Brakes and backmarkers!
Mark drove a typically tenacious race in Montreal to finish the Canadian Grand Prix in fourth place. He started fifth after a very unpredictable qualifying session in which the damp track conditions were only good enough for intermediate tyres, and he made immediate progress when he got away well from the line.
“It was a pretty good start,” says Mark, “but it was important not to get stuck behind [Valtteri] Bottas early on because it was clear that the Williams had qualified out of position – thanks to a great effort from Valtteri in qualifying. I passed him at Turn 2 for fourth place and set about chasing down [Nico] Rosberg.”
Mark passed Rosberg, but it took longer than expected due to some overheating problems on his RB9.
“The car ran very hot when I was in traffic,” says Mark. “The brakes in particular were boiling, so I kept having to pull out of Nico’s slip-stream to cool everything down. Once I’d got the temperatures under control, I was able to line him up and pass him.”
Having passed Rosberg, Mark looked set for a podium until an incident at the Hairpin with Caterham’s Giedo van der Garde compromised the remainder of his race.
“He’d been shown lots of blue flags on the run to the Hairpin,” says Mark, “but he can’t have seen them. I went down his inside and got completely on the inside kerb, but he still decided to try and make the apex and I had nowhere to go. It seems some drivers have to spend too much time concentrating on driving and aren’t aware what’s going on around them.”
As a result of this accident, Mark’s front wing lost the whole of its top left section and cost him a lot of performance. However, he elected not to pit for a new one because it would have cost him too much time and in the end he came home 9s behind third-placed Lewis Hamilton.
“It’s very frustrating when your race is compromised by something that’s out of your control,” says Mark, “but it is what it is. Next we go to Silverstone, which is a track that I enjoy a lot. It’s one of those circuits where an F1 car is in its element, particularly through the fast corners like Copse and Becketts. It’s like a home race for me because I live just down the road and commute to the track from my house every day. I won there last year after a great dice with Fernando [Alonso] and I’d love to open my 2013 account there this year.”
The British Grand Prix is on 30 June.
// ends
5 Comments
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Sax
on June 10, 2013Great drive Mark but now you need to nail this one mate in Silverstone. Front Row ,great start and win.
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TRICKO
on June 11, 2013so much better than sv in the practices,but the rain came and sv was allowed out first and set the best time should have been yours! another great start and good battling with alonso cant wait for silverstone going again this year hoping for a bit of the same its your race dont let the germans have it!! COME ON THE WEBBER
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Jill and Brian
on June 11, 2013Great drive Mark, shame about the idiot on the grid!!! Now it’s family, friends and your dogs – not forgetting your own bed – Silverstone here we come. Go Mark we’ll be there cheering you on. All the best mate.
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Deborah Bolognesi
on June 11, 2013Great race Mark! Fast all weekend and great start, shame about the damage to the car, it could be a podium, but anyway you did your best. Now enjoy this little break and then Silverstone …. great memories, it’s your track 🙂
the next race will be the day of my birthday … there will be no better gift than to see you on the middle step!
keep pushing champ!
all the best from Italy -
Wendy
on June 15, 2013Great race Mark Shame about the incident with the Caterham. Understood why you stayed out despite damage but why not change the wing at your scheduled stop? Would it have made a difference? From observation it would only have taken an extra couple of seconds Then maybe you’d have got the podium you were on for. Rooting for you as always Enjoy the time off and best wishes for a terrific result at Silverstone
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