In the round-up: Formula 1’s hopes of moving the Canadian Grand Prix on its schedule face challenges due to the region’s weather.
In brief
Canadian GP unlikely to change date in future
F1 is keen to change the dates of some races on future calendars in order to cut travel between rounds and therefore reduce emissions. Moving the Canadian Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend, closer to the the Miami Grand Prix in May would allow F1 to make fewer transatlantic crossings.
However the Canadian GP’s CEO Francois Dumontier has said the options to move their round of the world championship are limited by the Montreal climate.
“One can hardly imagine a presentation [of the race] before the beginning of June,” he told La Presse. He also ruled out an autumn date in the future as “we’d risk disrupting the activities of Parc Jean-Drapeau; in addition, in the fall, we could also find ourselves in conflict with congresses.”
Dumontier admitted “it is mainly the weather [that is] the major sticking point in our talks” with F1 about moving the race to a different time of the year.
Merhi keeps Formula E seat for Portland
Recent Formula E debutant Roberto Merhi will remain with Mahindra for the Portland EPrix later this month.The former F1 driver was called up to replace Oliver Rowland for the Jakarta EPrix round at the start of June, and finished 18th and 17th in the weekend’s two races. No reason was given for Rowland’s sudden split. Merhi was chosen as a last-minute replacement over Mahindra’s reserve driver Jehan Daruvala having driven in FE’s rookie test in Berlin for the team.
“I am very happy to be back in Portland with Mahindra,” said Merhi. “After Jakarta, I now have more experience in the car, which will help me a lot and I will be able to keep improving from where we left off.
“I think the fact that is a new circuit to everyone will be beneficial as everyone will start with the same experience level on the track. I have been working hard with my engineers and the team to learn to adjust my driving style to the unique FE car.”
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Kobayashi, Bourdais: Le Mans slow zones need 'big rethink' (Sportscar365)
'Kamui Kobayashi and Sebastien Bourdais believe slow zones need a “big rethink” after both drivers were caught up by incidents triggered from other cars in last weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.'
Laguna Seca completes repaving project (Racer)
'The latest in an increasing number of positive developments for Laguna Seca has reached its conclusion after a fresh repaving of the well-worn 2.2-mile road course was completed this week.'
The impact of Euroformula’s mid-season switch to Pirelli tyres (Formula Scout)
'Euroformula ended a long association with Michelin to adopt Hankook tyres for 2023, but a supply chain dilemma meant Euroformula then changed to Pirellis after one weekend of racing. The tyres introduced for round two of the Formula 3-level series at Spa-Francorchamps posed an even greater challenge than adapting to Hankooks.'
'Engine overrun - a sound created when droplets of fuel escape on to red-hot exhaust pipes. Sometimes it sounds like thunder. Sometimes a robot exploding. Sometimes like a huge tree snapping in half. Occasionally, if you're close enough, it rattles your rib cage. Curiously, it doesn't register on television coverage, but it is loud. Very loud. It is part of motorsport's majesty. Whether it is part of its future, though, is another thing.'
The setup: Road America with Jeremy Milless (IndyCar)
'The eighth round of the IndyCar season takes place in the land of beers and brats for the Grand Prix at Road America.'
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Detalle de la mangueta delantera del Aston Martin.
Aston Martin front upright detail#f1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/WL9CdVdhzR
— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) June 14, 2023
When Oscar jumped in Lando's car… and not the MCL60! 😆 pic.twitter.com/xYdKsnlQzQ
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) June 14, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
F1’s CEO has ruled out introducing rules to reduce Red Bull’s dominance this year, but regulation changes to tighten up the field is very much in his intentions for future seasons. It is an approach that has split the opinions of RaceFans readers.
Closer competition in the fashion people seem to campaign for, I predict, will yield declining viewership and interest. If it’s based on technical interference it will do two things:
1. Dramatically reduce technical coverage. This is a huge driver for interest in F1. A cursory look at YouTube and various channels it makes up the majority of detailed analysis. The current regulations are very restrictive, but even the layman can see why a Red Bull is faster than a Williams by looking at the floors.
2. People like narratives. David vs Goliath. If F1 becomes an ‘anyone can win’ then it borderline becomes random and people will switch off. There needs to be a natural ebb and flow where some teams get it right, some teams get it wrong. Risk is what creates tension and stakes. Remove risk from F1 and you create a bland product. Just look at Merc. They took a risk, got it wrong, but it has driven a large amount of fan engagement and debate. (which is a good thing).
A lot of people will learn this too late.
Alan Dove
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to David A, Mateuss, Vikas and Eoin Harrington!
Ola Ray
15th June 2023, 2:29
Very true, I think the Canadian GP should be the race before the USGP, not bang in the middle of the European section of the season
Jere (@jerejj)
15th June 2023, 5:23
May is mostly warm, though, especially when looking at this & last year, so his June-beginning reference is invalid.
Therefore, holding the Canadian GP in May would be perfectly okay, especially in the second half.
Autumn beyond mid-September, but especially late-September, is even worse, though, weather-wise, with temps getting more unstable & cooler, so June is definitely better on this front.
However, how would autumn particularly be worse for Parc Jean-Drapeau’s actitivies & how would holding the Canadian GP during some local (Montreal-specific or Quebec generally) congresses be bad.
This part I don’t quite get.
His remarks are somewhat weird, but he should be careful with showing unwilligness to change for F1’s long-term benefits.
By doing so, he inadvertently risks the Canadian GP ending up under threat despite being on a long-term commitment, given it isn’t among the so-called lucrative events.
SteveP
15th June 2023, 7:24
Possibly more so in coming years, but the word “negotiation” would probably cover the situation fairly accurately.
“If I move to an earlier date, what fee reduction are you offering?”
Simon
15th June 2023, 17:57
So, so close to calling “house” on the @jerejj bingo card. Only the usually predictable agreement with the COTD is missing
Radoye
15th June 2023, 19:59
Re: the congresses – the hotels in and around Montreal would be at full capacity for either those events or the Grand Prix.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
15th June 2023, 9:11
Why should Montreal move its date when the USA has 3 rounds to chose from and pair them with the Canadian round?
Montral is further away from Miami than Barcelona is from Imola (twice the distance by car, in fact), and they hold back to back race, so it’s not like they are stealing attendance or anything. And both Texas and Las Vegas are even further away.
Any of those could hold a race with Miami easily. They used to do it with Indianapolis… there’s absolutely no reason why any North America race has to be a standalone event.
W-K (@w-k)
15th June 2023, 13:47
This year we went Imola, Monaco, Barcelona. So quite a difference really from Miami to Montreal distance.
And if you look at the climate data for Montreal then the race has to be in a four month window from 20th May to 20th Sept, which doesn’t fit with any of the U.S. races as they now appear in the calendar.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
15th June 2023, 14:41
@w-k make them fit. Why couldn’t we go from Miami last weekend to Montreal this weekend?
Radoye
15th June 2023, 19:57
Miami’s already too hot in June. Montreal is too cold in early May. It’s just an awkward match.
W-K (@w-k)
15th June 2023, 19:59
Depends on how close to the hurricane season you want to be in at Miami.
Qeki (@qeki)
15th June 2023, 9:12
What if F1 wants to be equal to every team and driver. Why not do the same with the big round table. Like in german football fans own half of each the teams. Get there a fan seat or a few besides the table and we can all work together. Get every one a same chance to be with the sport or money they love.
DB-C90 (@dbradock)
15th June 2023, 10:54
Not really a problem for Liberty, they can just replace it with another US race or another one in the Middle East.
According to their CEO there’s a heap of places that want to pay big $$ to hold a race so I can’t see them worrying about the Canadian one if it can’t move to fit his plans.
playstation361
25th June 2023, 1:02
I don’t like Roberto Merhi. He looks very strange.