Mercedes Benz

The Canadian GP is always an eagerly-awaited stage of the F1 season. Not only because the fans gather here in great number to watch the big show on the track, but also due to the fact the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which is built on the superb Isle de Notre Dame in Montréal, is both entertaining and demanding, given the long straight lines and the slightly technical curves, that put a lot of pressures on the drivers. Friday was a complete gamble, as many found themselves "victims" of the unrelenting security walls of the track. During FP1 session, Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel, the reigning world champion, lost control of his car in the last corner ahead of the long finish line and hit the concrete block, severely damaging the RB7 single-seater. FP2 was even more animated, as the round was frequently interrupted and red-flagged due to the ongoing track incidents that struck Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi, Force India's Adrian Sutil and Virgin’s Jerome D’Ambrosio at the tricky Turn Five. Facing these unexpected traffic blockage was a hard fight for the two contenders of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS. The first day in Canada was dedicated to evaluating the new components and trying out certain race strategies. Both Nico and Michael did very well in the first session, finishing 1st and 3rd, respectively. But the accidents in the second round hit hard and meant they were no longer able to get the most out of their cars during the timed laps. Compared to FP1, the situation after FP2 suggested a massive counter-performance, as Rosberg and Schumacher came home in P19 and P20.

Check out more interesting photos captured Friday at Montréal after the break!