Formula 1 - Canadian Grand Prix 2014

Daniel Ricciardo breaks the Mercedes dominance and wins the Grand Prix of Canada, which was marked by retirements and spectacular accidents. Nico Rosberg saved himself to second place and extends the world championship lead.

by Bruno Fleckenstein

When Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg start the race from second and first place on the grid, everything seems to go as usual. Hamilton gets away better and tries to overtake Rosberg, but the latter brakes very late into the left-hand corner and was already in the advantageous left-hand lane, pushing Hamilton away, who then has to brake. Sebastian Vettel takes advantage of this, jumps into the gap and puts Hamilton behind.
In turn 3, Marussia driver Max Chilton's rear breaks away and unfortunately hits his teammate Jules Bianchi, who then crashes into the wall at turn number 4. Double retirement for Marussia and safety car already in the first lap.
Sauber brings its driver Esteban Gutiérrez in twice and switches first to soft and then again to the hard tires. That way he could drive through.

Pit stops and different strategies mix up the driver field

On lap 14, Daniel Ricciardo is the first driver to change the tires on his Red Bull. The other teams follow him, but Force India seems to be going for a one-stop strategy. This is reflected in the improved position. Rosberg in the lead, behind, Hamilton, Perez, Hülkenberg, Vettel, Bottas, Ricciardo, Massa, Alonso, Vergne, Raikkonen, Button and Magnusson. That's the situation on lap 32, although it has to be said that the gap between the Silver Arrows and their pursuers is already 23 seconds.
Sergio Perez comes in for his first pit stop on lap 35 and drops back to 10th place. His teammate Nico Hülkenberg comes in on lap 42 and changes to the soft tires. Force India also try different variants with the drivers, the colleague Perez changed to the hard. In the meantime, many other drivers were also in the pits for the second time.

Software problems at Mercedes and the duel gets tougher

Hamilton reported a loss of power on lap 37. The Mercedes drivers were struggling and needed 1:22 minutes for lap 38, 3 seconds more than the chasers. That wouldn't be enough for the win. On lap 44, Rosberg is told, "Problem can't be fixed, go as fast as you can!" He goes for a pit stop and comes back on track behind Massa. Alonso and Hamilton pit one lap later. Alonso drops back to 9 and Massa also catches Hamilton and is in the lead for the first time.
Hamilton, however, remains ahead of Rosberg. The battle in the Mercedes team over who is now the leader seems to have broken out. Hamilton misjudges at turn 10, drives too far out and Rosberg passes him. Vettel also misjudged in this hairpin on lap 22 and Räikkönen spun on lap 40, so no shame on this day. But Hamilton is determined to strike back, wants to overtake at the finish chicane but has to take a shortcut, drives straight ahead and then lets Rosberg overtake again. But these maneuvers to drive hard over the curbs seem to have led to suspension damage. Too impetuous his temperament!? Retirement on lap 48, crazy!
One lap later, Daniil Kvyat's Torro Rosso simply rolls out in the hairpin. Another retirement.

Fight for the victory and other positions until last

Perez is now in second place behind Rosberg on lap 54, closely followed by Red Bull drivers Ricciardo and Vettel. The second group of four behind them is Hülkenberg, Bottas, Massa and Alonso. Rosberg's lead has shrunk to 1.5 seconds, but the Mercedes seems to be running smoothly again and is also clocking 1:19 min times again.
Three laps later, the hairpin again seems to have a fateful effect. Bottas drives too far out and Massa passes and then overtakes Hülkenberg and catches up with the first group. On lap 62 he is still 0.5 seconds away from Vettel's rear wheel.
Ricciardo passes Perez on lap 66 with a risky maneuver and immediately hangs him up. Perez drives a battle line against Vettel as he tries to hold on to his podium spot.
Standings after 66 laps: Rosberg ahead of Ricciardo (1.2), Perez (2.7), Vettel (3.0), Massa (3.3), Hülkenberg (5.9), Alonso (6.6) and Button (7.9).
Meanwhile, Sauber's Gutiérrez retires on lap 67.
Ricciardo now has Rosberg in his sights, can overtake him and takes the lead on lap 68. One lap later, Perez is off the line in the hairpin, which Vettel uses as an overtaking maneuver. Massa then tries to force it with the crowbar, Perez pulls to the inside and this causes a spectacular crash on braking for the Senna-S, in which Perez's car spins at high speed and smashes into the wall and Massa drives straight into the tire pile almost without braking. Both out, so close to the end and a good placing. What a nonsense! Vettel is lucky not to be hit.

Daniel Ricciardo wins his first Grand Prix in Formula 1 under yellow flags. Nico Rosberg was able to avert greater damage and remains world championship leader and Sebastian Vettel is once again on the podium. Jenson Button benefits most from the pile-up and finishes fourth. Nico Hülkenberg behind proves what Force India is capable of and Fernando Alonso on six can not quite catch up with the top teams, as one had hoped before the race.

Ranking list Canadian Grand Prix

1. D. Ricciardo Red Bull 1:39:12.830
2nd N.Rosberg Mercedes + 0:04 min.
3rd S.Vettel Red Bull + 0.05 min.
4th J. Button McLaren + 0:11 min.
5th N.Hülkenberg Force India + 0:12 min.
6th F.Alonso Ferrari 0:14 min.
7th V.Bottas Williams 0:23 min.
8th J.Vergne Toro Rosso +0:28 min.
9th K. Magnussen McLaren + 0 :29 min.
10th K. Raikkonen Ferrari + 0:53 min.
11. S. Perez Force India + 1 lap
12th F. Massa Williams + 1 lap
13 A.Sutil Sauber + 1 lap
14th E. Gutierrez Sauber + 6 laps

Alonso next to Ricciardo shortly after the start