11 June,2011 06:46 AM IST | | Kunal Shah
Sheer nature of the Gilles De Villeneuve circuit makes this weekend's Canadian GP the best place to end Sebastian Vettel's F1 domination this season; Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are hot favourites
The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix is the most awaited Grand Prix of the 2011 Formula1 season yet. Tyre strategy has always been the key at the Circuit Gilles de Villeneuve and we have seen in the past that tyres alone can spice up the action on track. However, tyres are not the reason why this race is most awaited.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel has won all the races except one this season. He has been on a rampage not only during the races, but also during the practice and qualifying sessions. Co-drivers have praised him saying he's driving the RB7 on a different planet altogether.
Vettel has scored 143 out of possible 150 points this season already and comparisons of the 'Baby Schumi' with Michael Schumacher are getting louder in the pit lane. It is not his victories, but the manner in which he's winning races that has prompted the comparisons. Lewis Hamilton is the only driver, who has managed to beat Vettel this season. However, if there's one race where other teams and drivers stand any chance of beating Vettel, it is this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix. Here's why...
No luck in Canada
Red Bull Racing haven't registered a single victory in Canada yet. The nature of the circuit, filled with long and fast straights, lays little emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and more focus on straight-line speed. This is where the might of the Mercedes and Ferrari V8 engines should help top teams like Mclaren, Mercedes and Ferrari.
Red Bull Racing may have won five of the first six races this season, but a look at the speed trap (speed recorded at the fastest point of the circuit) data would reveal that their top speeds have been outside the top five at all the races.
In last year's race, Webber and Vettel were over 12kmph slower than Renault's Vitaly Petrov, who was fastest in the speed trap. Red Bull's best finish in a race in Canada was David Coulthard's 3rd place finish in 2008.
Qualifying times
Red Bull and Vettel's superior pace in qualifying has shown across all the GPs this season. However, Canada is where they will be tested against the opposition. No Red Bull Racing car has ever started on pole in Canada. Last year, Mark Webber's second position has been Red Bull's best starting position so far. It's doubtful whether Vettel will be able to clinch his sixth pole of this season on Saturday.
KERS problem
Red Bull Racing have been unable to sort out their KERS issues till date. The long straights would mean that a functional KERS unit will aid a good lap time around the circuit. A Red Bull minus its KERS has still been competitive at many circuits this season, however, in Canada they will be easy prey.
The contenders
From the current F1 grid, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have scored multiple victories here, so Alonso and Hamilton should beu00a0 Vettel's key competition for victory this weekend. Besides, as tyre strategy is so important, Jenson Button can't be ruled out too.
Michael Schumacher has won seven times in Canada, but that number will read good as a statistic as one does not expect the Mercedes GP cars to pose a serious challenge to Vettel's dominance. Since 2000, Ferrari have won four times in Canada, Mclaren and Williams (and BMW) twice and Renault have won once. Mclaren could well clinch the top spot this weekend. However, the possibility of a podium finish for Vettel cannot be ruled out!
