Formula One: 2007 Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal

« prev episode next » episode

McLaren�s Lewis Hamilton won the 2007 Canadian GP ahead of BMW�s Nick Heidfeld and Williams� Alex Wurz. Read full recap »

YOUR SCORE

RESET

N/A n/a

Stars:: Steve Rider (Host); Martin Brundle (Race Commentator); Mark Blundell (Formula One analyst); Louise Goodman (Pit Reporter); James Allen (2) (Race Commentator)

Jarno Trulli wore a special pink helmet for the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, to honour his friend Danilo di Luca, who won the 2007 Giro d'Italia cycling race. edit »
Track layout
The track's layout includes 12 corners - five left and seven right - and drivers are full throttle for about 55 percent of the lap, reaching a top speed of 325 Km/h. edit »
Lap Record
Rubens Barrichello holds the lap record, his benchmark time of 1m13.622s set in Ferrari's dominant 2004 season. edit »
Alonso breaks circuit duck
Fernando Alonso�s victory in 2006 ended what had been a dismal personal record at the circuit, having retired in three of his previous four visits. His 2005 DNF was self-inflicted when he brushed the wall at turn four. The race-ending error, however, remains to date his last - 35 races ago. edit »
Schumacher's impressive record
Michael Schumacher's 1999 crash remained one of few blips in what was a remarkable record in Montreal. He won on the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve a record seven times (1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004). When he didn't win though he invariably finished second, a position he achieved on four occasions. edit »

Lewis keeps trophy
Following Lewis� debut win at Canada in 2007, McLaren Mercedes broke with tradition by letting him keep the crystal trophy. Contractually, the team's drivers are required to relinquish their trophies so they can be displayed at the McLaren Technology Centre. Replicas are then produced for the drivers. edit »
Beaver ruins Davidson�s race
Anthony Davidson blamed a stray beaver for costing him a potential podium at the 2007 Canadian GP. Anthony was ahead of Williams' Alex Wurz, and on an identical one-stop strategy, when he struck the animal along the pit-straight and was forced to make an unscheduled stop. The condition of the beaver is not known, but there are understandable fears that it may not be able to attend next year's race. edit »
Ecclestone urges Montreal to update its facilities
Bernie Ecclestone warned organisers of the Canadian GP to update the circuit's outdated facilities or risk losing the annual race. Bernie requested a new pit and paddock complex at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The Canadian circuit, which does have some of the simplest and smallest circuit facilities in F1, is understood to have a contract until at least 2011. edit »
Kubica miraculously escaped serious injury
Robert Kubica miraculously escaped serious injury in a terrifying accident in the 2007 Canadian GP. Robert�s BMW Sauber clipped the right-rear wheel of Jarno Trulli�s Toyota on the 180mph approach to the hairpin on lap 27, launching it into a heavy impact with the concrete wall. The BMW then rebounded across the track, rolled, and finally came to rest against the guardrail on the outside of the hairpin. Robert was taken to the circuit medical centre, where he was awake and alert having only momentarily lost consciousness at the moment of impact. He was later airlifted to Montreal's Sacre Coeur hospital for further checks and reported to have just a sprained ankle and slight bruising of the brain. edit »
Toyota to solve suspension problem
Toyota raced to solve a suspension problem in time for GP after Jarno Trulli's front suspension broke twice during the second session of free practice. edit »

Robert Kubica: (asked how the reaction in Poland was, following his massive crash in the 2007 Canadian GP) Although I did not go to Poland I know from my family that my accident in Montreal was quite a shock in Poland and I have received a lot of cheering messages from all my friends and fans living in Poland. The 30 minutes after the accident were very tough for my relatives in Poland until they got the information that I was not injured. edit »
Robert Kubica: (after being released from hospital after his crash at the 2007 Canadian GP) I have no pain and feel well. I want to thank everyone for the medical attention I received and for all the good wishes. [BMW motorsport director] Mario Theissen and other team members came to visit me, and also thanks to Jarno Trulli who came as well. I am happy that I have been able to leave the hospital so quickly and will now prepare for the race in Indianapolis. edit »
Murray Walker: (following Lewis Hamilton�s first win in F1) It's more than feasible that he could win the Championship this year, which would be incredible. There aren't enough superlatives for what Lewis Hamilton is doing race after race. He has been on the podium for six successive grands prix, it is unprecedented in the history of Formula One. I've been watching Formula One since it began and I have never seen anything like this in my life, it is quite incredible. But let's not forget if he did not have the right car or the right infrastructure that McLaren have provided him with, he wouldn't be able to exploit his natural talent. It takes two to make a bargain. The only thing that worries me about Hamilton's situation is the pressure he is getting from the media. With the British Grand Prix coming up the press will go berserk. We mustn't go overboard too soon, he's driven in six F1 races but to rank him with other greats would be much, much too early. edit »
Anthony Davidson: (after hitting a beaver during the 2007 Canadian GP) It is such a shame about the beaver. It had it in for me for sure! I was running in third place at the time, behind the Safety Car. I was on a clear, one-stop strategy and it damaged the front wing. I couldn't even see it at high speed and I could not understand why suddenly I locked up the front tyres and so I had to come in to the pit-lane. The guys were taken by surprise in the garage when I came in, but they were really on it with the race strategy after that, telling me to overtake the safety car to get my lap back and it was a really enjoyable race at the end. edit »
Lewis Hamilton: (on winning the 2007 Canadian GP) I�m on another planet after this � I simply can�t find the words to describe what it feels like to win my first Formula 1 race. The team has done a fantastic job and I�m so happy to be part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes family. I made an OK start off the line � nothing spectacular but managed to get a good exit out of the first corner and whilst mayhem was happening around me I was able to keep my cool and focus. Obviously I�m pleased that my good friend Robert is OK after his accident. It seemed like every time I opened up a bit of a gap the Safety Car came out and I had to start all over again. It was only a few laps from the end I realised that victory was within my grasp and I started noticing things like the fans cheering and when I crossed the finishing line it was amazing. I now have to stay focused and keep up the good work. It�s been an incredible start to my Formula 1 career so far but I know there is a tough season ahead of us. Finally thanks to the entire team at McLaren and Mercedes-Benz for all the hard work they have put into the car � it�s an absolute pleasure to drive and be part of such a winning combination. edit »

2007 Canadian Grand Prix results (70 laps)

01 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:44:11.292
02 N. Heidfeld BMW + 4.300
03 A. Wurz Williams + 5.300
04 H. Kovalainen Renault + 6.700
05 K. R�ikk�nen Ferrari + 13.000
06 T. Sato Super Aguri + 16.600
07 F. Alonso McLaren + 21.900
08 R. Schumacher Toyota + 22.800
09 M. Webber Red Bull + 22.900
10 N. Rosberg Williams + 23.900
11 A. Davidson Super Aguri + 24.300
12 R. Barrichello Honda + 30.400
Did not finish
13 J. Trulli Toyota + 12 laps
14 V. Liuzzi Toro Rosso + 15 laps
15 G. Fisichella Renault + 18 laps
16 F. Massa Ferrari + 18 laps
17 C. Albers Spyker F1 + 21 laps
18 D. Coulthard Red Bull + 35 laps
19 R. Kubica BMW + 43 laps
20 A. Sutil Spyker F1 + 48 laps
21 S. Speed Toro Rosso + 61 laps
22 J. Button Honda + 70 laps edit »
Starting grid for the Canadian Grand Prix

01 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:16.707
02 F. Alonso McLaren 1:16.163
03 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:16.266
04 K. R�ikk�nen Ferrari 1:16.411
05 F. Massa Ferrari 1:16.570
06 M. Webber Red Bull 1:16.913
07 N. Rosberg Williams 1:16.919
08 R. Kubica BMW 1:16.993
09 G. Fisichella Renault 1:17.229
10 J. Trulli Toyota 1:17.747
11 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:16.743
12 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:16.760
13 R. Barrichello Honda 1:17.116
14 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:17.304
15 J. Button Honda 1:17.541
16 S. Speed Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:17.571
17 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:17.542
18 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:17.634
19 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:17.806
20 A. Wurz Williams 1:18.089
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:18.536
22 C. Albers Spyker F1 1:19.196 edit »

8.1
00
_SemperFidelis_
member since: Apr 7, 2007
2007 Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal
The Bottom Line: "Adventurous"
Can safety car and a big accident make a race exciting? Yes. ...Continue »
Formula One's downfall has been going on for quite a few years now, but luckily, there are always races which makes you forget of that.

This is one great example.

Although the racing wasn't as exciting as it could have been, the mayhem, the accidents, the crashes made it more than entertaining.

Kubica's unfortunate accident started a very exciting chain of events, some red flags, bunch of yellow flags, 4 safety car periods, couple of crashes, and...

my favourite part - without a doubt - Sato. He was the hero of this race, although Alonso had his tyres wore down, it was spectacular of Sato to overtake him.

Congrats to Hamilton, Wurz and Heidfeld.
06/17/07 10:54am | report abuse
9
00
shaneypoo_88
member since: Apr 1, 2007
2007 Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal
The Bottom Line: "Nerve-wracking"
Safety car makes for a very interesting race ...Continue »
The 2007 Canadian Formula One Grand Prix will no doubt be remembered for a long time to come and for a number of reasons. Number one it will be remember as the first (definetly not last) victory for new F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton. Second it will be remember for more than 5 safety car periods that drasticly altered the race. Thirdly the black-flagging of Fisischella and Massa. And finally it will be remember for one of the worst F1 carshes in recent memory. Robert Kuibica miraculously escaped injury in one of the most violent crashes seen in awhile, it completely tore his car apart.

A great race by Hamilton, managing to lead the whole way and continue to re-build his lead after ever safety car break. Nick Heidfeld had a brilliant race aswell collecting his first podium of the year with 2nd place. Also a shout out to Takuma Sato. Brilliant drive from him, he even overtook Kimi and Fernando.

9/10 for a very interesting race. Here's hoping for more like it.
06/13/07 05:36am | report abuse