Formula 1: Looking back at the last five Canadian Grands Prix
By Kevin Nguyen
Formula 1 takes a break from Europe and heads to Canada. What can the last five races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve tell us about the 2018 race?
It’s that time again, that odd week when the Formula 1 world tour takes a break from the European season to race in North America. As drivers, teams and fans flock to Montreal for the 2018 Canadian Grand Prix, fans at home get to see the amazing Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in the bright Canadian sunshine.
The 2.709-mile (4.361-kilometer) circuit is as much a fan favorite as it is a driver favorite. The hairpin at turn 10 and the infamous Wall of Champions at the final turn make the circuit as fun to watch as it is to drive. As we prepare for the 2018 edition, here’s a recap of the last five Canadian Grands Prix.
2013
The 2013 race was more about the midfield making into the points and challenging for the podium than it was about the winner. Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel led all but three laps and easily took the checkered flag by over 14 seconds.
The race for the points by Force India’s Paul Di Resta and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa were undoubtedly one of the highlights of the race. The pair finished P7 and P8 after starting next to each other in P16 and P17, respectively. The charge of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to P2 from P6 was highlighted by an incredible pass on his then-McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, who now drives for Mercedes.
2014
Montreal wasn’t kind to Mercedes in 2014 with Hamilton encountering brake issues that forced him to retire after 46 laps. While Nico Rosberg managed to hold onto to P2, Mercedes were afraid Hamilton’s brake problem would show itself on Rosberg’s car.
That didn’t happen and Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of Mercedes’ hesitation and won from P6. However, the race is probably best remembered for the last-lap crash between Sergio Perez and Massa and the ensuing drama surrounding it.
2015
Montreal repaid Mercedes in 2015 by giving the German team a straightforward 1-2 finish after a dominant weekend, with Hamilton claiming victory and Rosberg finishing P2. Just as he did in the race in 2013, Massa staged another spirited finish into the points after starting the race from outside the top 10, as did Vettel, who now drove for Ferrari. Massa’s P6 finish and Vettel’s P5 finish highlighted an otherwise event-free race.
2016
The 2016 race was a much more competitive race than the 2015 edition. Aside from an amazing P20 to P9 run by Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz Jr., there was drama until the very end out front. Mercedes’ Hamilton and Ferrari’s Vettel led significant portions of the race, as Hamilton’s led 47 laps and Vettel led 23. While Hamilton won, the race pace of Ferrari made some believe that Mercedes weren’t unbeatable.
2017
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Hamilton took pole again for the race in 2017, and he experienced a casual Sunday drive en route to winning, as he led all 70 laps and won by nearly 20 seconds over his teammate, Valtteri Bottas. Williams rookie Lance Stroll continued Canada’s impressive run of backmarkers into the points, as the Canadian finished P9 after starting P17 in his first home F1 race.
An opening lap crash at turn three involving three cars brought out the only safety car of the race, but otherwise, the race was as straightforward a race as it could be for Hamilton and Mercedes.
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It should be noted that Hamilton comes to Canada still in the lead of the Formula 1 championship standings and Canada is one of his favorite tracks. Will his run in Canada continue in 2018 or will Ferrari and/or Red Bull Racing issue a challenge?