Canadian Grand Prix: Drivers are behind the rain

Following the sport's utter incompetence over the handling of the Bahrain affair, Formula One can at last turn its attentions back to the track today with the Canadian Grand Prix.

And when it comes to drama and excitement, the Montreal race always throws up a fantastic showing, and round seven of the 2011 calendar is unlikely to buck the trend.

After his Monaco nightmare, Lewis Hamilton, who already trails championship leader Sebastian Vettel by 58 points, will be keen to make his mark around the Canadian port. And the Briton has done pretty well here in years gone by - winning his maiden grand prix back in 2007, and romping to glory last year.


At this moment whole F1 race is stopped for 50 munites.The sefty car will take the track then drivers.

Vettel in Canadian GP Pole

Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel continued his supremacy in Formula One this season by winning the pole for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

Vettel topped the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa in the final stint of qualifying to claim his sixth pole in the first seven grand prix this year. His best lap of 1 minute, 13.014 seconds set a new track qualifying record at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Vettel broke Rubens Barrichello's 2004 record of 1:13:622 at this road course.

During Friday's first practice session for the Canadian GP, Vettel slid off course and hit the track's infamous "Wall of Champions," which is located in the final chicane. His Red Bull RB7 sustained slight damage to the front end. The young German bounced back nicely by posting the second-quickest lap in the next practice. He led the way in the final session, which was held hours before Saturday's qualifying.


Alonso qualified 0.19 seconds behind Vettel to earn second on the starting grid. Alonso's teammate, Massa, took the third spot.

"We have the first row of the grid, but it is always better to start at the front," Alonso said. "Tomorrow, I think all the cards are on the table, and I think we will have a chance to win the race for sure."

Mark Webber placed fourth, despite issues with his Red Bull car earlier in the day. Webber did not participate in the third practice after his car developed a battery problem with its KERS.

Lewis Hamilton from McLaren qualified fifth. Hamilton is the defending Canadian GP winner. His first career F1 win came here in 2007.

"I was very happy with my lap," Hamilton said. "I don't think I've ever driven a car as hard in my life as I did this afternoon. I was right on the ragged edge, and I think I even touched the wall at one stage.

Nico Rosberg from Mercedes will start sixth, followed by McLaren's Jenson Button and Rosberg's teammate, Michael Schumacher, who has won the Canadian GP seven times. Lotus Renault GP teammates Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov will roll off ninth and 10th, respectively.

Pedro de la Rosa, who is substituting for Sergio Perez at Sauber, qualified 17th.

Perez withdrew from the race after telling his team he felt unwell following the first practice. The Mexican suffered a concussion and bruised thigh in a serious crash during qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago. He spent two days in a Monaco hospital. Earlier this week, FIA medical officials cleared Perez to compete in the Canadian GP.

Vettel has won five of the first six grand prix this year. He finished second to Hamilton in the April 17 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Vettel has accumulated 143 points, compared to 85 for Hamilton. Webber has 79 points, three more than Button.

The 70-lap Canadian GP is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. (et).