This weekend is Round 7 of the 2011 Formula 1 season: the Canadian Grand Prix – for me, the best race of the nineteen on the calendar.
Sure, Monaco has the glamour, Monza has the history, the Belgian race takes place on a fantastic circuit, Singapore is spectacular under lights, Australia is a great event, Abu Dhabi can boast absurd amounts of wealth, and the British Grand Prix is a home race of which we can all be proud, but I still think that Canada tops them all.
To begin with, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is beautifully picturesque, situated on an island and running around a huge length. The track is lined with trees and the skyline of Montreal is easily visible from the circuit.
It is also a popular, well-attended race, and the city is said to be buzzing throughout the grand prix weekend. There are definitely no empty seats on the scale of Shanghai or Istanbul, where you can walk around the city completely oblivious to the fact that there is a grand prix happening on the outskirts of the city.
And of course, it has been a place of British success in recent years, with Lewis Hamilton winning two of the last three races, a factor that should endear British fans to the venue.
The layout of the track usually contributes to a great race, creating a challenge for teams and drivers. The long straights and slow corners require compromises on car set-up, tyre wear can be a problem – as shown in last year’s race, where two or three pit stops were needed on the ultra-conservative Bridgestone tyres – and brakes take a pounding.
And then, of course, there is the notorious ‘Wall of Champions’, where top drivers have found themselves over the years, including Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button and, yesterday, Sebastian Vettel. If even the top drivers can be caught out by the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve then the racing becomes even more predictable.
These are the reasons why the Canadian Grand Prix should be a highlight of the calendar for everybody. For me, it is elevated to the best for another reason: its timing. Thanks to Canada’s time zone, the grand prix is elevated to prime-time viewing for television audiences in the UK, giving this race a greater sense of importance, and a few more casual viewers, stumbling on the action by accident. It is also scheduled at a great time of year, and so the race, in my mind at least, gets associated with great summer weather and the end of university exams.
So tune in and enjoy the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend – it is guaranteed to be a great race.
- Read my preview of the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix on thecheckeredflag.co.uk where there is also full coverage of the LeMan24 hour race this weekend.
Pingback: Told You So…. | Bean’s F1 Blog