F1 circus moves to Canada

Hamilton will look to bag another win at Montreal

Come June 11, Formula 1 will make a much awaited comeback to Montreal. After some major contract problems with officials of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the venue for the Canadian Grand Prix was scrapped for the 2009 season by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Poor track, inevitable bumps from the region’s testing conditions, and the concrete walls to go with barriers that line the track, were also cited as reasons for the expulsion. There were also fears that drivers might boycott the race.

But, F1 fans would be able to comprehend when I say that the return to the track will be dramatical. It has always been. Few other circuits have provided more surprises. Be it Lewis Hamilton posting his first F1 win in Canada, or Robert Kubica, who suffered a horrifying crash in that race, going on to win it with BMW next year.

Montreal is quite possibly the breeding ground for incidents. The final corner of the circuit is ironically known as the ‘wall of champions’ with former champions Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve all crashing into the same wall in 1999.

Canada also means fuel issues. Fuel may be a major concern at the circuit where consumption is high due to the stoppages during the race.

The build up to the race has been centered on the spat between Red Bull drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull have insisted that Webber and Vettel have buried the hatchet and hope the pair now race each other a little more respectfully and never ever have a problem again.

The race for the championship is wide open. Webber is leading the pack with 93 points with McLaren’s Jenson Button (88) closing in. Button’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who provided a scintillating display of racing to finish top in Turkey, is at third with 84 points.