F1 crowd favourite Fernando Alonso of Spain,
driving his scarlet-red Ferrari, set the fastest time of the day at Circuit
Gilles-Villeneuve Friday when he turned a lap of one minute, 14.818 seconds (209.837
kph) during second practice for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Canada.
Alonso’s time just pipped the 1:14:830 effort put forth by McLaren-Mercedes
driver, and defending race champion, Lewis Hamilton of Britain. French racer
Romain Grosjean (1:15:083) wasn’t far behind in a Lotus-Renault.
The afternoon’s times were a significant improvement over
those recorded during the morning on Friday when Force India-Mercedes
driver Paul Di Resta came out of nowhere
in the dying seconds of the 90-minute session to post a 1:21:020, which was good for a speed of 193.774 kph.
But the morning session was conducted mostly in rainy
conditions, with the track only drying out near the finish. The afternoon practice
was dry from start to finish.
Alonso’s time is not far off last year’s pole time of 1:13:014,
set by three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany in weather that was dry, warm and sunny. The
best Vettel could do Friday was a time of 1:15:280 that he set during the
second session.
Official qualifying will be conducted early Saturday
afternoon following one last practice session in the morning and whether the
pole for this year’s race will be won with a faster time than Vettel’s a year
ago is doubtful. The forecast for the
weekend continues to call for rain Saturday and Sunday, although temperatures
are expected to be higher than Friday’s 17 degrees Celsius.
Other notables: German driver Nico Rosberg, who won the Grand Prix of Monaco
two weeks ago in his Mercedes, finished fifth on the time charts; Felipe Massa
of Brazil was sixth for Ferrari; Jenson Button of Britain was ninth for
McLaren-Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen of Finland wound up 11th in a
Lotus.
Raikkonen’s poor performance was surprising, considering that his teammate,
Grosjean. finished third in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Raikkonen,
who is running second in the world championship to Vettel (107 points for the
three-time champion as compared to Raikkonen’s 86) is still fuming over an
incident at Monaco in which his race “was ruined” by McLaren’s Sergio Perez.
Said Raikkonen on Friday in Montreal: “He’s an idiot who shouldn’t be
racing.”
Hamilton’s performance in the afternoon session Friday was a boost for his
team and his fans who hope his recent domination of the Canadian GP will
continue on Sunday and result in his fourth win.
Hamilton has won the Montreal event three times since 2007 (there was no
race in 2009) and is tied with Nelson Piquet Sr. for second place in most wins.
Michael Schumacher has won the most Canadian races: seven
There were plenty of spins and misses throughout both practices but nothing
of consequence. The hardest crash of the day took place during the morning
session and in the last five minutes when the racing groove had dried up and
all the drivers were pushing for a quick time.
Pastor Maldonado of the Williams-Renault team lost control at corner three, spun and
shot across the track to hit the wall at the exit of turn four. He wasn't hurt
and the damage was fixable; he was 14th fastest in the afternoon.
The soggy conditions Friday morning were reminiscent of the situation two
years ago when Jenson Button won the longest Grand Prix, time-wise, in history
at just about the slowest average speed: four-plus hours and 74.864 km/h.
That was when it rained cats and dogs on race day and standing water on the
track forced officials to throw a red flag after the start and hope the weather
would improve. It did and the race even featured a thrilling finish when a
charging Button forced triple world champion Vettel into making a rare mistake.
Vettel went wide several corners froom the finish and Button passed him for the
win.
Exciting as that was, no one really wants a repeat because everyone got
soaked.
Results Friday:
os
Driver Team Time Gap
Laps
1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m14.818s 48
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m14.830s + 0.012s
45
3. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m15.083s + 0.265s
40
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m15.212s
+ 0.394s 46
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m15.249s + 0.431s
46
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m15.254s + 0.436s
43
7. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m15.280s
+ 0.462s 41
8. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m15.396s
+ 0.578s 43
9. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m15.422s
+ 0.604s 29
10. Daniel
Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m15.566s
+ 0.748s 38
11. Kimi
Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m15.599s + 0.781s 35
12. Sergio
Perez McLaren-Mercedes 1m15.661s
+ 0.843s 39
13. Paul di
Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m15.855s
+ 1.037s 22
14. Pastor
Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m16.319s
+ 1.501s 46
15.
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m16.351s
+ 1.533s 38
16. Valtteri
Bottas Williams-Renault 1m16.374s
+ 1.556s 40
17. Esteban
Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m16.475s + 1.657s
45
18. Nico
Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 1m16.929s + 2.111s
35
19. Jules
Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1m17.070s
+ 2.252s 41
20. Charles
Pic Caterham-Renault 1m17.236s
+ 2.418s 35
21. Max
Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1m17.888s
+ 3.070s 45
22. Giedo
van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1m18.392s
+ 3.574s 39
Fernando Alonso set fastest time in the second session today for
Sunday's Grand Prix of Canada. Lewis Hamilton was second and Romain
Grosjean repeated his third-place finish of this morning.
The rest
of the top ten: Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, Sebastian
Vettel, Adrian Sutil, Jenson Button and Daniel Ricciardo.
More later.
Here is one of several subplots floating around here that might give you a kick.
Kimi
Raikkonen is still p-o'd at Sergio Perez as the result of that little
dustup they had in Monte Carlo two weeks ago. Kimi has accused Perez of
being an idiot (the adjective he uses for that noun starts with an "f"
and ends with a "g") and blames him for ruining his race.
Several reporters have already filed stories quoting Kimi correctly.
Now,
the FIA has banned swearing on the podium after several drivers let
their hair down a year ago and let loose with some colourful language
while being interviewed post-race. But if this keeps up, you would think
it only a matter of time before the FIA bans swearing whenever race
drivers are interacting with media members.
Meantime, actor Hugh
Grant was walking around the paddock at lunch, looking like Hugh Grant.
The A-List celebrities don't show up till race day, Sunday.
EARLIER
Esteban Gutierrez was first out on track again this afternoon at
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as second practice began in conditions that
were significantly better than they were this morning.
Although
it's still chilly - 17 degrees Celsius but with the wind blowing in over
the water in the Lachine Canal and the Olympic Rowing Basin it feels
five degrees colder - the cars can count on grip that was absent earlier
when a steady rain was falling.
Within five minutes of practice
starting, Gutierrez was back in eighth place in his Sauber-Ferrari as
some of the top guns started to feel their oats. Nico Rosberg was atop
the charts, with Mark Webber right behind him. Within seconds, however,
Kimi Raikkonen had set fastest time with Paul Di Resta, who "won" the
morning session, on his heels. Romain Grosjean, Felipe Massa and Adrian
Sutil were flying and Lewis Hamilton was into the top ten.
BEFORE LUNCH
Esteban Gutierrez was first out on track again this afternoon at
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as second practice began in conditions that
were significantly better than they were this morning.
Although
it's still chilly - 17 degrees Celsius but with the wind blowing in over
the water in the Lachine Canal and the Olympic Rowing Basin it feels
five degrees colder - the cars can count on grip that was absent earlier
when a steady rain was falling.
Within five minutes of practice
starting, Gutierrez was back in eighth place in his Sauber-Ferrari as
some of the top guns started to feel their oats. Nico Rosberg was atop
the charts, with Mark Webber right behind him. Within seconds, however,
Kimi Raikkonen had set fastest time with Paul Di Resta, who "won" the
morning session, on his heels. Romain Grosjean, Felipe Massa and Adrian
Sutil were flying and Lewis Hamilton was into the top ten.
BEFORE LUNCH
Esteban Gutierrez was first out on track again this afternoon at
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as second practice began in conditions that
were significantly better than they were this morning.
Although
it's still chilly - 17 degrees Celsius but with the wind blowing in over
the water in the Lachine Canal and the Olympic Rowing Basin it feels
five degrees colder - the cars can count on grip that was absent earlier
when a steady rain was falling.
Within five minutes of practice
starting, Gutierrez was back in eighth place in his Sauber-Ferrari as
some of the top guns started to feel their oats. Nico Rosberg was atop
the charts, with Mark Webber right behind him. Within seconds, however,
Kimi Raikkonen had set fastest time with Paul Di Resta, who "won" the
morning session, on his heels. Romain Grosjean, Felipe Massa and Adrian
Sutil were flying and Lewis Hamilton was into the top ten.
BEFORE LUNCH
Esteban Gutierrez was first out on track again this afternoon at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve as second practice began in conditions that were significantly better than theyk were this morning.
Although it's still chilly - 17 degrees Celsius but with the wind flowing in over the water in the Lachine Canal and the Olympic Rowing Basin it's feeling five degrees colder - the cars can count on grip that was abent earlier when a steady rain was falling.
Within five minutes of practice starting, Gutierrez was back in eighth place in his Sauber-Ferrari as some of the top guns started to feel their oats. Nico Rosberg was atop the charts, with Mark Webber right behind him. Within seconds, however, Kimi Raikkonen had set fastest time with Paul Di Resta, who "won" the morning session, on his heels. Romain Grosjean, Felipe Massa and Adrian Sutil were flying and Lewis Hamilton was into the top ten.
BEFORE LUNCH
Paul Di Resta, driving a Force India-Mercedes, set fastest speed in
the final seconds of today's first practice session for Sunday's Grand
Prix of Canada, with Jenson Button second in his McLaren-Mercedes and
Romain Grosjean third in a Lotus-Renualt.
Di Resta's time of one
minute and 21:020 seconds compares unfavourably to last year's pole time
of 1:13:014 seconds set by three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel
in warm, dry and sunny conditions. Today's chilly temperatures
accompanied by rain most of the morning kept speeds way down.
Vettel,
for instance, was ninth fastest in the first session - another practice
will be held this afternoon - and could only turn a 1:23:047 time.
Other
notables: Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest for Ferrari; Kimi
Raikkonen was fifth fastest for Lotus-Renault; Nico Rosberg, who won the
last GP two weeks ago in Monaco, was seventh quickest; Mark Webber was
tenth for Infiniti Red Bull; Lewis Hamilton, who's won three of the last
five races here in Montreal, was 16th fastest, and Felipe Massa was
only 11th fastest for Ferrari.
Hardest crash of the opening
session - there were a few spins and misses but nothing of consequence -
came in the last five minutes when the racing groove had dried up and
all the drivers were pushing for a quick time with which to throw down
the gauntlet.
Pastor Maldonado of the Williams team lost control
at corner three, spun and shot across the track to hit the wall at the
exit of turn four. He wasn't hurt and the damage was fixable.
EARLIER
The rain has stopped temporarily and many of the teams are installing
slick tires (as distinct from the grooved rain tires) so that the
drivers can start to lay down some times. With about 10 minutes left in
the first practice session, Sebastian Vettel is quickest, followed by
Nico Rosberg and Esteban Gutierrez.
EARLIER
It's cold (by summertime standards) and miserable in Montreal today.
It started raining late yesterday (Thursday) and the forecast is for
rain right through the running of the Grand Prix of Canada on Sunday.
Yes, the weatherpeople are suggesting there
could be a window around 2
p.m. Sunday when it might not rain but nobody is believing them because
when was the last time any of those folks were right?
Yet even with the precipitation, and a temperature of 13 degrees
Celsius, many of the seats are filled with people wearing rain gear and
holding umbrellas.
Sharp at 10 a.m., the F1 cars streamed out of
the pits and onto the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve led by Sauber-Ferrari
rookie Esteban Gutierrez. Another rookie, Max Chilton, was away second
with three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel out third in his
Infiniti Red Bull.
Most of the 22 drivers entered for the
Canadian race soon followed with the exception of McLaren-Mercedes'
Sergiol Perez and Ferrari No. 1 Fernando Alonso.
The early laps, of course, were for reconaisance only; nobody will be
trying for a speed till later. Jules Bianchi of the Marussia team had
the dubious honour of bringing out the first local yellow flag when he
came to a stop on the racing surface after missing corner three and
having to drive through the grass to get back on track. Lewis Hamilton,
winner of three of the last five races, went off at turn 13 but was able
to continue.
There are two practice periods scheduled for today, with another
practice session and qualifying planned tomorrow and then the race
itself on Sunday afternoon at 2.
The soggy conditions are
reminiscent of the situation two years ago when Jenson Button won what
had to have been the longest Grand Prix, time-wise, in history at just
about the slowest average speed: four-plus hours and 74.864 km/h.
That
was when standing water on the track forced officials to throw a red
flag and to wait for the weather to improve. It did and the race even
featured a thrilling finish when a charging Button forced triple world
champion Vettel into making a rare mistake in order to get past him on
the last lap and go on for the win.
MONTREAL – F1 crowd favourite Fernando Alonso of Spain,
driving his scarlet-red Ferrari, set the fastest time of the day at Circuit
Gilles-Villeneuve Friday when he turned a lap of one minute, 14.818 seconds (209.837
kph) during second practice for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Canada.
Alonso’s time just pipped the 1:14:830 effort put forth by McLaren-Mercedes
driver, and defending race champion, Lewis Hamilton of Britain. French racer
Romain Grosjean (1:15:083) wasn’t far behind in a Lotus-Renault.
The afternoon’s times were a significant improvement over
those recorded during the morning on Friday when Force India-Mercedes
driver Paul Di Resta came out of nowhere
in the dying seconds of the 90-minute session to post a 1:21:020, which was good for a speed of 193.774 kph.
But the morning session was conducted mostly in rainy
conditions, with the track only drying out near the finish. The afternoon practice
was dry from start to finish.
Alonso’s time is not far off last year’s pole time of 1:13:014,
set by three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany in weather that was dry, warm and sunny. The
best Vettel could do Friday was a time of 1:15:280 that he set during the
second session.
Official qualifying will be conducted early Saturday
afternoon following one last practice session in the morning and whether the
pole for this year’s race will be won with a faster time than Vettel’s a year
ago is doubtful. The forecast for the
weekend continues to call for rain Saturday and Sunday, although temperatures
are expected to be higher than Friday’s 17 degrees Celsius.
Other notables: German driver Nico Rosberg, who won the Grand Prix of Monaco
two weeks ago in his Mercedes, finished fifth on the time charts; Felipe Massa
of Brazil was sixth for Ferrari; Jenson Button of Britain was ninth for
McLaren-Mercedes and Kimi Raikkonen of Finland wound up 11th in a
Lotus.
Raikkonen’s poor performance was surprising, considering that his teammate,
Grosjean. finished third in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Raikkonen,
who is running second in the world championship to Vettel (107 points for the
three-time champion as compared to Raikkonen’s 86) is still fuming over an
incident at Monaco in which his race “was ruined” by McLaren’s Sergio Perez.
Said Raikkonen on Friday in Montreal: “He’s an idiot who shouldn’t be
racing.”
Hamilton’s performance in the afternoon session Friday was a boost for his
team and his fans who hope his recent domination of the Canadian GP will
continue on Sunday and result in his fourth win.
Hamilton has won the Montreal event three times since 2007 (there was no
race in 2009) and is tied with Nelson Piquet Sr. for second place in most wins.
Michael Schumacher has won the most Canadian races: seven
There were plenty of spins and misses throughout both practices but nothing
of consequence. The hardest crash of the day took place during the morning
session and in the last five minutes when the racing groove had dried up and
all the drivers were pushing for a quick time.
Pastor Maldonado of the Williams-Renault team lost control at corner three, spun and
shot across the track to hit the wall at the exit of turn four. He wasn't hurt
and the damage was fixable; he was 14th fastest in the afternoon.
The soggy conditions Friday morning were reminiscent of the situation two
years ago when Jenson Button won the longest Grand Prix, time-wise, in history
at just about the slowest average speed: four-plus hours and 74.864 km/h.
That was when it rained cats and dogs on race day and standing water on the
track forced officials to throw a red flag after the start and hope the weather
would improve. It did and the race even featured a thrilling finish when a
charging Button forced triple world champion Vettel into making a rare mistake.
Vettel went wide several corners froom the finish and Button passed him for the
win.
Exciting as that was, no one really wants a repeat because everyone got
soaked.
Results Friday:
os
Driver Team Time Gap
Laps
1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m14.818s 48
2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m14.830s + 0.012s
45
3. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m15.083s + 0.265s
40
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m15.212s
+ 0.394s 46
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m15.249s + 0.431s
46
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m15.254s + 0.436s
43
7. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m15.280s
+ 0.462s 41
8. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m15.396s
+ 0.578s 43
9. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m15.422s
+ 0.604s 29
10. Daniel
Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m15.566s
+ 0.748s 38
11. Kimi
Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m15.599s + 0.781s 35
12. Sergio
Perez McLaren-Mercedes 1m15.661s
+ 0.843s 39
13. Paul di
Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m15.855s
+ 1.037s 22
14. Pastor
Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m16.319s
+ 1.501s 46
15.
Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m16.351s
+ 1.533s 38
16. Valtteri
Bottas Williams-Renault 1m16.374s
+ 1.556s 40
17. Esteban
Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m16.475s + 1.657s
45
18. Nico
Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 1m16.929s + 2.111s
35
19. Jules
Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1m17.070s
+ 2.252s 41
20. Charles
Pic Caterham-Renault 1m17.236s
+ 2.418s 35
21. Max
Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1m17.888s
+ 3.070s 45
22. Giedo
van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1m18.392s
+ 3.574s 39
