F1 Canada Race

After the events of quali yesterday Mclaren were penalised with a £10,000 fine for requesting Lewis stopped on track and not make it back it to the pits. The question of team orders was again under discussion prior to the race but this time more about Lewis and Jenson.

The message Lewis received from the pit wall during the latter part of the race nearly cost him the win and very nearly lost the race for both the Mclaren's. After the collision between the two Red Bull's we all sat on the edge of our seats as Lewis was advised to save fuel, he asked whether Jenson would pass him and was advised No.

Jenson then went past, Lewis then took him into the lead again, again they swapped but it could have been a disaster for them both, so close. Let us hope we don't get a repeat this weekend even though we want the same excitement. We could have enough problems with safety cars today so that could give us a lot of excitement today.

There is a mix of tyres at the start which is unusual with Mclaren on the Green walled tyres and the Red Bull's on the harder compound. The soft tyre will present Lewis with a problem as the soft tyres suggest he will have to change them after as few as eight laps. We await with anticipation the result of this race.

The harder tyre is more difficult to get heat into so the start should be easier on the softer tyres but across the whole race all the teams have to use both compounds so it should equalise across the 70 laps.

Mark has been given a five place grid drop back into seventh which has moved from sixth to second up a place. Red Bull opted to change Mark's gearbox only as a precaution and hence the five place grid drop.

So with the highest track temperature of the year at 38 it is mighty hot which will be even more difficult for the tyres. The 2.7 mile circuit will present a problem balancing speed and high speed braking up as far as 5g. The run down to the first corner is a short blast from the grid and let us hope they all get through.

The first corner caused all sorts of problems as Lewis shot off into the lead followed by Sebastian and Fernando. Behind them there were all sorts of problems as Pedro, Felipe, Vitantonio and all needed new nose cones. Then coming into the last corner Kamui was the first to hit the wall and out he went.

We had an almighty scrap between Jenson and Mark but Jenson lost out and then Lewis seemed to be holding up the front runners forcing both Mclaren's to change tyres. Coming out of the pits Lewis and Fernando were side by side and all so close but Fernando went in front.

So the excitement started from the get go and after only nine laps we had both Red Bull's out front with Fernando and Lewis back to seventh and eighth. We must remember the Red Bull's will have to change to the soft tyres so as I mentioned earlier it could equalise over the race.

Up to lap sixteen it was very difficult to keep up with everything going on and as thought tyres are causing huge problems. Whilst all this was all going on we had changes in positions throughout the field and as it stabilised a bit Lewis was back in front followed by Fernando and Jenson as even the Red Bull's had to change the hard tyres much quicker than the teams thought.

The talk on only lap sixteen was the cars may have to change five times which is unheard of in F1. These walls around the circuit are looking mighty close as the drivers push hard trying to keep the lap times. The circuit seems to be rubbering up on lap twenty one and tyre management is the name of the game.

The five four are trading fastest lap after fastest lap as Lewis keeps Fernando at bay but Jenson, Sebastian and Mark are closing in and all are on the harder tyre excepting Sebastian who is still on the soft tyres. Great racing and anything could happen across this long race.

So on laps twenty nine and thirty we had another round of tyre changes which changed the front order with Mark in front followed by Lewis, Fernando, Jenson and Sebastian all battling for the lead. There is so much going on all the way down the field but the top five are basically equally two seconds apart.

On lap forty Mark was still out in the lead but only 10 seconds ahead and with a sixteen seconds pit stop for his final stop as he has to stop again to go onto the soft tyres. Lewis is closing in on Mark along with all the others in the top 5. On lap forty five Mark hit traffic and the gap was getting ever closer and the top five cars are only covered by ten seconds.

On lap fifty Lewis went ahead, Fernando couldn't go through but Mark then went into the pits for his last stop to go onto the soft, Green walled tyres. The two Force India's and Felipe had been having a great battle for the lower positions.

Both Mclaren's were also speeding and seem happier on the tyres than the others but still times amongst the top four moving all over the place. Jenson closes on Fernando who are closing slightly on Lewis whilst Mark has new tyres we will see whether he can close back on the top four.

Jenson then passed Fernando and we had a one, two for Mclaren again as the Ferrari got tied up ever so slightly by a slower car. Then Jenson and Fernando lapped Michael which must have been a blow for him. Mark in the meantime was hot on the heels of the front four and running quicker than Lewis. Now Jenson has clear air he is catching Lewis as the last ten laps start.

Michael was struggling with pace as his tyres were shot having had them on for some 30 laps. However, he then pushed Felipe off the track coming into the last turn which destroyed Felipe's front spoiler and he had no option to pit for a new one. Naughty Michael, very naughty and will be investigated by the stewards after the race.

Then Vitantonio was pushing Michael in a spirited fight between the two of them as the Force India tried to get to tenth and a point. Up at the front Lewis had it all under control followed by Jenson and a Mclaren one, two again for the second time in two races and they are now at the top of the both championships.

A huge welcome back to Canada and after a terrific F1 spectacle the top ten at the finish were Lewis, Jenson, Fernando, Sebastian, Mark, Nico, Robert, Sebastian (B), Vitantonio and Adrian finally pushing Michael out of the points.

After Canada there has been a change now at the top of the drivers championship as Mclaren lock it out at the top with Lewis (109), Jenson (106), Mark (103), Fernando (94), Sebastian (90), Nico (74), Robert (73), Felipe (67), Michael (34), Adrian (23), Vitantonio (12), Rubens (7), Vitaly (6), Sebastien B (5), Jamie (3) and Nico and Kamui bringing up the rear with 1.

In the Constructors Championship the positions haven't changed. Mclaren leave Canada with (215), Red Bull (193), Ferrari (161), Mercedes (108), Renault (79), Force India (35), Williams (8), Toro Rosso (8) and BMW bringing up the rear with just 1 point.

We need more races like these Bernie, great race and full of excitement all the way from flag to flag. Best race of the season.