Red Bull F1: Vettel and Ricciardo ready to flirt with the barriers in Montreal
After Monaco, the Formula 1 circus heads to Canada, on a track where drivers are also accustomed to getting close to the barriers. Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo, the two Red Bull drivers, explain why this circuit is so special.
Although it is much faster than the one in Monte-Carlo, the Gilles-Villeneuve track also does not feature large run-off areas, like the most modern circuits. We still remember the famous Wall of Champions, on the outside of the exit of the last chicane, which provides us with impressive images every year.
This is where the Red Bull drivers will have to extract the maximum power from their Renault turbo-hybrid engine. But what seems to worry Sebastien Vettel the most is the virtuosity the track demands: « It’s a very high-speed and demanding circuit, surrounded by guardrails and concrete walls. The risks are truly very high, especially at turn 15, when you have to get acquainted with the famous ‘Wall of Champions’ and learn to get a few centimeters closer to the right… ».
The course still holds other challenges: « The first danger zone is right at the start. In a very narrow right-left section, it’s all about avoiding contact with other cars, otherwise an accident could occur. It’s not uncommon to see the Safety Car make an appearance during the Canadian Grand Prix. »
In high spirits in the narrow streets of the Principality, Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t have a very different opinion: « Some circuits tend to demand the most from you and severely punish those who make mistakes. Montreal certainly falls into this latter category. Each chicane is an opportunity to gain or lose time, but the most decisive corner is probably the last one: you arrive at maximum speed, so there is a lot to gain by braking if you do everything right, and then the time you spend on the curbs becomes less important. The flip side is that it’s very easy to make a mistake, and if you do, there’s that big wall waiting for you ».
Could Montreal then also be a peacemaker between drivers ready to showcase their talent to gain a few tenths… and the others? There is a very clear choice to make: some guys will play it safe and sacrifice half a tenth to get through that last corner without trouble; others will want to take a risk and will go through like madmen trying to find a little advantage. The closer you get [to the wall], the faster you’ll go! Give the wall a kiss and you’ll feel very good; kiss it too hard… and it’s all over.
And this kiss of death, the Wall of Champions has already given it to illustrious drivers, world champions (Schumacher, Hill, Villeneuve). Ironically, the wall was then called Welcome to Quebec.
