the Dane's frustration. He rejoins in 20th position.
"I've lost the engine," reports Perez as he slows to a halt at Turn 9. "I've lost the engine, man, I'm stuck in gear."
The VSC is deployed.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Montreal here.
Hamilton is told that he's losing out on braking for Turns 8 and 13.
Verstappen takes advantage of the VSC and pits, as do Hamilton, Tsunoda and Latifi.
Verstappen rejoins in third and Hamilton in 6th. Sainz leads Alonso by 2.4s, while Verstappen is 4.6s down on the Alpine.
The VSC is withdrawn at the end of lap 10.
"Hamilton lost places?" Told the Briton has pitted, the Spaniard replies "Okay, so, we know what to do now."
Hamilton is alongside Ocon into Turn 14, and though the Frenchman holds him off, the Briton gets by on the run to Turn 1.
Lap 12 sees a new fastest lap from Verstappen (17.370), as Zhou is all over Schumacher as they battle for 7th.
Ricciardo is told that Albon is holding up Bottas, Norris and Leclerc. "Use the opportunity," the Australian is told.
As Sainz builds a 4.5s lead, Verstappen is now just 1s down on Alonso with a 6s gap to Russell.
At the end of lap 15, Verstappen sweeps by Alonso on the run to Turn 14.
Bottas locks-up as he climbs all over the back of Albon whilst fending off Leclerc.
Russell urges his team to "keep it simple" in terms of strategy, the Briton having lost out to his teammate in terms of the VSC pit stop.
In no time at all, Alonso is 3.8s down on Verstappen and the Dutchman sets about closing the 5s gap to Sainz.
No sooner has Bottas picked off Albon in a brave move out of the hairpin, than Leclerc follows through.
Asked about his tyres, Alonso reports: "Okay, a bit of front graining."
After being passed by Zhou, Schumacher stop and as the BVSC is deployed Russell pits, as do Ocon, Zhou, Ricciardo, Norris and Vettel. That's the German's second stop, while Norris loses out as McLaren double-stacks.
Next time around, at the end of lap 20, Sainz pits, the Spaniard rejoining in third, 2.1s down on Alonso and 0.4s ahead of Hamilton.
The VSC is withdrawn.
Leclerc is up to 8th, but hasn't pitted. At which point a bold move in the final chicane sees him take Bottas for 7th.
As Sainz and Hamilton close on Alonso it is surprising that Alpine didn't pit the Spaniard.
Sainz passes Alonso for the second time at the end of lap 22, as Hamilton shadows his former teammate. Indeed, the Mercedes passes the Alpine on the run to Turn 14 at the end of lap 23.
Zhou is battling Stroll for ninth. "We don't have enough speed," complains the Chinese driver.
Verstappen is told that he is "free to push", the Dutchman advised that Sainz is probably aiming to complete the race on his currently set of tyres.
Leclerc closes on Ocon, as Alonso is losing over a second a lap to Russell who is 2.7s behind.
The Spaniard, like Leclerc, Bottas and Stroll, has yet to stop.
Alonso is told to extend his stint as long as he can, as he reports graining, especially the front. At which point, at the end of lap 28, he pits.
He rejoins in 6th on the hards, 1.7s down on Leclerc.
"I don't have the grip," reports Leclerc. "It's so bad, I don't have the grip."
"Asked his status, Ricciardo, currently 12th, responds: "Poor!". His teammate is 17th.
"I feel like I'm already losing grip, I don't know what to do," complains Verstappen, as he enjoys an 8s lead.
At half-time, it's: Verstappen, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Ocon, Leclerc, Alonso, Bottas, Stroll and Zhou.
Sainz is told that Hamilton will stop in five laps.
"We are thinking Plan B, what do you think," Leclerc is asked as he remains stuck behind Ocon.
Gasly makes his second stop at the end of lap 37, the Frenchman sticking with the hards as he rejoins in 7th. Latifi also stops, however it's a poor stop and he loses vital seconds.
Running third and fourth, Hamilton and Russell are the only drivers posting PBs.
At the end of lap 41, Leclerc finally pits. Switching to mediums, after a slow stop, he rejoins in 12th, behind Ricciardo, the last carriage in the Stroll DRS train. The youngster shakes his head in frustration.
Out front, Verstappen's lead is down to 6s. The Dutchman subsequently pits - at the end of lap 43 - and rejoins alongside Hamilton, who has the inside in Turn 2 and has the advantage.
"Why didn't you make sure I was ******* in front," demands the world champion. "Didn't have the pace," he is told.
However, Hamilton subsequently pits, much to Verstappen's relief. The Briton rejoins 11.5s down on his Mercedes teammate and 16s clear of Ocon.
Russell pits at the end of lap 45, the youngster rejoining in fourth, 6s down on Hamilton.
In quick succession, Leclerc passes Ricciardo and Tsunoda to claim 10th.
"Safety car window is open," Sainz is told.
On his fresh hards, and sensing a podium, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (16.769).
Leclerc passes Zhou with ease and sets off after Stroll.
"situation is stabilising, keep doing what you are doing," Alonso is told. "But what are we doing, I'm losing seconds on the straights."
Stroll and Tsunoda both pit at the end of lap 48.
Meanwhile, 7.6s down on the leader, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (16.759)
Tsunoda has gone off and into the barrier at Turn 1, and moments later the safety car is deployed. "Sorry, I'm out," says the Japanese.
Sainz wisely takes the opportunity to pit, the Spaniard rejoining right behind Verstappen.
Next time around the Alpine pair stop, as do Bottas, Zhou and Ricciardo. The Alpines and Bottas switching to mediums.
Verstappen is appraised of his rivals tyre situation.
"Am I racing Leclerc now," asks Hamilton, "give me some information, guys."
Behind the safety car, it's: Verstappen, Sainz, Hamilton, Russell, Ocon, Alonso, Leclerc, Bottas, Vettel and Zhou.
Anticipating the restart, the drivers furiously generate heat into their tyres.
The safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 54. Magnussen leads the pack of lapped drivers who have passed the safety car and are now racing to join the back of the field.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Montreal here.
Verstappen lets rip, and though it is fast and frantic there are no significant passes.
Zhou is all over Vettel, with Ricciardo right behind.
As Leclerc hunts down Alonso, Sainz posts a new fastest lap (16.287).
Zhou passes Vettel in a determined move and Albon passes Gasly.
Sainz has DRS on Verstappen as he climbs all over the back of the Red Bull.
"If, for whatever reason, Alonso comes past, just make sure Leclerc doesn't," Ocon is told. However, moments later, Leclerc makes a great move to pass Alonso for sixth.
Leclerc cuts the final chicane, but doesn't gain or lose a position.
As Sainz hounds Verstappen, Hamilton has the best seat in the house, and would be the one to benefit in the event of any silliness.
Leclerc picks off Ocon with surprising ease, to take 5th position. The Frenchman is told to drop back and help his teammate defend against Bottas, Alonso seemingly struggling with a power unit issue.
After 62 laps, it's: Verstappen, Sainz (+ 0.7s), Hamilton (+ 2.5s), Russell (+ 4.1s), Leclerc (+ 2.9s), Ocon (+ 3.4s).
Stroll passes Ricciardo for tenth as the stewards announce that Vettel is under investigation for a safety car infringement.
A new fastest lap for Sainz (15.749) as he continues to hunt Verstappen.
Told to maintain position behind his teammate, Alonso replies: "Okay but I am one hundred times faster this weekend."
Sainz remains within DRS range of Verstappen but just doesn't have the grunt to pass the Red Bull.
As they cross the line to begin the final lap, Sainz is 0.467s down - the same as the gap that separates the Alpine pair.
Verstappen takes the flag, with Sainz second and Hamilton third.
Russell is fourth, ahead of Leclerc, Ocon, Alonso, Bottas, Zhou and Stroll.
Ricciardo is eleventh, ahead of Vettel, Albon, Gasly, Norris, Latifi and Magnussen.
Not the thriller we were hoping for, but some interesting performances and a few great moves.
With Leclerc starting from the back, it was always likely that Verstappen would cruise to victory, but that safety car at least put him under a bit of pressure.
This was probably Sainz' best opportunity, but the Spaniard wasn't able to take advantage.
No back paid for Hamilton today it seems, the Briton out of his car to receive the applause from the fans and attend the trackside interviews. With teammate Russell fourth, this was another strong performance from Mercedes despite its issues.
A great revival from Leclerc, who will be delighted to have got through the afternoon with no issues, something that Perez can only dream off.
While it didn't work out for Alonso, it's another double points finish for Alpine, and indeed for Alfa Romeo, where Zhou was particularly impressive.
Rounding out the Top Ten was Stroll in his home race, the Canadian no doubt ruing the fact that the Aston Martin performed so badly yesterday.
While those new rules have indeed allowed cars to follow more closely, once again we are seeing these ludicrous DRS trains, lap after lap of three, four, five and more cars circulating as one.
And then there was Sainz, tantalisingly close to Verstappen but nothing more.
Between this and the porpoising phenomenon, the F1 technical gurus clearly aren't as clever as they would have us believe.
"It's quite overwhelming to get this third place," says Hamilton. "We remain vigilant, never give up and it's something I'm inspired by.
"We're getting closer," he adds. "I could just about see them at the end! Honestly, I'm ecstatic."
"I was pushing flat out," adds Sainz, "I wasn't leaving an inch to the walls under braking. I tried everything to pass Max but the positive thing is we were quicker, we were faster in the race.
"We were very close to winning today so I'll take the positives."
"The Safety Car didn't help," admits Verstappen, "overall they were very quick.
"Following is tricky around here, I could see him pushing, charging, pushing, charging... the last few laps were fun," he laughs.