Race
This would be the last time that Scuderia Ferrari won in Canada until 2018 and the last time that more than two cars were disqualified from a race until the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix . After the start, Fernando Alonso was up to third behind pole sitter Ralf Schumacher and Jenson Button . Jordan debutante Timo Glock took advantage of the second corner tangle and managed to find himself in 10th. As the race progressed, Rubens Barrichello moved ahead of Kimi Räikkönen into 6th position, as Glock was forced back by faster cars. Sauber 's Felipe Massa battled with the ailing Takuma Sato for 14th, as Coulthard moved up to 12th, with the Toyotas in a strong 8th and 9th. The McLaren's... Nick Heidfeld was involved in an incident in the pit lane where the lollipop man lifted whilst the fuel hose was still attached, and the fuel man Mick Gomme was dragged along as the Jordan pulled away. The Saubers were on a long first stint and Giancarlo Fisichella did not pit until lap 25, surprisingly rejoining in the points. Meanwhile, Button was closing the gap to Ralf Schumacher, as Montoya did likewise to Ralf's older brother Michael. Minardi 's Gianmaria Bruni was hauled in for a drive through penalty for speeding in the pit lane, but retired with gearbox failure shortly after. Ralf pitted again on lap 33, and rejoined in 3rd whilst Coulthard narrowly missed another collision with a fiery Christian Klien. In the second stint, Barrichello was seemingly much faster than his teammate Michael Schumacher , but could not find a way past the reigning champion. Alonso began to fly in fourth, as the adventurous Klien took an airborne... Ralf Schumacher then took his third and final stop, and so too did Montoya and Button. Takuma Sato 's disappointing afternoon ended with the Honda engine exploding. As the final stages of the race approached, Michael Schumacher led brother Ralf, with Barrichello, Button, and Montoya following, and Räikkönen in sixth. Räikkönen then had to make yet another pit stop to change his steering wheel, dropping the Finn down to 7th. With a few laps left to go, Felipe Massa suffered a rear suspension failure at the hairpin, a wheel flying beyond the retaining fence (nobody was injured) as his Sauber flew into the tyre barrier. The Brazilian was taken to hospital for precautionary tests, but was basically unharmed. Christian Klien continued an entertaining afternoon by spinning 360 degrees, narrowly avoiding a surprised Timo Glock.
Friday drivers
The bottom 6 teams in the 2003 Constructors' Championship were entitled to run a third car in free practice on Friday. These drivers drove on Friday but were not scheduled to compete in qualifying or the race.
Report
The 2004 Canadian Grand Prix nearly did not happen, originally being dropped from the calendar in 2003 but later reinstated. The issue was to do with tobacco sponsorship.
References
39°47′42″N 86°14′05″W / 39.79500°N 86.23472°W / 39.79500; -86.23472
Race Result
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Q1 Time | Q2 Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Ralf Schumacher | Williams-BMW | 1:12.441 | 1:12.275 |
| 2 | 9 | Jenson Button | BAR-Honda | 1:13.333 | 1:12.341 |
| 3 | 7 | Jarno Trulli | Renault | 1:13.149 | 1:13.023 |
| 4 | 3 | Juan Pablo Montoya | Williams-BMW | 1:12.746 | 1:13.072 |
| 5 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:12.826 | 1:13.308 |
| 6 | 1 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | 1:13.463 | 1:13.355 |
| 7 | 2 | Rubens Barrichello | Ferrari | 1:13.782 | 1:13.562 |
| 8 | 6 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:13.602 | 1:13.595 |
| 9 | 5 | David Coulthard | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:13.206 | 1:13.681 |
| 10 | 15 | Christian Klien | Jaguar-Cosworth | 1:14.751 | 1:14.532 |
The Paddock Breakdown
Barry · Gary · KatGary — 33 · Three Fantasy F1 leagues
Let's examine the Renault RS23F's power unit. The 3. 0-liter V10, boasting 900 horsepower at its peak, exhibited a staggeringly tight RPM map – a consequence of the stringent 2004 regulations. Observe the torque curve; a significant dip around 7,500 rpm, a deliberate design choice to mitigate turbo lag and maximize mid-corner traction. This engineering trade-off, coupled with the slick Pirelli tyres, undoubtedly contributed to Ferrari's dominance during qualifying and the opening laps.
Let's examine the aerodynamic pressures exerted on the Williams FW26 during that final sector. The differential in rear-end downforce – a staggering 1. 8 seconds separating Ralf Schumacher's best lap from the overall race pace – stemmed, predominantly, from a compromised diffuser geometry. The FIA's subsequent scrutiny revealed a significant deviation from the mandated minimum width, a consequence, perhaps, of pushing the suspension geometry to its absolute limit in pursuit of grip. It's a sobering reminder: chasing tenths often unveils vulnerabilities, and the margin for error in this discipline is brutally small.
Kat — 30 · Technical journalist
Barrichello's rear wing – observe the subtle, almost imperceptible, flexing there. The aero-load differential between the front and rear is spiking; a consequence, undoubtedly, of that aggressive rear suspension geometry coupled with the track's inherent undulations. The differential is pushing 12. 7 percent – a critical threshold. Rubens is wrestling with the balance, attempting to compensate with throttle application, but the system's inherently reactive. The software is struggling to maintain optimal airflow, a cascade effect initiated by the initial suspension movement. This isn't merely a mechanical issue; it's a system-wide compromise, a testament to the relentless pursuit of performance at this level.
Let's examine Barrichello's tire management. The Brazilian's consistent pace, particularly through Turn 1 and 2, wasn't simply aggression; it was a calculated abrasion strategy. Observe the subtle variations in his braking markers – a deliberate lengthening of the pedal to maximize the lifespan of the left-rear tire. This isn't a brute force approach, but a nuanced understanding of the compound's degradation characteristics, a critical advantage in Montreal's demanding conditions. A fascinating application of real-time feedback, wouldn't you agree?