The 2004 Canadian GP Review
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By Tom Keeble, USA
Atlas F1 Magazine Writer
The change of continent did not affect Michael Schumacher, who with another display of mastery continued with his unstoppable charge towards his seventh title, scoring his seventh win at the Canadian Grand Prix. Atlas F1's Tom Keeble reviews the entire weekend's event and results of the eighth round of the 2004 season
Whatever the merits or otherwise of the racing in Canada, the event will always be remembered for the disqualification of Williams and Toyota: both were discovered in post-race scrutineering to be running cooling ducts that didn't conform to all the dimensional limits, and found themselves excluded from the results.
"The front brake ducts of Ralf and Juan Pablo's cars are not in accordance with the regulations," William's Technical Director Sam Michael said. "It was a mistake and it was unintentional. There was no performance gain and no gain for brake cooling because the inlet area was not bigger. However the ducts are not in compliance with the technical regulations. Therefore we accept the FIA's decision."
Considering the form of the reigning World Champion, it is not a huge surprise that Michael Schumacher comfortably took his seventh victory in Canada, which takes nothing away from his excellent drive: to win, he had to fend off charges from Williams' Juan Montoya, and teammate Rubens Barrichello and maximise an effective two-stop strategy to win from sixth on the grid.
As usual, he was effusive with his praise for the team: "I don't know why I have won so often here - I guess its down to a good package and a bit of luck. Everything went to plan today. We thought it would be hard to get pole so we concentrated our strategy on the race. The pit stops were great and the car preparation was fantastic."
Barrichello didn't have a bad race - having started from seventh, he pushed strongly, overtaking Kimi Raikkonen after aggressively harassing the Finn early on, and with better fortune, and not making a mistake at turn eight at a critical moment, he might have won. Schumacher recognised the danger: "Rubens pushed me very hard and it would have been much more critical for me if he had got past. We had chosen different tyres and I was thinking he had made the best choice!"
At least he put to rest the myth that he is happy to sit behind his teammate. Of course, it raised another question, of whether Ferrari ought to have asked Schumacher to let his teammate through, as the Brazilian might then have beaten Ralf Schumacher on the track, rather than in parc ferme.
Until they were disqualified, Williams were pleased with their weekend. Qualifying on pole, then finishing second in the race seems to be an indication that some things are coming back together for the outfit, and they are taking heart from it.
"It was a good day for our team and a welcome return to form," said Williams' Michael. "We pushed Ferrari for the win but they were just a bit too strong today. After having achieved pole position and strong race results on the challenging circuit of Montreal, we want to carry this momentum forward in to next week's race in Indianapolis." Of course, whether they look quite so good when the put the higherdown force package back on is to be discovered.
It was a relatively good weekend for BAR too, though Jenson Button was frustrated that his finish was off the podium: "I'm obviously disappointed that I'm not on the podium here because that's what we felt was achievable." It is a good sign for the team that they are disappointed with only pushing the Ferrari's, and feel they belong ahead of Williams. Takuma Sato enlivened the weekend, first with an excellent last corner spin in qualifying, then by losing another engine in spectacular fashion during the race.
There was little doubt that Sauber's form in Canada was solid. They followed the Ferrari approach of running two stops - maximising the wear characteristics of their Bridgestone tyres - and benefited from a solid race. Whilst Felipe Massa suffered a precipitous exit when his suspension failed at high speed, pitching him into the tyre wall, he was looking relatively good alongside Sato, who was no slouch for BAR. Giancarlo Fisichella displayed the merits of staying out of trouble and getting on with the race when he finished sixth - taking a place from McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, who had two extra stops, between a drive-through penalty and electrical issues. It meant the team lived up to their goal of finishing ahead of the Woking outfit, which is always a good result for a privateer outfit.
Of course, McLaren were happy just to get two cars to the finish - a rare occurrence for them at the moment. Ron Dennis said: "the important aspect is that both cars finished, and now we can continue to increase our efforts to become more competitive."
The big losers in Canada were not Toyota, whose performance at least made it apparent that they are making some progress with their package; rather it was Renault, who suffered a double retirement - Jarno Trulli failed to get off the starting line as what seemed to be his suspension gave way under the strain, whilst Fernando Alonso's left driveshaft failed half way through the race. In the words of Pat Symonds, "it is a bitterly disappointing to suffer a double retirement after looking so good during practice, and having been confident of a podium finish. The indications we have so far are that both cars suffered similar transmission problems."
However, the drivers whose fortunes might turned on this race are Jordan's Giorgio Pantano, and their spare driver, Timo Glock. Pantano's family and management must be kicking themselves now, for their disagreement led to Glock taking the regular driver's place for the race; with the disqualifications, he was promoted into the points. Any points scored by any means is an excellent first race in anyone's Formula One career!
Qualifying
Qualifying took place on a hot afternoon, with air temperatures at 21 degrees, but the track reached 45 degrees. Humidity at 30% helped power a little, but was consistent throughout the session.
The Grid
1. Ralf Schumacher
First Qualifying: 1:12.441; Second Qualifying: 1:12.275
After a torrid weekend where the car seemed impossible to balance, Ralf Schumacher entered pre-qualifying doubting that this was going to be a good day. However, good work with his engineers had finally ironed out the problems with the car, establishing a neutral balance and resolving inconsistent braking issues; he put in an excellent first qualifying performance to produce the fastest time.
This was backed up as strong a performance in the second round. The car was well balanced, a fraction slower than Button's BAR through the opening sector of the lap, but Schumacher pushed hard and kept it together through the remainder. Whilst it appears that the car was light, there was no detracting from a very impressive display by the German.
2. Jenson Button
First Qualifying: 1:13.333; Second Qualifying: 1:12.341
Although the weekend started with a struggle to find a good balance, BAR were never too far off the pace. As the track rubbered in, the cars got quicker and quicker, and Jenson Button's confidence grew as the team worked to resolve his understeer problems.
From the outset of his qualifying lap, Button looked smooth and committed, with the car clearly nimble in the corners and accelerating very strongly. Despite a slight mistake into the hairpin that, in hindsight, probably cost pole position, it was clearly always going to be a very quick lap. Whilst there is no doubt the car was carrying a relatively low fuel load, the lap was solid: give or take the fast starting Renaults, this was a great place to start the race.
3. Jarno Trulli
First Qualifying: 1:13.149; Second Qualifying: 1:13.023
After a difficult opening day, which included steering problems, traffic and some difficulty getting the right balance, Jarno Trulli bounced back to get the car ironed out in Saturday practice. The new Renault engine for Canada has improved and smoother low end torque, it has clearly helped the team step up their performance. Impressively, despite a strong single lap in qualifying, the team had focused on race day speed.
In qualifying, Trulli looked smooth and committed, putting together a tidy lap that earned him a very solid third spot on the grid. Despite qualifying seven tenths off pole, with Renault's famous starts, he was a real threat to the front row at the start of the race.
4. Juan Pablo Montoya
First Qualifying: 1:12.746; Second Qualifying: 1:13.072
Like Ralf Schumacher, Montoya struggled with set-up all weekend, both with setting the car up with an effective balance and ensuring sufficient cooling that the brakes would last the distance. It didn't help that a fuel leak cost him the second Friday session, either. However, all the issues were resolved in time for pre-qualifying, and Montoya delivered a strong lap. It appears that he was struggling on the second qualifying: he made a couple of mistakes, particularly losing time when he locked wheels into the hairpin. Judging by the time his teammate put in, it is apparent he could rue a qualifying position that was always likely to see him stuck behind Renaults on race day.
5. Fernando Alonso
First Qualifying: 1:12.826; Second Qualifying: 1:13.308
Fernando Alonso looked very strong on Friday as the car was clearly well balanced from the outset. As the track rubbered in, the car continued to improve and he made the most of Renault's new engine to step up his game.
In qualifying, Alonso's lap was slower than expected: between hitting debris from Sato's incident, and a small mistake in turn eight, he was three tenths off the pace of his teammate. Seemingly, both Renaults were running lighter loads than Ferrari, but being a full second off the front row make it very apparent that the tank was not empty.
6. Michael Schumacher
First Qualifying: 1:13.463; Second Qualifying: 1:13.355
Despite appearing quick, Michael Schumacher's Friday did not go entirely to plan, as it included contact with the wall. Ferrari were always looking balanced and fast, and their consistency over a series of laps was phenomenal. However, as the track gained rubber, it became more and more apparent that Michelin held a definite advantage over the first couple of laps.
In qualifying, other than a couple of ragged moments, Schumacher looked smooth and his pace was solid; it was quite apparent that the car was relatively heavy. The lap was perhaps overcommitted, but there is little question the car was carrying more fuel load than the pole sitters.
7. Rubens Barrichello
First Qualifying: 1:13.782; Second Qualifying: 1:13.562
Rubens Barrichello rapidly found the optimum balance on the car, then spent Friday establishing the best strategy for the race, and learning how to get the most from the new specification Ferrari engine. On Saturday, he caught a kerb and damaged the chassis, resulting in the team moving him – and his engine – to the spare car for qualifying. Although he spent the weekend within a couple of tenths of Schumacher, he was not in the form of his team leader.
While attempting qualifying the spare, Barrichello was overdriving and missing apexes. The car looked heavy under braking and was clearly never going to be challenging for pole; however, it seems Ferrari expected a tough session, and were only set up for the race. On his in lap, even more than the other Bridgestone runners, the Brazilian backed right off in order to maximise preservation of fuel and tyres.
8. Kimi Raikkonen
First Qualifying: 1:13.602; Second Qualifying: 1:13.595
From the outset, McLaren looked relatively competitive in Canada, and had the car balanced in short order. Raikkonen spent the first day establishing the right tyres to use for the race – except for a spell on the sidelines whilst the mechanics changes the floor of the car, after he damaged it on a kerb.
In qualifying, Kimi Raikkonen looked balanced and stable obviously performing solidly in the corners, and might have split the Ferraris. But despite engine revs at over 18,500 rpm, the unit simply didn't have the power to stay ahead of Barrichello in the drag up from the chicane, which raised the question whether he would be vulnerable to being passed on the back straight.
9. David Coulthard
First Qualifying: 1:13.206; Second Qualifying: 1:13.681
Following a similar weekend to Raikkonen, David Coulthard looked to be close to the pace all weekend, enjoying a balanced car through all the sessions. In qualifying, Coulthard's car was obviously well balanced, despite a little oversteer that prevented him quite matching Raikkonen's time. Like his teammate, speed on the back straight was relatively low, perhaps revealing weakness from the Mercedes engine.
10. Christian Klien
First Qualifying: 1:14.751; Second Qualifying: 1:14.532
After encountering the track on Friday, Christian Klien finished the day with a good balance on the car and increasing confidence in what he could accomplish with it. Although his teammates were limited on running, he had a strong session, backed up by more useful running on Saturday.
In qualifying, whilst clearly more stable than the Jordans, it was apparent that the Jaguar chassis was not working nearly as well as the front runners; Klien kept it together for a smooth lap that, perhaps, could have been more committed, but he wasn't ever going to be much faster. That he placed ahead of the Saubers and Toyotas, let alone Mark Webber, was a strong suggestion he was running lower fuel.
11. Giancarlo Fisichella
First Qualifying: 1:13.663; Second Qualifying: 1:14.674
Sauber spent Friday struggling to get the cars' set-up to ride the kerbs without compromising cornering; the new low-downforce aerodynamic package seemed to be a solid performer, but more sensitive to balance – though Giancarlo Fisichella was pushing hard, and finally happy with it by the end of the day. In qualifying, Fisichella was pushing hard, putting together a solid, committed lap. Despite what seemed to be a very heavy fuel load, placing eleventh was a solid result, and not a bad position to start a race with Bridgestone's tyres and two stops: it left Sauber optimistic for points.
12. Cristiano da Matta
First Qualifying: 1:13.807; Second Qualifying: 1:14.851
There was little doubt that Toyota enjoyed Friday in Canada, as they saw Ricardo Zonta and Cristiano da Matta end the day in sixth and seventh places, respectively. Both drivers found a good balance by the end of the day, and were able to string together some excellent laps. However, Saturday did not go quite so smoothly, as the team concentrated on race pace, which appeared to have compromised their qualifying positions. In his qualifying lap, da Matta was pushing hard, but never looked on the pace of Jaguar's Klein. The lap was solid, if uninspiring, and marred by understeer.
13. Olivier Panis
First Qualifying: 1:14.166; Second Qualifying: 1:14.891
Olivier Panis did not enjoy Friday: whilst his teammates got to grips with the car, he found it difficult to be confident in its behaviour. Fortunately, he got to grips with it during Saturday practice. In qualifying, Panis pushed hard on his out lap; the car was looking relatively good, and appeared to benefit from good stability under braking and solid acceleration. However, it was clearly losing time in the slower corners and carrying less speed over kerbs. To match da Matta, Panis would have needed a more committed lap, but it seemed on that fuel load, that was the limit for the Toyotas.
14. Mark Webber
First Qualifying: 1:14.715; Second Qualifying: 1:15.148
Mark Webber put aside the rumours of his imminent departure from the team to demonstrate a committed weekend – though Friday's running was limited due to a problem with the hydraulics. Saturday's sessions were more productive, and the team arrived at qualifying knowing that they had a good set-up on the car, but were going to struggle with performance. Through his qualifying lap, Webber could be seen to be struggling a little with the kerbs, but he mostly kept it together. Massive understeer into the hairpin cost a lot of time, and he arrived at the end of the lap slower than his teammate, though it seemed likely he was also carrying more fuel.
15. Nick Heidfeld
First Qualifying: 1:15.657; Second Qualifying: 1:15.321
From the outset, Jordan had been concerned about getting their brakes to the finish of the race, and most of the weekend was spent ensuring they can last the race distance. This might prove wise on a high-attrition circuit, but it meant the team were never going to show well on Saturday. Nick Heidfeld worked the car hard on the qualifying out lap to get heat into the tyres. The car was clearly unstable under braking and difficult in low speed corners; however, he carried better speed through the faster corners than Timo Glock, and made up a second.
16. Timo Glock
First Qualifying: 1:16.865; Second Qualifying: 1:16.323
Jordan's weekend was complicated by one of their drivers having a family dispute with his management keep him from racing. Timo Glock was ready to step up to the plate, and went into the Saturday sessions in place of Giorgio Pantano. Thrown in at the deep end, and with first qualifying only a second off Heidfeld's time, Glock was overdriving what seemed to be a poorly balanced Jordan. Whilst his inexperience was not helpful, he put the car as high up the grid as it will go – a solid if unimpressive introduction to Formula One qualifying.
17. Takuma Sato
First Qualifying: 1:12.989; Second Qualifying: 1:17.004
Takuma Sato has never been slow, and is probably the most fearless driver in the sport. Having calmed down enough in recent events to keep the car on the track, his game has improved, and Friday's times reflected this. Unfortunately, he overcommitted to the final corner in qualifying – luckily spinning rather than into the Wall of Champions, coming within a foot of breaking off the rear wing. On the positive side, his pace was very impressive, and overtaking being possible in Canada, his misfortune should have offered the fans a chance to see some race day action.
18. Zsolt Baumgartner
First Qualifying: 1:17.903; Second Qualifying: 1:17.064
Whilst the car looked stable on the out lap, it was unsettled over kerbs as Zsolt Baumgartner went on to his hot lap. The car was twitchy with the back end stepping out regularly. He suffered understeer in, and oversteer out of all the corners, obviously making life awkward.
19. Gianmaria Bruni
First Qualifying: no time; Second Qualifying: no time
Gianmaria Bruni did not set a time in the first qualifying session, after rolling to a stop. Took it very easy on his out lap; his engine was misfiring and the car was set-up for his teammate, so he went straight back into the pits and did not set a time.
20. Felipe Massa
First Qualifying: 1:14.392; Second Qualifying: no time
Struggling to find the right balance on Friday, Felipe Massa contacted the Wall of Champions and needed his mechanics to sort out the damage to his suspension. However, like Fisichella, he was able to come away from the day with a good balance on the car, which boded well for qualifying and the race. Unfortunately, at the start of the out lap, Massa picked up a puncture, leaving no option but to bring it straight back in and leave it in parc ferme. |
