With tensions high at the Mercedes team, Formula One moved on from Rosberg’s favoured track to one that Hamilton was determined to win. The Canadian Grand Prix has often provided action-packed racing in the past and the 2014 event looked set to deliver on that promise. With a brand new winner taking the top step of the podium, the race posed something of a challenge for everyone involved.

Event overview

Sauber driver Esteban Gutiérrez fell at the first hurdle after crashing in final practice on Saturday. The Mexican was unable to participate in qualifying, as the team couldn’t patch up his car in time. Lewis Hamilton looked on fine form, whilst there were eyes on Williams as well - Felipe Massa managed to split the Mercedes pair, finishing second on Saturday morning.

During the first session of qualifying, Pastor Maldonado parked his car out of the way. He was sitting 17th so was out of qualifying immediately. Seconds later, Marcus Ericsson spun his Caterham off track after a hitting the kerbs, ending up facing the wrong way. He was out of the car unharmed, and the session was stopped whilst the vehicle was recovered. With only 16 seconds on the clock, Q1 was over.

There were no major incidents in the second session, with familiar midfield runners dropping out. The final shoot-out for pole saw Mercedes set the early benchmarks, with Williams beating Red Bull to best of the rest. On the second round, Nico Rosberg set the fastest lap and then went even quicker to secure pole position with Sebastian Vettel moving ahead of the Williams pair for third place.

After a slow formation lap due to concerns about fuel, the race began. Lewis Hamilton had a great start but was squeezed off track by Nico Rosberg who retained the lead. Hamilton dropped back behind Vettel at the same time. Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton collided bringing out the safety car and ending Marussia’s race in one fell swoop.

When the safety car came back in, everyone made it through the first corner unscathed. Caterham requested Marcus Ericsson retire, whilst Daniil Kvyat managed to spin his Toro Rosso without assistance from anyone else. After the first round of pit stops, early on in the race, Felipe Massa lost out and dropped down to 12th place. Rosberg pitted from the lead and retained his P1 position. The Force India pair were running third and fourth having not stopped.

Maldondo dived into the pit lane with a very sick sounding Lotus and several laps later, Kamui Kobayashi pulled off track with broken rear suspension. Out front, Rosberg was investigated and given a warning not to cut corners on track, whilst Hamilton started closing the gap to the leader. Both were on the radio worried about fuel and complaining about a lack of power, and suddenly they started to slow.

Kimi Räikkönen had a quick spin and continued, but he couldn’t distract attention from the tense fight at the front. The Mercedes pair made it through a second round of pit stops, before Lewis Hamilton slowed to a crawl. He made it back to the pits but the team pushed him into the garage, race over. Daniil Kvyat also retired, navigating his Toro Rosso off track at the hairpin.

Sergio Pérez was in second place, hunting down the leading Mercedes with two Red Bull drivers also in hot pursuit. Felipe Massa moved in to fifth place, after a squabble with his teammate and the pit wall about one driver moving aside for the other. Pérez started to struggle under braking, allowing Daniel Ricciardo to pass through and into second. The Red Bull driver surged forward to take the lead, passing Rosberg on the penultimate lap.

On the final lap, Felipe Massa and Sergio Pérez crashed into each other with a huge impact that sent both cars flying off track and into the barriers. The safety car came out, and led Ricciardo across the line for his first ever Formula One race victory. Rosberg secured second, with Vettel picking up the final podium place.