Formula 1 2013 Canadian Grand Prix – Sebastian Vettel Finally Masters Montreal
The Midfield McLaren failed to take any points from the race, finishing 11th and 12th and ending their impressive 64-race long streak of constant points finishes. Despite new parts on the car they lacked pace, and Jenson Buttons one-stop strategy failed to pay the dividends of others like Paul di Resta as a result. They were too conservative with tyres and may have got more by being more aggressive, especially with the short pit lane times, and look forward to the home race at Silverstone in three weeks time. Grosjean brought the second Lotus home in 13th place ultimately losing out by switching to a two-stop strategy. He kept out of trouble from the back of the grid on prime tyres, then was running with Paul di Resta before pitting on lap 44 for options, and then again on 55 to return to the prime due to wear problems, dropping him out of the points. Hardly ideal for a man on what could be borrowed time. After a stunning show in qualifying, Bottas couldnt keep the Williams in the points, and after the first pit stops he fell from the top ten. With a high-downforce set up on the car, more suited to wet conditions, he found himself swamped by the pack in the opening laps, driving superbly for a rookie and racing whilst keeping it clean. However he simply didnt have the pace to maintain the position. Maldonado never really threatened the points, hitting Sutil into the hairpin and receiving a drive-through penalty for it on lap 16. He raced with McLaren at points but eventually finished 16th, and the team clearly would have preferred it to rain. Daniel Ricciardo brought the second Torro Rosso home in 15th place after starting 11th. He made an excellent start, gaining two places and racing with the pack, however his balance went and tyres became a problem for him. Through the rest of the race pace was slow, and it left them a little bemused as to where their evident pace had gone with the Australian. The Tail End After a mixed race in Monaco, Marussia got the dry race they were hoping for and crucially had the measure of Caterham. Both cars ran a one-stop strategy and eked out 40 laps on the prime tyres before stopping, helping Bianchi secure 17th place. Chilton finished 19th, lacking grip due to wear on the options and leaving him unable to stop Pic overtaking after leading him for much of the race. Overall they were pleased with the two-car finish from a tough weekend. Caterham had an eventful race, as Pic managed to come through in the final laps to overtake Chiltons Marussia and get 18th place. Van der Garde however failed to move out the way under blue flags for Mark Webber on lap 36, getting hit by the Australian at the hairpin, which spun him round and damaged the Red Bull. He was given a 10-second stop-go penalty for that on lap 39, and then on lap 47 collided with Nico Hulkenberg as he was lapped, taking both of them out of the race as he broke his front wing. As a result, he was given a 5-place grid penalty for the next race. In a race with just three retirements, Sauber had two of them, one caused by the third. Nico Hulkenberg was hit by Van der Gardes Caterham at the final chicane as he lapped him, puncturing the rear tyre. Gutierrez managed to lock up his front wheels as he rejoined following his second pit stop and crashed into the barriers outside turn two on lap 64, ending a woeful race for the team. They never threatened the points and the Sauber looked a long way from the excellent car that took a podium last year, leaving them with a Montreal to forget.