The Canadian Grand Prix on the attractive Montreal circuit gave us an surprising however very welcome outcome. The Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli achieved his first profession podium, and not less than we noticed a unique consequence than normal, even when influenced by circumstances.
Mercedes secured a vital double podium that introduced them again to second place within the constructors’ standings due to a superb qualifying efficiency on Saturday and their means to copy the robust race tempo proven on Friday, matching Pink Bull and McLaren (learn right here). The Delicate C6, after exhibiting conduct much like Imola, was nearly utterly ignored through the race. Piastri, Bearman, Stroll, and Hadjar used it behind the Security Automobile solely hoping the race would resume for even a single lap. Medium and Exhausting tires had been clearly the very best compounds, particularly the white C4.
The recap
Earlier than analyzing the scenario intimately, let’s recap the methods seen within the race. As we talked about on Sunday morning, we knew {that a} two-stop technique would assure the very best probability of success. We thought that if excessive degradation appeared, three stops may have been thought of (learn right here). This path was maybe initially adopted by Verstappen and those that copied his early first cease, however because the observe rubbered in, degradation was extra managed and techniques aligned on two stops.
The commonest tactic was Medium-Exhausting-Exhausting, utilized by Russell, Verstappen, Antonelli, Piastri, Hamilton, and Alonso. Then there was Exhausting-Exhausting-Medium by Leclerc and Stroll, alongside Exhausting-Medium-Exhausting which Norris was on earlier than his crash. Behind the Security Automobile, Piastri, given his massive hole on Leclerc, selected Delicate tires in case the race resumed, however in the long run, there was no time to restart, and the race completed behind the protection automotive.
Others on the again all went for a one-stop technique. Medium-Exhausting for Hulkenberg (factors scorer), Bearman, Colapinto, and Hadjar; Exhausting-Medium for Ocon and Sainz (factors scorers), Tsunoda, Bortoleto, and Gasly. Retirements: Norris, Lawson, and Albon.
Closing remark from Mario Isola (Pirelli Motorsport Director): “The 2-stop technique confirmed itself because the quickest, and Exhausting was probably the most performing compound. A single cease was doable however just for these ranging from the again with much less to lose. Entrance runners may push in each stint, leading to an intense race with vital variations in stint size.”
“This was the third weekend of the 12 months with the C6. We’ll rigorously analyze the collected knowledge to guage if and learn how to use it later within the season after the summer time break. Having a wider vary allowed us to supply groups extra strategic choices. Truthfully, with out the C6, in Montreal we’d have introduced the identical trio as in 2024 (C3, C4, and C5) and sure witnessed a way more simple race with just one pit cease,” Isola concluded, defending the weekend’s selection.
Three Groups Inside Six Seconds, Ferrari Off the Radar
The GP unfolded alongside the traces seen in FP2 (learn right here). George led, however solely by a handful of thousandths forward of Verstappen and McLaren. Essential for Kimi was passing Oscar Piastri initially. Was McLaren’s race lackluster? Not totally. Oscar Piastri completed fourth, comfortably so. With a major lead over Max Verstappen within the championship, there was no cause to take dangers, particularly with Norris behind. If anybody needed to take dangers, it was Lando, and we noticed how that ended.
McLaren had tempo however paid for poor qualifying and a foul begin. In the event that they hadn’t been quick, they wouldn’t have saved near the automobiles forward all race. Simply earlier than Norris’s crash, there have been barely six seconds separating chief Russell from Lando in P5.
Ferrari, then again, was off the radar your entire time. Hamilton was unfortunate hitting a marmot within the first stint, inflicting vital downforce loss after which brake issues. Leclerc shortly recovered from P8 on the grid to achieve the McLarens however then needed to concede a disheartening fact: he didn’t have the tempo to maintain up. That is proven by the roughly 12-second hole he needed to Norris shortly earlier than the crash. There’s no sugarcoating it— the SF-25 lacks tempo, and on this situation, ending behind the three groups forward was all they might do.
Two Stops ‘Save Face’ for Ferrari and Charles Leclerc
Beginning on Exhausting tires, when Charles Leclerc noticed everybody stopping early for the primary pit cease and seen he was solely 4-5 tenths slower per lap than those that stopped, he requested the group for a one-stop technique. Ferrari’s engineers, nonetheless, ignored him, and Charles Leclerc instantly confirmed his disagreement.
On the microphones, the quantity 16 driver saved repeating his standpoint, however we agree that if he had tried the one-stop path, the Ferrari driver would have basically confronted a humiliation. Ferrari lacked tempo, and even matching rivals’ methods confirmed a tempo under competitors degree.
Round laps 24-26, Charles requested to attempt to end the race with a one-stop technique. Even then, Russell was 4-5 tenths quicker per lap, and at lap 27 George overtook the Ferrari. Most likely the Monegasque thought he may resist the drivers behind, which is questionable, however when others placed on a 3rd set of tires and Charles needed to end on Mediums, the tempo distinction would have been a lot larger, and he would have been simply overtaken by the primary 5, in a quite humiliating means. We imagine Ferrari made the correct name, not less than permitting him to ‘save face’.
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