After Monaco’s maximum downforce layout, teams trimmed back their aero for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal where power and straight-line speed are significant assets around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Saturday’s qualifying in Montreal was one for the books, with poleman George Russell and Max Verstappen setting identical times in the thrilling session, a feat achieved only once previously, at the 1997 European Grand Prix in Jerez when three cars clocked in with the sale lap time!
Even third-placed man Lando Norris was just 0.021s off pole at the end of the epic shootout.
While local hero Lance Stroll gets bragging rights for powering his Aston Martin through the speed trap at a cool 333.9 km/h, with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda close behind, there was just a 2.5 km/h differential between Russell and Verstappen in terms of maximum velocity.
Norris, however, was over 4 km/h down on Russell on the straight.
But according to Formula Data Analysis, the McLaren driver was especially lagging his two main rivals in the braking department, a crucial factor around the Montreal track and one that may have cost him pole.
While Verstappen was fastest in Sector 1, Hamilton and Russell were quickest through the track’s medium-speed Sector 2, with Russell gaining a clear upper hand in the third and final segment.
On the strategy front, according to Pirelli, the most effective plan in the event of a dry race is a two-stop, the predominant choice being to use two sets of Hard tyres, which explains why seven teams still have two sets available for each driver.
A one-stop strategy, using a combination of Medium and Hard, is possible on paper, but it’s very marginal.
Obviously, all bets are off in the event of wet race or if the skies open up after the start. But McLaren’s seemingly poor straight-line speed, which equates to higher downforce, might come in handy if the weather indeed wreaks havoc on proceedings.
Otherwise, we see a strong chance of Max resuming normal business. Wait and see…
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