Sidepodcast

I think I mentioned in the Canada podcast, that Massa has really taken a step up in my estimation. Previous to this season, I thought of him as a bit of a no-hoper, clinging on to the coat tails of Michael Schumacher. A harsh assumption, but it was just that, an initial opinion based on very little evidence. He came a very second best to Raikkonen last year, and so I’d basically written him off.

Turnaround

So, what’s changed? I’m going to pin it all on Monaco. Massa was having a dire start to the season - three races in, zero points, Raikkonen dominating, not a lot to look forward to. Then Monaco came along and everything was different. It began with the usual pre-qualifying excuses, that he didn’t like the track and wasn’t expecting to do well. But he stormed out there and took pole position, surprising everyone, including himself. I don’t remember the exact words, but afterwards his race engineer Rob Smedley said they had both worked like the devil on the track and on Massa’s mind. It clearly worked and something had clicked.

Total Eclipse

Since then, it’s been all good for Felipe. He may not always take the win, as in Canada, but he’s always there, a thorn in the other driver’s side, challenging them. Whilst everyone was panicking about the track breaking up at Montreal, Massa was there, cool as you like, ready to take it as it comes. The results will surely follow.

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Last weekend in Canada there was a new man standing upon the top step of the podium, Robert Kubica. It was also the first time his team BMW Sauber F1 had won a Grand Prix and they did it in style with a perfect 1-2.

Formula One has been dominated by just two teams and a handful of drivers for the past 18 months, so we figured this was an event worth documenting. In the process, we catch up with Kubica and teammate Heidfeld along with big boss man Mario Theissen on their way back from the podium celebrations. But don’t you go pretending that a gutted Nick Heidfeld doesn’t make you want to cry, you know he does.

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• Length: 11:33 
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• File: digest28.mp3 
• Transcript: digest28.pdf 
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After days of abuse, the track decided to hold out for an entire race distance, which meant we could concentrate on the serious business of racing. Find out what happened in the Canadian GP in today’s F1 Digest.

The Race

With two of the heavyweights out early in the race, it’s time for some of the mid-field runners to shine.

Conclusions

Most people don’t really want to talk too much about the weekend. They’re probably tired, frustrated, and happy to move on. ‘Cept for BMW, of course.

Today’s race in Canada is likely to be dominated by talk of asphalt or rather the lack of it. Yesterday during qualifying it appeared that, like in previous years, the track was breaking apart under the force of the F1 cars. However this time around it was happening a whole day earlier and that can only spell trouble.

Repairs have been made to turn 10, but will it be enough? And what of the rest of the circuit? At best, if the fixes hold together a single line will form meaning overtaking will be impossible, at worst we could see multiple interventions by the safety car.

The weather is playing it’s part in Montreal too. Rain was predicted for later this afternoon, but at the moment the island is bathed in bright sunshine. An especially humid afternoon could easily play just as much havoc as a wet one. If we aren’t talking about the road, we’ll be looking at the tyres.

There is some racing going on this afternoon too. Hamilton made pole by a massive margin being the only guy able to break into the 17’s. Behind him is Kubica who’s on the dirty side of the grid and has yet to make a decent start all year, he’s followed by Räikkönen. Massa, Kovalainen and Heidfeld all appear to be on different strategies to their teammates, starting as they do 6th, 7th and 8th.

As an aside, Christine’s wearing her lucky Honda shirt today, and god knows Jenson will need that and more this afternoon starting as he does at the back along with both Toro Rosso’s.

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• Length: 10:48 
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• File: digest27.mp3 
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It was a tough day out there today, with the track literally crumbling under the force of our guys and their wheels. Vettel, Webber and Button all had issues, but we cover everything from FP3 and Qualfiying in today’s F1 Digest.

Free Practice 3

Vettel and Bourdais both had terrible sessions, with the walls appearing to be Toro Rosso magnets.

Qualifying

The track slowly disintegrated, leaving the top ten really showing the men from the boys.

Conclusions

Some are convinced tomorrow will be a nightmare and the race will be completely undriveable, others are hoping the dodgy conditions will work in their favour.

Today’s earlier practice session left us more confused than ever regarding the state of play for today’s qualifying. Nico Rosberg topped the times at the end of the hour, but his time was less competitive than we were expecting.

Vettel’s untimely brush with the wall prevented anyone getting their final fast laps in, and we’re left to ponder what might be this afternoon. The Ferrari’s undoubtedly have the pace, but McLaren and BMW will look to be snapping at their diffusers for the rest of the afternoon.

Farther back, we have STR with two cars in need of repair and Renault having to look at one of theirs. Jenson and Honda on the other hand must be wondering how they ended up behind everyone bar Sutil.

Either way, it looks like we’re in for a dry qualifying this afternoon. The sun is beating down on the circuit and the clouds appear to have dissipated for the duration.

We’ll be watching ITV’s qualifying coverage, and full race build up, which is available online. Don’t forget official live timing on f1.com too. We’ve wholeheartedly given up with the BBC this week.

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The third and final Formula 1 practice session is upon us in Canada and the weather in Montreal is lovely. Our local weatherman F1 Wolf informed us earlier that it was blue skies all around and the AccuWeather radar suggests little will be changing any time soon.

As for the teams, well there’s a lot of work to get through for some of them. Honda, in particular, appeared to be out of sorts in both of yesterday’s sessions, whilst Renault will have been scratching their heads last night, trying to figure out where it all went so very wrong.

At the front it’s still unclear who has the advantage, and with three teams in the running for pole position this afternoon, the next 60 minutes will be crucial for each of them.

As it’s Fp3, we’ll be following live timing online, and as ITV won’t be covering this session, it’s TVlizer streaming for us today.

BBC coverage appears to be a lottery as to whether or not they’ll bother to do any commentary, the schedule says they will, but it also said that yesterday!

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• Length: 10:04 
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• File: digest26.mp3 
• Transcript: digest26.pdf 
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Between the marmots and the marshals, Canada is turning into quite an eventful weekend so far, and it’s only Friday. Looking forward to more from the weekend, but first we must evaluate Free Practice.

Free Practice 1

A pretty slow session, with it being a damp track and all. Some crazy times throughout, but everything reverted to normal come the end.

Free Practice 2

Plenty of incidents and a much busier session than FP1. Hamilton was on fire, though.

Conclusions

There seems to be a clear divide between drivers who have it sussed and those who don’t.

The first practice of the day saw the big guns sitting out most of the session, preferring no running to any wet running. Meanwhile, some of the smaller teams did a lot more leg work, with both of the Toyota’s running round and round almost continuously.

The rain played a minor role this morning and it looks set to sit out of the limelight for the remainder of the F1 day. What we learnt when the track finally dried out was the Ferrari’s were fast, but McLaren and especially BMW were very close behind.

It looks as though F1’s third fastest team have taken a conscious change of strategy at this track. Having spent the early part of the season building up to race day, BMW well and truly laid the gauntlet this morning. Watching their progress throughout FP2 will be especially interesting.

Free Practice 2 begins at 2pm local time (7pm in the UK). As before we’re following Formula 1’s timing machine in the sky as well as watching ITV’s online (and slightly delayed) video coverage. For some reason BBC 5Live have decided not to grace us with their presence on a Friday evening.

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For the second time this year, all our focus is directed at the meteorology sites, because the big story in Canada, just like in Monaco, is rain.

Will it, won’t it and if it does for how long and when? They’re pretty much all the key questions this early on in the Grand Prix weekend. F1Wolf is on the ground at the Montreal track and he commented earlier that the rain stopped 90 minutes before the start of today’s first session and sunshine is expected for the rest of the day.

You can keep an eye on the AccuWeather radar for more rainfall predictions during the weekend.

As for the racing, it’ll be nice for the focus to finally return to the track. It’s too close to call between the top teams going into today’s running, while further back the tight midfield pack shows no signs of a clear leader. In changeable conditions last time out, we witnessed a number of the smaller teams punching above their weight, so they’ll likely be relishing this coming weekend too.

The first of two 90 minute sessions begins at 10am local time (3pm BST), and we’ll be watching ITV’s live stream and following Bernie’s fruit machine. Well I say we, but I really mean I, as Christine’s running around like a blow-fly at the moment. If you’re around, please shout and help me stifle the loneliness.

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