Formula 1 2013 Canadian Grand Prix – Sebastian Vettel Finally Masters Montreal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXKjFl3UZYU

Red Bull secure first win across the Pond Sebastian Vettel put Red Bull back on top in Canada as he drove to a dominant victory from the front row of the grid, leading every lap to the flag and taking a stronger hold on the championship as the sun shined on Montreal. In a fairly quiet Canadian Grand Prix compared to what we would expect, Vettel made a fast start and scampered away before the DRS was activated, stretching his lead over Hamilton and the chasing pack and never falling back into their clutches. Webber battled into fourth to secure a total of 37 points for the team, keeping them comfortably in charge of the constructor€™s championship. Into the Weekend After the opening to the European season, Formula 1 landed in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. One of the most exciting races on the calendar, and scene of some incredible races like Jenson Button€™s victory in 2011, it is a track that offers everything Formula 1 fans could want. As a high speed track, it offers flowing corners that suit F1 cars perfectly, heavy braking zones into opening-exit bends to offer overtaking opportunities, an evolving track surface that makes tyres difficult to manage and wildly unpredictable weather conditions. Mercedes dominated in Monaco, even if they didn€™t secure the one-two finish that was possible, and wanted to continue their good form into Canada, at a track that would show far more clearly whether they have got on top of their tyre wear issues, and perhaps whether their test with Pirelli has yielded more than they claim. Red Bull took solid points with a double podium in Monaco, keeping them comfortably at the head of both championships, and sought to take a strong result from a track that they€™ve never won at, and typically not taken great finishes from. After another disastrous weekend for Ferrari in Monaco, where they seemed to lack both qualifying and race pace and scored only six points, they were looking to get another strong result akin to Barcelona. Lotus also had a poor weekend in Monte Carlo, only securing a single point with Raikkonen and enduring four crashes from Grosjean, so were looking to get back in the hunt. Force India took a strong result from the previous round and looked very racy, and hoped that Canada would suit their car, as it typically has, to allow them to take more solid points to keep them ahead of McLaren in the championship. The latter wanted to build on their clearly improved pace, but without the antics that saw Perez retire in Monaco, costing them valuable points. Torro Rosso showed great pace in Monaco, but only managed to finish one car thanks to Grosjean, and were seeking a clear weekend to maximise their advantage over Sauber in the championship. Sauber had a stronger weekend in Monaco but came away empty handed, and were hoping to extract their cars full potential in Montreal after improvements. Williams showed much improved pace in Monaco, until Maldonado ended up in the barriers. With a new development direction, they were hoping for steps forward with their new parts and everyone€™s hard work to lift them from their disappointing position in the championship, with zero points. Marussia saw much more competitive pace in Monaco, with a season-best performance from Max Chilton, and were seeking to continue their rookies good form into Canada, a track that has typically not been kind to the team. Caterham had a promising start to Monaco but it all unravelled in the race, with retirement and then being out-raced by Marussia to the flag. In Canada they hoped to capitalise on the steps forward they€™ve clearly made, and thought the low downforce nature of the circuit might help them. €œTestgate€ continued to overshadow Formula 1 into this weekend. This week the FIA declared that Ferrari did not have a case to answer regarding their test conducted with Pirelli in April, something they were called up for as this incident unfolded. This was deemed to be due to their use of a 2011 spec car, as allowed under the testing regulations. However, Pirelli and Mercedes will have to face an FIA international tribunal regarding their test, which took place with their current race drivers and 2013 spec car, and it will be decided whether they have breached the technical regulations of the sport, and penalties will be handed out accordingly. You can read my full write-up of the incident Here.