“The Canadian Grand Prix is traditionally one of the most spectacular on the calendar, packed with incidents and surprises thanks to a track that offers plenty of overtaking opportunities but doesn’t take any prisoners. As is often the case for this type of circuit, we’ve brought the three softest tyres in the range – C3, C4, and C5 – just like last year. We expect the C5 to be used mainly for qualifying, while the C4 and C3 are set to be favoured for the race.” – Pirelli Motorsport Directot Mario Isola explained in the Pirelli official preview of the 2023 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix.
“The asphalt is fairly smooth with this semi-permanent street circuit not extensively used, meaning that we’re likely to see a high degree of track evolution over the weekend. On a track with no high-speed corners, the key factors are traction coming out of slow turns, stability under braking, and agility when changing direction. Another important element to consider is the weather. Conditions can change quickly, not just from wet to dry, but also with marked fluctuations in temperature. The asphalt temperature during last year’s qualifying was 17 degrees, while in the race it reached 40 degrees.” – Pirelli’s Head of F1 & Car Racing Mario Isola added.
Pirelli facts and stats:
The Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada for Formula 1 will feature the selection of C3 as the P Zero White hard compound, C4 as the P Zero Yellow medium compound, and C5 as the P Zero Red soft compound.
Located on the man-made Notre Dame island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River near Montreal, the Gilles Villeneuve circuit spans 4.361 kilometers and serves as a semi-permanent track. Apart from hosting the grand prix, it also doubles as a recreational facility for activities such as cycling, roller skating, and walking.
In 1978, the inaugural Canadian Grand Prix took place at this circuit, and it was Gilles Villeneuve who emerged as the victor. Following the tragic death of the Canadian driver in 1982, the track was renamed in his memory.
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The race comprises 70 laps and features six left turns and eight right turns, along with three straights, including a notably long one. Due to the frequent changes in direction brought about by the succession of corners and continuous braking, the average speed remains relatively low.
Typically, the softer compound is reserved for qualifying sessions, as was the case in the previous year when only the medium and hard compounds were used in the race. Most drivers favored a two-stop strategy, while some chose a one-stop strategy with an extended initial stint on the hard compound, particularly those starting from further back on the grid.
According to data from the 2022 Formula 1 championship, the average pitstop time is 18.5 seconds, despite the pitlane spanning over 400 meters. Drivers entering the pits bypass the first corner by cutting through the final chicane, with the pit exit already positioned at Turn 2.
FERRARI CHALLENGE
The Canadian Grand Prix will receive support from the Pirelli-equipped Ferrari Challenge North America, providing an additional reason for interest next weekend, especially for Ferrari fans.
Serving as the fourth round of the season, the event in Montreal follows the Road Atlanta race held in late May. Currently, Matt Kurzejewski of Ferrari Westlake leads the Trofeo Pirelli category with 77 points, while Cameron Root from Ron Tonkin Grand Turismo leads the Coppa Shell category with 75 points. The Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo cars participating in this championship are equipped with P Zero DHB tires specially developed for the one-make series.
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