Hectic session makes form hard to read

2011 Canadian GP FP2 analysis

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Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Montreal, 2011

Reading much into practice times is always difficult.

But developing a picture of the competitiveness of the cars after today’s disrupted running is even harder than usual.

The second session saw several interruptions, to the extent that none of the front-running drivers set clear laps on a fresh set of super-soft tyres.

Making matters even more complicated, the teams are bracing themselves for the chance of rain over the next two days, as Mark Webber noted: “It’s a tricky venue here and we might have some different weather conditions thrown into the mix over the next 24 hours”.

Longest stint comparison

  • After the last red flag, several drivers got in race simulation runs on the soft tyres
  • Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton’s lap times compare very similarly – both lapping consistently for at least eight laps. Most likely they were running in close company on the track
  • Fernando Alonso set the fastest tme of the session at the beginning of his stint, but his lap times dropped off more quickly
  • Mercedes focused on long runs having struggled with tyre wear in Monaco. Nico Rosberg was encouraged by the his pace on his stint, which was the longest any driver did today
  • Jaime Alguersuari, who has struggled on race stints this year, fdeclared himself happier with the car here: “I was very impressed with our long run race simulation, because the car seemed to perform much more consistently than in the past. For example, degradation on the rear tyres does not appear to be much of an issue.”

https://www.racefans.net/charts/2011drivercolours.csv

1234567891011121314
Sebastian Vettel79.29979.66278.77878.81182.15478.37578.22278.24978.20481.022
Mark Webber79.43379.39879.17879.59178.92982.80481.29279.226
Lewis Hamilton79.71779.82778.93479.03981.34178.34979.42478.589
Jenson Button80.36184.53379.76979.32880.48880.39879.019
Fernando Alonso81.53875.10779.77392.68983.75379.5575.50676.59977.479
Felipe Massa79.18178.72378.57578.30678.39879.25483.59678.94483.873
Michael Schumacher81.58381.39981.48981.14581.41580.73580.86780.803
Nico Rosberg80.83379.80680.13580.83379.85479.28179.23879.55379.24279.2579.87979.0878.96678.932
Nick Heidfeld83.15480.88681.26180.50681.26184.67299.51985.72380.632
Vitaly Petrov81.35181.23880.79680.90683.09581.23881.74181.36881.168
Rubens Barrichello83.75984.6382.72685.08486.8282.379
Pastor Maldonado84.73982.49681.81182.01181.63181.93781.90482.89386.04583.42481.49981.279
Adrian Sutil81.81980.36980.33179.84878.751
Paul di Resta82.02280.90780.67880.47980.67180.76992.08480.62380.34880.121
Kamui Kobayashi78.43678.00585.48777.86777.883
Pedro de la Rosa81.87383.32681.01180.83379.9379.29179.65378.98378.57878.536
Sebastien Buemi81.49280.10779.87179.37279.58478.84578.8578.439
Jaime Alguersuari80.60880.21680.40582.09780.62380.62280.65480.43380.336
Heikki Kovalainen84.02490.2779.63378.7881.13778.50988.15579.02379.23778.482
Jarno Trulli83.4286.79383.63481.64186.30684.19681.09286.229
Narain Karthikeyan85.01984.68382.43683.68485.47686.5286.71584.16684.458
Vitantonio Liuzzi82.87582.5882.30782.62887.76385.04583.27585.03284.796
Timo Glock84.18682.15384.70581.57682.013
Jerome d’Ambrosio82.92581.91582.67380.92284.69781.486

Ultimate lap times

An ultimate lap is a driver’s best three sector times added together.

  • With drivers repeatedly aborting attempts at laps on the faster super-soft tyres, and often spoiling laps by going off the track, the ultimate lap times are a less useful guide than usual
CarDriverCarUltimate lapGapDeficit to best
15Fernando AlonsoFerrari1’14.9880.119
21Sebastian VettelRed Bull-Renault1’15.2380.2500.238
33Lewis HamiltonMcLaren-Mercedes1’15.4650.4770.512
46Felipe MassaFerrari1’15.4880.5000.113
54Jenson ButtonMcLaren-Mercedes1’15.7860.7980.203
62Mark WebberRed Bull-Renault1’15.9700.9820.132
715Paul di RestaForce India-Mercedes1’16.0891.1010.000
810Vitaly PetrovRenault1’16.3241.3360.000
99Nick HeidfeldRenault1’16.3811.3930.041
1014Adrian SutilForce India-Mercedes1’16.5761.5880.329
1111Rubens BarrichelloWilliams-Cosworth1’16.6871.6990.000
1212Pastor MaldonadoWilliams-Cosworth1’16.9411.9530.000
1318Sebastien BuemiToro Rosso-Ferrari1’17.0082.0200.043
1419Jaime AlguersuariToro Rosso-Ferrari1’17.5632.5750.121
1516Kamui KobayashiSauber-Ferrari1’17.5712.5830.186
1617Pedro de la RosaSauber-Ferrari1’18.3873.3990.149
1720Heikki KovalainenLotus-Renault1’18.3873.3990.095
188Nico RosbergMercedes1’18.3883.4000.213
1921Jarno TrulliLotus-Renault1’18.4293.4410.041
207Michael SchumacherMercedes1’18.9533.9650.256
2124Timo GlockVirgin-Cosworth1’19.8094.8210.001
2222Narain KarthikeyanHRT-Cosworth1’20.1375.1490.174
2323Vitantonio LiuzziHRT-Cosworth1’20.2215.2330.063
2425Jerome d’AmbrosioVirgin-Cosworth1’20.8045.8160.118

Complete practice times

  • Several front runners their best laps earlier in the session, when the track will have offered less grip, meaning they can potentially lap a few tenths quicker
CarDriverCarBest lapGapStint lapAt timeLaps
15Fernando AlonsoFerrari1’15.1072/98334
21Sebastian VettelRed Bull-Renault1’15.4760.3696/61929
36Felipe MassaFerrari1’15.6010.4946/63833
43Lewis HamiltonMcLaren-Mercedes1’15.9770.8703/31826
54Jenson ButtonMcLaren-Mercedes1’15.9890.8824/42125
615Paul di RestaForce India-Mercedes1’16.0890.9822/28334
72Mark WebberRed Bull-Renault1’16.1020.9956/63628
810Vitaly PetrovRenault1’16.3241.2172/44832
99Nick HeidfeldRenault1’16.4221.3152/34432
1011Rubens BarrichelloWilliams-Cosworth1’16.6871.5804/45228
1114Adrian SutilForce India-Mercedes1’16.9051.7983/43016
1212Pastor MaldonadoWilliams-Cosworth1’16.9411.8343/33139
1318Sebastien BuemiToro Rosso-Ferrari1’17.0511.9444/45832
1419Jaime AlguersuariToro Rosso-Ferrari1’17.6842.5772/33634
1516Kamui KobayashiSauber-Ferrari1’17.7572.6503/33920
1621Jarno TrulliLotus-Renault1’18.4703.3636/65833
1720Heikki KovalainenLotus-Renault1’18.4823.37510/109338
1817Pedro de la RosaSauber-Ferrari1’18.5363.42910/109314
198Nico RosbergMercedes1’18.6013.4943/88638
207Michael SchumacherMercedes1’19.2094.1023/34928
2124Timo GlockVirgin-Cosworth1’19.8104.7031/48825
2223Vitantonio LiuzziHRT-Cosworth1’20.2845.1773/35831
2322Narain KarthikeyanHRT-Cosworth1’20.3115.2042/65338
2425Jerome d’AmbrosioVirgin-Cosworth1’20.9225.8154/64526

Speed trap

#DriverCarEngineMax speedGap
114Adrian SutilForce IndiaMercedes329.7
210Vitaly PetrovRenaultRenault328.71
39Nick HeidfeldRenaultRenault328.51.2
411Rubens BarrichelloWilliamsCosworth328.51.2
512Pastor MaldonadoWilliamsCosworth328.11.6
615Paul di RestaForce IndiaMercedes326.43.3
717Pedro de la RosaSauberFerrari324.65.1
818Sebastien BuemiToro RossoFerrari324.15.6
919Jaime AlguersuariToro RossoFerrari323.56.2
107Michael SchumacherMercedesMercedes323.16.6
115Fernando AlonsoFerrariFerrari321.18.6
126Felipe MassaFerrariFerrari320.88.9
1321Jarno TrulliLotusRenault320.59.2
141Sebastian VettelRed BullRenault320.59.2
152Mark WebberRed BullRenault320.59.2
164Jenson ButtonMcLarenMercedes3209.7
1724Timo GlockVirginCosworth319.310.4
1820Heikki KovalainenLotusRenault319.210.5
193Lewis HamiltonMcLarenMercedes318.711
2022Narain KarthikeyanHRTCosworth317.911.8
2123Vitantonio LiuzziHRTCosworth317.712
228Nico RosbergMercedesMercedes317.112.6
2316Kamui KobayashiSauberFerrari316.313.4
2425Jerome d’AmbrosioVirginCosworth314.515.2

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2011 Canadian Grand Prix

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    15 comments on “Hectic session makes form hard to read”

    1. Hard to tell, but I think the picture is still Red Bull up ahead, with McLaren possibly closer than ever this year and Fernando not too far from that.
      Mercedes might do a good Qualli with Rosberg but I fear the tyres will be a concern.

      1. Can’t add anything else. Massa is looking in form, but still behind Alonso.

    2. well, is really complicated to make a prediction , but i think mclaren have the potential to be on pole or first line for sunday… but then again all could mix a little tomorrow with the rain..

    3. I think Saturday morning will tell us more – at the moment it’s not clear. However, I’d say RB look strong as do Mclaren and Alonso’s Ferrari. However if we get a bit of rain….who knows!

    4. @Vettel after FP1 crash: “That’s what i’m talking about (waves pointed finger in air)”. Sorry – couldn’t resist and he keeps winning so i never get a chance to poke fun at him!

      1. Ahaha, I feel awful for laughing but that marshall falling over running to check on Vettel was classic!! Poor guy

    5. GeordiePorker
      10th June 2011, 22:53

      Tough call…difficult to see past McLaren & Ferrari, but the question is whether Seb can get ahead of the Mercs.
      Grid: LH, SV, JB, FA, NR
      Result: LH, JB/FA (I can’t call), NR, SV
      –or maybe I’m just being optimistic hoping that the Championship can close up a bit!!

      1. Gone for a similar prediction, complete guess though

      2. I think Vettel will definitely get pole. But for the race we’ll see 3 or 4 drivers fighting for the win.

    6. We shall see a merc on the front row Sunday.

      1. Very ambitious. Would love it though.

    7. Remember that Lewis’ stint was on the slower, harder tyre so for times to be comparable with Vettel is very positive

    8. Vettel set a 1’15.4″ on the prime tyres as well and alonso 15.2….they didnt improve much on super softs. They couldnt string together a perfect lap. I think Vettel will be on pole ,but from there he’ll go backwards. FA to win,LH 2nd and probably Jb or SV 3rd if the rain doesnt show up.if it does ,then its anyone’s guess.

    9. If it does not rain, it’s going to be closer than ever. (Well, not three 1’21.072 as it was in Jerez 1997…)

      As Johnny said above Vettel and Alonso both did their respective best laps on softs. Nobody did a classic one-lap super-soft run. So Q-pace is hard to predict.

      Unlike FP1, based on FP2 we could draw conclusions about race pace. Ferrari has the upper hand. Even Massa’s stint was quicker and more stable (probably due to clean track though) than any of the Red Bulls or McLarens. Imagine what would Alonso have done if he wouldn’t messed up two of his laps (one in Turn 2, and one in the hairpin). Red Bull and McLaren are close, Mercedes – so so much.

      But Sunday’s temperatures are almost surely going to be lower than Friday’s, which helps Red Bull and McLaren catch Ferrari in terms of race pace.

      I’m eager to see Q-runs in FP3 in little more than 30 minutes, but I also think Red Bull will have the upper hand.

      1. *Mercedes – not so much. And a couple of grammatic errors as usual. I’m sorry I’m not English.

    Comments are closed.