"Canada is all about finding a good compromise between top speed, for which we use a low downforce package, and stability under braking and through the chicanes, in which we need good grip. There are some quite quick chicanes, in third and fourth gears, and we worked on this area in particular at the Paul Ricard test, as the circuit configuration we used included corners of this type, so we could evaluate the car in the right conditions."
Ferrari – Felipe Massa (#5), Kimi Raikkonen (#6):
After just two races in Europe, Ferrari is back on its travels further afield, but the entire team is probably glad to have left Monaco behind, after being soundly beaten by chief rival
McLaren. Felipe Massa was the only driver to hold a candle to the Silver Arrows, but he was a long way behind at the chequered flag, while Kimi Raikkonen had to scrap merely for an eighth-place point after fouling up in qualifying.
No-one, however, expects the scenario to be the same in Montreal, as
F1 returns to some approaching a normal venue, even if the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve does have its own quirks. Massa will be looking to return to the sort of form that saw him romp away from the McLarens in Spain, while Raikkonen will be looking to turn his luck around before he gets cast adrift in the race for the title.
Both F2007s will be fitted with the same engines that raced in Monaco, a caution point as Canada is tough on engines, but the main focus, as with all eleven teams, will be on the aero and braking capabilities of the cars.
The Prancing Horse will use new front and rear wings, first tested at Paul Ricard before Monaco, and the F2007 will also boast other minor aerodynamic modifications, as well as a revised package of brake systems and cooling ducts.
"We believe we will have a strong package for this event," sporting director Stefano Domenicali maintains, "There is no reason why we should not be able to fight for the win in Montreal after a weekend in Monaco where our performance did not accurately reflect our potential."
