Lewis Hamilton rides a superior tire and braking strategy to his fifth Canadian victory

The Challenge I

Just as a successful Formula 1 machine comprises a balance of performance systems, each with their distinct addition that allows a driver tackle every foot of the track at optimum speed, Formula 1 tracks are designed to search for machines that can best tackle their asphalt equations.

But, the very best Formula 1 circuits demand something extra; something extraordinary. The high-speed straights of Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve require extraordinary braking systems that can slow these projectiles beyond what seems possible. To win here, on the circuit’s unique blend of high-speed straights and tight bends both the driver and the brakes must operate at 100 percentile for 70 laps and must remain in sync and simpatico with the driver.

While an analysis of a lap of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve shows that drivers spend 72 percent of their lap on full throttle, the remaining 28 percent impose some of the most physical and intense attention a driver will experience over the entire F1 season.