FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2014
Ricciardo’s Maiden Win
The race started in the typical fashion of this year, the two Mercedes drivers moving clear of the field, Rosberg in the lead, Hamilton second. However, the race did not continue to plan, just after the first pitstops the MGU-K failed for both Mercedes cars, meaning both drivers could not use the electrical power from their hybrid engines, leaving them with only the power from the internal combustion engine of the power unit.
Despite being slowed greatly by the failures, both drivers continued to battle each other, with Hamilton claiming the lead at the second pit stop, but the lead was short lived, Hamilton retiring with brake problems, probably brought by a combination of the relatively high ambient temperatures and by the rear brakes having to do more work than normal due to the MGU-K no longer helping with the braking.
At this point any of five drivers had a realistic chance of winning, with the wounded Mercedes of Rosberg being pursued by the one-stopping Force India of Sergio Perez, both Red Bulls and Felipe Massa’s Williams.
Ricciardo, who was fortunate to have got ahead of his four-time World Champion teammate at the second round of pitstops, overtook Perez for second place at the first corner with four laps to go. Ricciardo said of the pass
“I was close to overshooting it, dropped a couple of wheels on the grass.”
He then made short work of Rosberg, passing him easily on the final straight with two laps to go.
Rosberg managed to hold on to second place from Sebastian Vettel.
Massa And Perez Collide
On the final lap, Massa and Perez collided going into turn one, bringing out the safety car. The incident was adjudged to be Perez’s fault, as he moved slightly off his line in the braking zone, earning the Mexican a grid penalty for the next race. Both drivers hit the wall heavily, reportedly sustaining impacts of 27G. They were taken to the medical centre for precautionary brain scans both were quickly discharged.
Button Pounces To Take Fourth
Jenson Button, eighth place with two laps to go, took advantage of Alonso and Hülkenburg running wide at the hairpin, and
By By Nathan Idoine