JUNE 1, 2012

Mercedes fancies Montreal

Both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are hopeful that Mercedes will be in with strong victory chances in next week's Canadian GP.

Nico Rosberg, Michael Schumacher, Monaco GP 2012
© The Cahier Archive

Both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg are hopeful that Mercedes will be in with strong victory chances in next week's Canadian GP.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve rewards straightline speed, braking performance and tyre management and should be particularly well-suited to the Mercedes.

Michael Schumacher turned in his most impressive display of 2011 in Canada, then ran near the front at the similarly high-speed Monza.

"The race in Montreal is usually action-packed, like we saw last year," Schumacher said. "The characteristics of the circuit should suit us, and we are counting on our car performing well there. It is a great race and atmosphere and a trip to Montreal is always worth it. Let's hope we can make our trip this year especially worthwhile."

Nico Rosberg added: "Montreal is a great track, and with its low downforce and slow corners, a little bit like Monza, should suit our car. We've made good progress over the past few weeks, and that was clear from the performance in Monaco. So I'm hopeful that we can make another

step forward in Canada and have a successful weekend.

"Gilles Villeneuve was a great friend and rival of my father, which also makes the weekend very special. I can't wait to get there."

Team principal Ross Brawn is keen to capitalise on the momentum of Schumacher's Monaco pole position and Rosberg's second place.

Montreal, however, is not always quite so predictable, last year's marathon epic and Jenson Button's superb last-to-first win being a case in point. The last 10 races there have witnessed 14 Safety Car interventions, no fewer than five last year!

Two of the past three Canadian GPs have featured at least five

different leaders and the race has only been won from pole three times in the past ten years.