Sebastian Vettel says the appeal of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix comes from its old-school vibe and challenging track that often throws up wild races.
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve started hosting the event in 1978 and has been a mainstay on the Formula One calendar ever since. A self-avowed traditionalist, Vettel relishes the challenge of competing at a venue perhaps just as demanding as Monaco.
“Montreal is a fantastic place,” the four-time world champion said. “I think it is great that we are racing in Canada. I think it’s a race that all the Formula One fans and all the drivers enjoy. It is a great circuit.
“It is incredibly important to get the timing right under braking. It is quite a hard challenge for the driver, but also for the car, for the brakes and the tyres, because you stop the car with a very low speed to accelerate again. So, traction is very important too.”
“Montreal is one of the old style circuits, with the walls being close, hard braking, and quick changes of direction in the chicanes.”
Despite winning the Canadian Grand Prix in 2013, Vettel remains closely associated with the 2011 edition where he ran wide while leading on the final lap of a rain-delayed event, and ultimately lost out to McLaren’s Jenson Button in a nail-biting classic.
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