Track Torque: Can the Silver Arrows catch the Prancing Horses?

WE are off this weekend to the circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada for what I am sure will be another exciting race.

The Montreal circuit is a fast and slow track with a series of high speed corners, a long straight and two very slow hairpins at each end.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN : Track Torque: Vettel and the ‘lady in red’

This means that Mercedes with their ultra-long wheelbase car may suffer traction (wheel spin) problems out of the slow corners but they will be okay on the high speed sections with good down force which is a positive characteristic of the car.

The track is also very hard on brakes and brake wear as a result of the hairpins after very fast sections.

All of these factors will, I think, play slightly into the hands of Ferrari so that it should be another Sebastian Vettel/Kimi Raikkonen affair.

News off the net is that this last weekend was a final test session for the Le Man’s cars ahead of the race a week after the Canadian Grand Prix.

In particular the cars were checking reliability problems as well as testing a host of new safety measures that have been brought in at the track.

We can look forward to an excellent race at the Sarthe circuit in a week’s time.

Also of interest was that the Polish driver Robert Kubica, who has been on a very long term mend following a rally crash, is successfully going through a series of Formula 1 tests. Interesting?

Back to Montreal where besides the top four cars of Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, Raikkonen and Vettel, the rest of the pack will be giving no quarter in charging after them from the back.

The Red Bull Renaults are due to get their engine upgrade any time soon.

This fillip will be just what Red Bull need so let’s hope it comes in Canada to make the team really competitive once again.

I enjoy Max Verstappen’s style of driving and also like Daniel Ricciardo, so it would be really great to see them putting pressure on the two mega-teams upfront.

Their cars probably are the best handling of all and all they need is a little more straight line speed to be really competitive.

Behind Red Bull, Force India should still perform well, they have a very good car with a Merc engine and Sergio Perez is quick.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN : Track Torque: Rain stays away as Hamilton wins

Other highlights should come from Nico Hulkenberg at Renault and maybe the McLarens of Fernando Alonso or Stoffel van Doorn.

I also expect Filipe Massa in the Williams Merc to be there in the middle of it all.

It should be a great race in this beautiful French-speaking city. Qualifying will be at 6pm on Saturday with the race on Sunday at 7pm.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram

For news straight to your phone, add us on BBM 58F3D7A7 or WhatsApp 082 421 6033