F1 Points Update after Canadian GP
Points standings: (adding Monaco and Canada to the previous update.)
2013 Drivers’ Championship
- S Vettel 132 points
- F Alonso 96
- K Raikkonen 88
- L Hamilton 77
- M Webber 69
- N Rosberg 57
- F Massa 49
- P di Resta 34
- R Grosjean 26
- J Button 25
2013 Constructors’ Championship
- Red Bull 201 points
- Ferrari 145
- Mercedes 134
- Lotus 114
- Force India 51
- McLaren 37
- Toro Rosso 20
- Sauber 5
- Williams 0
- Caterham 0
- Marussia 0
Canadian Grand Prix – Race
There was rain throughout Qualifying and there’s a 20% chance of showers during the race.
Provisional grid: VET, HAM, BOT, ROS, WEB, ALO, VER, SUT, RAI, RIC; HUL, PER, MAL, BUT, GUT, MAS; DIR, PIC, GRO, BIA, CHI, VDG.
GRO’s 10 grid-spot penalty from Monaco will drop him to P22
RAI and RIC have been given two-place grid penalties for not queuing up correctly at the pit exit when Q2 resumed
Revised grid: VET, HAM, BOT, ROS, WEB, ALO, VER, SUT, HUL, RAI*, RIC*, PER, MAL, BUT, GUT, MAS, DIR, PIC, BIA, CHI, VDG, GRO*.
Tyre compounds for this weekend are the white-marked mediums (prime) and red super-soft (options).
Looks like the track is dry, which is somewhat of an unknown condition for the teams in Montreal
Air temperature 23°C; track 28°C; wind 6.0m/s; humidity 38%
VET leads everyone away on the formation lap
Only DIR, BIA, CHI and GRO starting on primes; everyone else on the supersoft options
BOT starting P3 has got his work cut out to stay with the front of the pack
Read more
Montreal beer festival
I missed the previous two years of the Montreal beer festival so this year I decided to go up for the whole five days, to make up for lost time. 
This year was also the 20th anniversary of the festival, so I was hoping for something a bit special; sadly I didn’t see that any special events were organised, and in fact there were fewer breweries than past years (most notably Unibroue), but at least the new venue (Palais des congrès) was OK.
Even though I lugged my camera gear up there, I only took a few shots and most of them were walking to/from the venue rather than inside; I’ll post them soon.
So, what about the beer? Read more
Canadian Grand Prix – Qualifying
The weekend after the Montreal beer festival it’s time for the Grand Prix circus to hit town. Last weekend we had high humidity and thunderstorms; Free Practice 1 was wet but fortunately not as bad as two years ago. DIR was fastest in FP1 (1:21.020) followed by BUT, GRO, ALO and RAI. FP2 was dry; ALO topped the timing chart (1:14.818) then HAM, GRO, WEB & ROS. Barrier repairs delayed the start of FP3, cutting the session to 30 minutes; the track was declared wet but a dry line appeared early on; WEB was quickest (1:17.895), SUT, HAM, ALO & VET.
Tyre compounds for this weekend are the white-marked mediums (prime) and red super-soft (options).
GRO has a 10 grid-spot penalty after causing an accident with RIC in Monaco.
A few minutes before the start of Qualifying and the heavens open – another downpour but it’s forecast to stop soon.
Radio for PIC saying it should end shortly
Qualifying session 1 (Q1) Read more
Monaco Grand Prix – Race
It was wet in Qualifying but it looks like it’ll be dry for the race.
Air temperature 19°C; track 40°C; wind 1.9m/s; humidity 35%
Provisional grid: ROS, HAM, VET, WEB, RAI, ALO, PER, SUT, BUT, VER; HUL, RIC, GRO, BOT, VDG, MAL; DIR, PIC, GUT, CHI, BIA, MAS.
CHI has been penalised for a gearbox change (as was MAS) and will start at the back.
Tyre this weekend are: prime=soft, option=super-soft
Expectation is for 1 or 2 pit stops
ROS leads everyone away on the formation lap … except for BIA who has to be pushed off the grid
(It’s 30 years since ROS’ father won this race)
Radio from BUT – “lot of clutch slip”
MAS and CHI slow to take their place – long hold for the guys on the front of the grid
Read more