ReLIVE the Canadian GP
McLaren LIVE relayed live radio chat and commentary from inside the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes garage throughout the 2013 Canadian Grand Prix. Here's your chance to ReLIVE the action as it happened.
On the Grid
The cars are on the grid with final checks underway. The weather looks set fair but we have a 20 per cent chance of rain at some point.
Jenson has made his way to the grid and is preparing to get into the car. 10m to go.
It's a very narrow pitlane and start-finish straight here – which means the grandstands are very close. It makes for a fantastic atmosphere.
Generally the Grand Prix is the loudest thing in town – but the Royal Canadian Air Force flyby definitely runs it close.
Cooling comes away from the cars. There's a slow exodus from the grid by everyone but the crews. Two minutes.
Checo is starting from P12, Jenson is P14. The first few laps are traditionally very busy at this race.
Lights out!
First lap of the Canadian Grand Prix completed. Checo has held position in P12, Jenson has dropped a place to P15.
With everyone given a free choice of compound, the majority have chosen to start on Options. Only DIR, GRO, BIA and CHI are on Prime.
A long, strung-out snake of cars has formed. Checo has HUL in front and MAS behind. Jenson is following MAL and is in front of DIR.
Lap 6
VET leads from HAM, ROS, WEB, ALO, VER, BOT, RIC, RAI and HUL. Checo is P11, Jenson P14.
Checo moves up to P11 as SUT spins ahead.
Jenson passes MAL for P14.
Checo under pressure from MAS, slips back to P12.
Lap 9
Jenson moves up to P13 as SUT makes an early stop.
Today's pitstop strategies are mostly about a choice between two and three stops – though safety car periods might make a one-stop possible.
Lap 11
Jenson is creeping up on the back of Checo, the gap is now down to 0.8 seconds.
Checo radio talk: “Box this lap, confirm.”
Lap 13
Good stop for Checo, he takes on a set of Prime tyres.
Checo radio talk: “Let's get some good pace in these first few laps but be careful of graining – push as hard as you think is safe for the tyres.”
Lap 15
Jenson is P11, Checo now P15. VET leads the Canadian Grand Prix from HAM, ALO, ROS, WEB, RAI, VER, MAS, DIR and GRO.
Jenson radio talk: “Be a little bit careful getting on the power, it'll avoid damaging the tyres.”
With this circuit making overtaking relatively easy, the mixed grid from yesterday is gradually sorting itself into a more pace-based order.
Jenson is picking up pace, he's just set his fastest first sector of the race. He's P10, 3.6s behind GRO.
Lap 21
Checo puts a good move on GUT and takes P14. Round of applause in the garage.
Checo radio talk: “This is good, tyres are looking OK to us.”
Lap 23
VET leads in Canada from HAM, ROS, WEB, ALO, VER, DIR, GRO, Jenson and SUT. Checo is P13. Different strategies in play.
Jenson drops to P11, passed by SUT and MAS who are on fresh tyres.
Lap 26
Jenson, DIR, GRO, BIA and CHI are the runners to not yet stop – Jenson being the only one to start the race on the Option tyre.
Jenson radio talk: “OK Jenson, Box this lap, box this lap. This will be Prime tyre.”
Lap 28
Smooth stop for Jenson, he swaps Option tyres for Primes and pulls away to rejoin in P16.
Lap 30
Checo P12, Jenson P16. VET leads the Canadian Grand Prix from HAM, ROS, WEB, ALO, VER, DIR, GRO, SUT and MAS.
Checo hounding BOT for P11, just 0.3s behind.
He's through! Into P11.
Checo radio talk: “Nice work getting past BOT. How are the tyres?”
Checo radio talk: “They are OK.”
Checo radio talk: “Keep doing what you're doing. MAS in front is really starting to struggle on the Option tyres.”
Lap 35
Jenson is P16, 3.8s behind RIC and pulling away from GUT. Checo is P11, 4.8s behind MAS and closing.
Checo radio talk: “OK Checo, there may be debris on the track at Turns 13 and 14.”
Lap 37
OK Checo, MAS is 3s in front and really struggling. You're racing him for P10.
Lap 39
Jenson radio talk: “OK Jenson, we will be racing Checo so we need to keep our pace up.”
Lap 40
Checo P10, Jenson P15. VET leads the Canadian Grand Prix from HAM, WEB, ALO, ROS, VER, DIR, GRO, MAS and Checo.
Checo radio talk: “OK Checo, MAS is in the pits now, let's push, let's give it everything we've got.”
Jenson radio talk: “OK Jenson, cars behind are VET and ALO, race leaders, car in front is MAS. We are racing MAS.”
Checo radio talk: “Checo, box this lap, confirm.”
Checo radio talk: “We are going to be racing a lot of cars out of the pit!”
Lap 44
Checo swaps to another set of Prime tyres. He emerges in P12 with Jenson close behind.
Yellow flags out of Turn Nine into Turn 10.
Checo in P12 on his new tyres stretching out ahead of Jenson. The gap is now 1.5s
Lap 50
Checo P12, Jenson P13. VET leads from HAM, ALO, WEB, ROS, VER, DIR, SUT, RAI and GRO.
18 laps to go. There are cars ahead on quite old tyres trying to one-stop. We will have good opportunities toward the end of the race.
Checo radio talk: “We can attack all the way to the end of the race. Let's push.”
Lap 54
Checo is 6.2s behind GRO and lapping six-tenths quicker with 15 laps to go.
GRO pits, Checo moves up to P11, Jenson up to P12.
Checo radio talk: “14 laps to go. MAS ahead is our best chance of making a place. Let's catch him up, see if we can get a position.”
Lap 61
Nine laps to go in Canada. Checo is P11, Jenson P12. VET leads from HAM, ALO, WEB, ROS, VER, DIR, SUT, RAI, MAS.
Checo radio talk: “SUT in the pitlane, you're going to be racing him on the exit.”
Checo radio talk: “OK, SUT in front is on Prime tyres five laps older than us. He's 4s ahead, let's really push and attack. Seven laps to the end of the race.”
Closest battle on the circuit in these closing laps: RAI in P8 leads MAS by 0.4s. Checo is 1.5s behind SUT, fighting for P10.
Checo radio talk: “OK Checo, this is the last lap.”
Chequered Flag
Checo finishes the Canadian Grand Prix is P11, Jenson right behind in P12. VET wins from ALO, HAM, WEB, ROS, VER, DIR, MAS, RAI and SUT.
The cars glide past and go into Parc Ferme. Having narrowly missed out on points the garage is quiet as end-of-race procedures begin.
And that's it from Montreal. Thanks for following McLaren LIVE. The race wasn't all we hoped for but we get another go in two weeks' time.
Please join us then on McLaren LIVE as we make the short trip to Silverstone and the British Grand Prix. Goodbye from Montreal.
