As we have done for every race this season, Formula Update takes a blast into the past ahead of the upcoming race. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has produced some stunning races – flying Benettons, the wall of champions and the first wins of many a driver. We look back, though, at the longest race in history – the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. A race where the rain played havoc.
The weather led to a delayed start, with the race ultimately starting behind the safety car for the first four laps. On the rolling start, Vettel bolted with Alonso right up behind him – the Spaniard challenging the German into the final chicane and the first corner.
Hamilton and Webber collide at turn 1
The Red Bull held on, but Vettel’s team mat Mark Webber was spun around at turn 1 after Lewis Hamilton understeered into him whilst attempting a dart up the inside. The Australian kept the engine running, but restarted all the way down in 14th place.
Four laps later, the two McLarens were fighting down the pit straight. Hamilton moved to the inside line, but Button – who moved across on the normal racing line – didn’t see his team mate in his mirrors due to the spray. The 2009 champion pushed the 2008 champion into the wall, breaking Hamilton’s rear left suspension and scattering debris across the track.
Hamilton was forced to stop on track, bringing out the safety car as the marshals needed to clear the debris and the stricken McLaren.
Button pitted for intermediate tyres behind the safety car, but was given a drive through penalty for breaking the safety car speed limit as we rejoined the pack. The ensuing drive through penalty saw the McLaren driver drop all the way down to fifteenth place.
Lap nineteen, and the rain returned. Hard. Several drivers had pitted for intermediate tyres, but they became a liability as conditions forced a switch back to the full wets. The FIA deployed the safety car due to the conditions. Those who had not stayed out pitted for inters came into the pits for a fresh set of full wets. The conditions eventually became so bad, the race was red flagged on lap 25.
The race was stopped for over two hours
What ensued was a wait of over two hours, until the track was eventually deemed dry enough for the race to be restarted behind the safety car for seven laps. At the restart, Vettel led Kobayashi and Massa – they had pitted under the safety car and as such jumped up the field.
The track was so dry that it was almost time for intermediates, Jerome D’Ambrosio pitting behind the safety car for intermediate tyres. Once the race eventually returned to racing conditions at the end of lap 34, it didn’t take long for the majority of drivers to make the switch from wets to intermediates.
Massa and Kobayashi diced into turn 1, but it was a clean restart that saw no changes in position.
The safety car was deployed yet again on lap 37 after contact between Button and Alonso. Upon exiting the pits, the Brit found himself behind the Spaniard. He attempted a pass down the inside of turn 3, but wasn’t quite far enough along side to do so. They touched, sending Alonso’s Ferrari into a spin. It was beached on a kerb and his race was run. Button was relegated to the back after being forced to pit for another set of inters, his previous set punctured in the contact.
The safety car came in after three laps.
Paul Di Resta was the next driver to be in the wars. He ran into the back of Nick Heidfield at the final corner on lap 42, and was forced to pit twice – once for a new front wing and the second time for a drive through penalty.
Kobayashi and Massa were reminded why Michael Schumacher is nicknamed the “rain master” on lap 51. Whilst dicing for second, the pair ran wide. Massa did make it past Kobayashi’s Sauber, but Schumacher jumped them both after they were slow out of turns 8 and 9.
Drivers were now beginning to pit for slicks, leading to a massive problem for Felipe Massa. As he attempted to lap an HRT, he aquaplaned on the wet inside line and damaged his front wing – negating another pit stop for the Ferrari driver.
The sixth safety car of the race was deployed after Nick Heidfield ran into the back of Kamui Kobayashi at the exit of turn 2. The Renault drivers’ front wing was damaged in the contact and folded underneath the car. The German lost control of the steering, sending him into the wall and ultimately down the escape road of turn 3. Bits of Lotus-Renault front wing were scattered across the track, and there was a huge risk of a puncture from broken carbon fibre.
The race resumed on lap 60, but it was lap 63 where the focus began to fall back on Jenson Button. Mark Webber skipped the final corner whilst passing Michael Schumacher with DRS, forcing him to give the place back to the German. He did at turn 2, and just about held off Jenson Button – the McLaren driver right behind the Mercedes.
It wouldn’t be long for Button to wait before he passed the Red Bull. Once again, Webber missed the final corner. He slowed down to make sure he didn’t gain an advantage, and Button pounced to take third place.
Second placed man Michael Schumacher was dispatched down the back straight the following lap, and the hunt could begin for race leader Sebastian Vettel. Webber made it past Schumacher fairly on lap 67, and kept the position.
The final lap of the race, however, will be remembered forever. Vettel began the lap 0.9 seconds ahead of Button, but a mistake at turn 6 cost him. Badly. After leading the eventful race from start to finish, the German ran wide onto the wet line and lost the rear. Button took the lead as Vettel recovered, meaning that the Brit would win after coming through the field from last place.
The two hour race stoppage led to a record race length. Button crossed the line as race winner in a time of 4:04:39.537 – a record which will never be broken. It was this race that led to the FIA introducing a four hour time limit the following season.
A truly iconic Grand Prix will be remembered forever, and it is another reminder of how the rain can spice up the racing.
Images courtesy of Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari
