CANADIAN GP 2013

The Canadian Grand Prix (known in French as the Grand Prix du Canada) is an annual auto race held in Canada starting in 1961. It has been part of the Formula One World Championship since 1967. It was first staged at Mosport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario as a sports car event before it alternated between Mosport and Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Quebec after Formula One took over the event. After 1971 safety concerns led to the Grand Prix moving permanently to Mosport. In 1978, after similar safety concerns with Mosport the Canadian Grand Prix moved to its current home on Île Notre-Dame in Montreal.

In 2005, the Canadian Grand Prix was the most watched Formula One GP in the world. The race was also the third most watched sporting event worldwide, behind the first place Super Bowl XXXIX and the UEFA Champions League Final.

Montreal is always one of the most interesting races of the season from a strategy point of view. With a very high likelihood of safety cars, a low grip surface and very easy overtaking, it is always an entertaining race and hard to predict.

TRACK CHARACTERISTICS

Length : 4.36 kilometers
Race distance : 70 laps (305 kilometers)
Corners : 12 corners in total. A circuit made up of straights, chicanes and a hairpin.
Aerodynamic setup : Medium downforce
Top speed : 326km/h (with Drag Reduction System active on rear wing) – 316km/h without
Full throttle : 60% of the lap (quite high). 15 seconds unbroken full throttle on main straight
Total fuel needed for race distance : 142 kilos (average/high)
Fuel consumption : 2.0kg per lap (average/high)
Time spent braking : 17% of lap (high) 7 braking zones
Brake wear : Very High
Loss time for a Pit stop : 11.2 seconds (very fast)
Total time needed for pit stop : 15.2 seconds
Fuel effect (cost in lap time per 10kg of fuel carried) : 0.28 seconds (low)
Lap Record : 1:13.622 - R Barrichello (2004)

DRS

There will be two DRS zones for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix after the FIA reduced the number to one last year. The first year that DRS was used in Montreal there were two zones - one before Turns 13 and 14 (the final chicane) and one on the start/finish straight - but with only one detection point overtaking proved too easy, a number of passes were made in the first zone before being able to extend a large advantage in the second.

Having reduced the DRS to one zone in 2012, the FIA has now announced there will be two again this year. While there is still only one detection point, the first zone is located 55m before the right-hand kink known as Turn 12, making it 113m shorter than it was in 2011 and 63m shorter than last year. The second zone is again after Turn 14, and with an activation point 70m after corner it is just one metre shorter compared to 2011.

WEATHER

Government of Canada weather report is saying Montreal will be wet and cold this weekend from Friday onwards, so not so good for race setup and qualifying unless you're a Marussia or Caterham supporter. The weather report is as below.

Friday, 7 June - Showers. High 16.
Saturday, 8 June - Rain. Low 11. High 17.
Sunday, 9 June - A mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers. Low 11. High 20.

TYRES

Pirelli tyre choice for Montreal: Prime tyre is Medium (white markings) and Option tyre is Super Soft (red markings). Pirelli has stepped back from its original intention to bring revised tyres with a new rear construction for competition use in Montreal. Instead it will supply two sets of the revised tyres for test purposes only on Friday. Of course if I was Pirelli I would not go ahead with whatever changes I had in mind seeing as I was being blamed for everything and no contract agreed to for next year. F1 might find itself with its pants down next year as Bridgestone and Hankook has said they won't bother to supply if Pirelli jumps ship.

Montreal has been interesting the past few years due to the nature of the track and some unpredictable weather. Hopefully the 2 DRS zones won't dull the race. With Mercedes wanting another win and Red Bull not so strong here, plus Grosjean starting 10 places down, this should be a cracker of a race.

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