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Canada 2011 - Race information - Formula One heads to the next stop around the Montreal track

Published by Christine

From the exotic and potentially chaotic circuit of Monaco, we head to the equally worthy Montreal track for the Canadian Grand Prix. There's plenty of discussion about how both this year's calendar and the following one for 2012 shape up, but for this weekend, our attentions can return to the racing action.

Event schedule

One half of the McLaren team put up the best fight they possibly could around the principality, and still the race went towards Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel. His lead in the championship is getting bigger and bigger, but there is still time for a turnaround.

Aside from Red Bull, we'll be looking for better weekends for McLaren and Ferrari, but also improved performances from Williams and perhaps Lotus, who must be making their way forward now.

Session Timetable
DateDaySessionTime (GMT+1)Time (Local)
10 JunFridayFree Practice 115:0010:00
Free Practice 219:0014:00
11 JunSaturdayFree Practice 315:0010:00
Qualifying18:0013:00
12 JunSundayGrand Prix18:0013:00

Support racing for this event includes Formula 1600, Ferrari Challenge, Historic Grand Prix and Porshce IMSA GT3.

The weather

Predicting the weather is never easy, predictably in a changeable climate like that in Montreal. At the moment, the long range forecasts suggest mostly rain, with perhaps some thunder, and just the occasional bout of sunshine.

clear

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Friday

20℃

  • Low 12℃
  • Humidity 46%

Sunny

showers

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Saturday

17℃

  • Low 12℃
  • Humidity 82%

Light rain

rain

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Sunday

16℃

  • Low 11℃
  • Humidity 94%

Heavy rain showers

Circuit map

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Map
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve MapCredit: FIA

The circuit

Circuit Data
NameCircuit Gilles Villeneuve
LocationCanada
TimezoneGMT -0400
First Race1982
Laps70
Length4.361 km
Distance305.270 km
Start / Finish Offset0.000 km

Canada will give us a glimpse of how the 2011 regulations will work out on a low downforce circuit, particularly as the new tyre compounds were modelled on this very event. Setup will be crucial, as the track features some super long straights, completely at odds with the Monaco race before it.

The atmosphere makes up for any shortfall in action, but as field spread is often low in Montreal, and overtaking was in existence before Pirelli got involved, there may not be any lulls on Sunday. We also have two DRS zones to keep an eye on, and with the aforementioned possibility of rain, it's going to be a fascinating weekend.

2010 Results
SessionDriverTeamTimeLinks
Free Practice 1Jenson ButtonMcLaren1:18.127Live / Results
Free Practice 2Sebastian VettelRed Bull1:16.877Live / Results
Free Practice 3Lewis HamiltonMcLaren1:16.058Live / Results
QualifyingLewis HamiltonMcLaren1:15.105Live / Results
Grand PrixLewis HamiltonMcLaren1:33:53.456Live / Results
Fastest LapRobert KubicaRenault1:16.972

Tyre compounds

Soft and super soft compounds
Soft and super soft compoundsCredit: Pirelli

Press conference schedule

Official press conferences are organised by the FIA and happen four times during the weekend. The qualifying and post race press conferences will take place after the television unilateral interviews.

Press Conference Schedule
DayTime (Local)AttendeeRepresenting
Thursday11:00Lewis HamiltonMcLaren
Pastor MaldonadoWilliams
Sergio PérezSauber
Vitaly PetrovRenault
Adrian SutilForce India
Friday16:00Eric BoullierRenault
Pat FryFerrari
Andrew GreenForce India
Paddy LoweMcLaren
Sam MichaelWilliams
SaturdayPost qualifyingThree fastest drivers
SundayPost raceFirst three finishing drivers

Race stewards

The FIA stewarding process was changed last year to include a former F1 driver to give added insight. These are the stewards overseeing this weekend's action.

F1 Stewards
NamePosition
Emerson FittipaldiDouble Formula One World Champion and Champ Car Champion
Garry ConnellyExecutive Committee Member FIA Institute and F1 & WTCC Steward
Tim MayerFIA Alternate Delegate to the USA

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