By Neil Leverett
- Formula 1 hops across the Atlantic once more this weekend for the Canadian Grand Prix
- First trip to Montreal since 2019 before pandemic began
- Red Bull looking for sixth-straight win but first at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve since 2014
MONTREAL – As Formula 1 returns to Montreal this weekend, will Red Bull continue their current dominance in the Canadian Grand Prix?
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Canada calling
With a third of the 2022 season in the books, this weekend sees Formula 1 jump back across the Atlantic for the second time this season and to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix.
A first return to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve since before the pandemic in 2019, Canada has seen some of the most memorable and classic GPs on the calendar.
Home to Lewis Hamilton‘s very first race win as a rookie in 2007, the 2011 edition remains the longest GP race in history, after rainstorms saw racing suspended.
Jenson Button claimed a famous win from the restart that year, having come from last place on Lap 41 to overtake Sebastian Vettel late on and take the chequered flag. This year, rain has hovered over Montreal since Thursday and it could also have a big say in qualifying on Saturday, however race day looks dry and slightly warmer.
But, after the somewhat farcical circumstances in Monaco last month, will Canada have more drama up its sleeve?
Rampant Red Bull
Red Bull are quickly simply roaring like the Honda engine in their car. Having now won five races on the spin and coupled with Ferrari’s honeymoon period having seemingly floated off on a raft toward choppy seas, the Milton Keynes manufacturer have opened up a lusty 80-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
In the individual standings, both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez continue to take a grip in the Drivers’ Championship and the latter has hinted in the past few races that it might be he and not Charles Leclerc closest to challenging Verstappen in defending his world title this term.
With three 1-2 finishes since Imola, Red Bull can this weekend notch a sixth win on the bounce which they are yet to achieve. As perfect as the landscape in the paddock and on the track looks right now though, there is the small fact that Red Bull have not won in Canada since 2014 when Daniel Ricciardo won from the third row on the grid.
If we also consider that it is Leclerc who has been on pole for the last four races, even if that dominant position has not been converted – more through misfortune that poor judgement – Ferrari remain poised to nip their momentum in the bud. That might just come in Montreal.
Will safety changes finally play Mercedes’ tune?
In the Mercedes garage this term, the ‘P’ word has been causing a headache the size of Quebec City; Porpoising. Their malaise could however, be set to ease significantly beginning this weekend.
For keen viewers in Baku and before the Azerbaijan GP, Toto Wolff had already effectively written off his team’s chances of challenging due to issues that were now compromising the health of their drivers.
A 3-4 finish in the City of Winds then, with Hamilton fourth and a third podium finish for George Russell in third, would have been a real shot in the arm.
With bouncing issues now starting to affect other teams though, after consulting with their own doctors the FIA have been forced to act, with the porpoising issue now not only seeing pain and fatigue inflicted in the cockpit but most importantly, driver concentration being directly impacted.
Short term measures will now be brought in for Canada including closer scrutiny of the planks and skids underneath the cars, both in terms of their design and their observed wear. A metric will also be brought via the answers of F1 teams – the drivers in particular – to define a limit for the safety grounds in terms of safe oscillation of cars.
It is fairly clear then, that the problems the Silver Arrows from the beginning of the season are not exclusively felt by them, however, if their problems can be resolved by a significant reduction in their lesser downforce on the track – coupled with improving results also – it might not be long until we see the resurgence of Mercedes.
The Formula 1 AWS Grand Prix du Canada 2022 takes place at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Montreal, this weekend.
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