Canadian GP - Toro Rosso Ferrari - RaceFollowing his practice crash on Saturday, Sebastian Vettel was unable to take part in qualifying and therefore started the 70-lap Canadian Grand Prix from the pit lane in the rebuilt STR3-02.
It would prove to be a much better
final day in Montreal for the team as Vettel brought the Toro Rosso home in eighth position, adding a point to his tally so far this season.
Sebastien Bourdais had a less productive time - or a disaster and worst weekend of his career in his terms - on his way to a disappointing 13th position, last of the runners at the chequered flag.
Sebastian Vettel
“First of all I have to thank the mechanics who did a great job to rebuild the car after my mistake on Saturday morning. They did an unbelievable job, working through the night to get the work done. It’s thank to them I raced today."
"Starting from pit lane wasn’t easy but straight away I was able to catch the field, with a very good pace in the race and the car felt quite good. I was able to make up a couple of places and then after the safety car came out, which for sure helped us, we ran a one stop strategy. I do not know exactly what happened during the pit stop, I would say a problem with the refuelling rig, but it cost us a lot of time maybe two positions in the ranking but nevertheless it was a great day and finishing P8 was fantastic."
"The race conditions were really bad with the asphalt still falling apart you couldn’t afford to go off line or you would lose at least a second.
The last 10 laps didn’t make my life easy and I was in one of the most difficult position as the cars I had behind were quite strong. I wanted the point and I resisted various attacks. I was held up by Barrichello and I think he had a problem. It was a great race, I had a great fun- a fantastic race for me and the team."
Sebastien Bourdais
“It’s just been a bad weekend all round. The race went much as I expected it, because of the really bad track conditions from the mid-point on or even earlier. In these conditions, some guys did really well, like Sebastian, but I could not do anything with the car. I went slightly off the line and got the gravel. If this happens once or twice you are concerned it can happen again which is not good, especially when you’re running last."
"It was a complete disaster for me so I just forgot about the possibility of trying to drive fast, just trying to bring the car home… and even doing this was a challenge. This was the worst race ever for me, the worst weekend of my entire career. I have never experienced anything like it. I’m looking forward now to the next race, my home race and at a circuit where the track doesn’t break up!”
Franz Tost
“Vettel did a really fantastic job to start from the pit lane and pick up a point for eighth place, his second consecutive points finish. He might have finished higher if it wasn’t for a problem with the refuelling rig during his pit stop."
"He drove a very mature race, at one point managing to fight off Kubica and Alonso who were behind him and later, also keeping Kovalainen in a much faster car at bay. It was a very good well judged drive. Well done also to the team who worked brilliantly to build up a car with a new monocoque after Sebastian’s crash yesterday. As for Bourdais, he struggled all the weekend. Let’s just say this was not his weekend.”
Toro Rosso
