The 2023 F1 Season heads back to North America for one of the races where stuff usually happen and here to predict the winners and losers in advance is our 2023 Canadian F1 Grand Prix Preview.
The Gurgler’s 2023 Canadian F1 Grand Prix Preview brings some thoughts on the race itself, a few bold predictions here and there, a few barely interesting stats.
Essentially a quick summary of what a casual F1 fan needs in the shortest possible time.
It’s a track in the middle of the St Lawrence River in Montreal, which suits as the track looks like a beaver or some kind of fish. Perhaps a Salmon. Certainly one that John West wouldn’t reject.
We can’t lie, the Canadian Grand Prix is one of our favourites on the calendar, and one not to be missed, even with the dreadful start time for those on the western side of the Pacific.
It’s a circuit in a park, a real throwback to the old days of motor racing, with walls close that can and do punish all levels of driver.
There’s some good overtaking spots, and DRS works well, so overtaking should be plentiful. But still fast and wild in between.
And the nature of the circuit means the odd different is thrown up from time to time.
It ticks a lot of boxes.
2023 Canadian F1 Grand Prix Preview – Race Rating
The Gurgler does like to use some obscure drivers in our Race previews and report, so who better to use than Teo Fabi to determine a race rating system.
So before each race we give a rating out of ten for four key category that are loosely based on each letter of Teo Fabi’s surname. Don’t know who Teo Fabi is, you should.
FAST? 7/10 – Maybe it’s the proximity of the barriers that makes it look fast, but it sure feels that way. Some good sweeper early in the lap, followed by some good straight for high speed and overtaking. Even the last chicane into the Wall of Champions looks fast.
ACTION? 10/10 – We’ve rattled on about action, but there always seems to be something going on every year.
BIG HISTORY? – 7/10 It’s been around since 1978, so is one of the older tracks with a good back history of good racing, but it isn’t top shelf historical like Monza, Monaco or Silverstone.
INCLEMENT WEATHER? – 7/10 According to The Weather Channel, there’s a 58% chance of rain on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Adding rain to this circuit will be almost pleasure overload.
RACE RATING 78% – Anything could happen, and it probably will.
Want to know if your favourite driver for this weekend is a master of the track or the track is a master of them? Here then are some barely interesting facts and stats.
There’s almost too many stats and facts to bring you this week. Most stats go back to 2000.
- Just three prior winners of the Canadian Grand Prix of the current crop of drivers and Lewis Hamilton has an equal record seven victories. Max Verstappen (2022) and Fernando Alonso (2016) have one each.
- Lewis Hamilton has taken six poles at the Canadian Grand Prix, and his average grid position for his career at the track is 2.1,
- Charles Leclerc’s average grid position at this track is 11.7.
- Fernando Alonso has recorded seven DNFs at this track.
- 2003 and 2007 saw 10 retirements from the race.It averages three per race for the last six seasons.
- Four winners have come from 6th or 7th grid slot.
- Sergio Perez has scored points in only three of his nine races in Canada.
DRIVER GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT FROM 2003 – CURRENT DRIVERS
TEAM GRID POSITION vs RACE RESULT FROM 2003
HISTORIC DRIVER RESULTS
99 = a DNF. Gird position 20 is overstated as that was also used for cars starting in pitlane.
RACE RESULTS FROM GRID POSITION
DNFs
- Fernando Alonso will win the race.
- Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will qualify on the front row, and clash.
- All three days will have a portion of a session affected by rain.
- Sergio Perez will miss out on Q3 again.
- Charles Leclerc will hit the wall at sme stage this weekend.
- There will be at least three Safety Cars.
As ever we like to reminisce about Formula 1 here at The Gurgler, with the fondest of memories of 1980’s / 1990’s Formula 1. Especially with the Voice of F1 Murray Walker providing the soundtrack.
There’s plenty of good Canadian races to go back to, and as ever we’ll probably whip up the same old ones we offer every year.
1998 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
A race that had so much. Two first corner prangs, dices for the lead where cars end up in the gravel trap, chinks of grass causing a Safety Car, and more.
