Once again Stoffel Vandoorne is anticipating the challenges of a circuit he has never raced on as the McLaren driver gears up for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.
The infamous Wall of Champions has claimed the cars and pride of many a world-class driver, and the demanding characteristics of the circuit present a unique set of challenges for the drivers, engineers and mechanics. Stoffel knows he will have his work cut out for him this weekend but he is eagerly looking forward to the challenge…
“It's a new venue for me this weekend as I've never raced there before, but I've driven the track plenty of times in the simulator already. It's a tough circuit and I can see why people say it's a ‘driver's track' – there's a lot to keep you busy and high concentration is essential – the Wall of Champions is proof of that! It will definitely be a completely different experience to Monaco in terms of preparation and set-up, but I'm excited to drive it for real for the first time and get a feel for its characteristics.”
The nature of the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve is high-speed, with tight chicanes, limited run-off and heavy braking. While its complex traits won't suit the strengths of the McLaren Honda package, they are still pushing the envelope at every race by bringing useful developments that are correlating well and eking out more performance.
“Monaco was definitely an eventful weekend for the whole team. I felt really comfortable in the car each time I got out on track, and I felt we could really push the limits of our package and maybe come home in the points – it's a shame it didn't end up that way,” Stoffel added. “There has definitely been a step forward in the chassis thanks to the upgrades the team has been working hard to bring to every race, so let's see how these translate to Canada, which is a very different circuit set-up.”
The team admit that they still have a long way to go, and this circuit will be a tricky platform on which their package is less likely to shine, but they plan to work hard as always to maximise what they have in their armoury and take advantage of every opportunity on track, including the high probability of numerous safety car periods.
“The race will be tough on brakes, tough on engines and tough on the drivers, and with the potential of Safety Cars in the mix, there's a lot to think about in terms of strategy and set-up this weekend. It will be good to have Fernando back alongside me, and he has a lot of experience at this track that will be useful to tap in to. It won't be the easiest grand prix for us, but, in contrast to Monaco, there are more overtaking opportunities, which will hopefully mean more chances for us to be in the mix,” he concluded.
While they are not expecting a win this weekend, McLaren has enjoyed numerous victories in Canada, arguably the most famous of which in the hands of Jenson Button six years ago, in a four-hour race that became the definition of ‘unpredictable' racing in Canada.
