Lando Norris is slightly critical of the bumps in Canada, but he “doesn’t want to be a wimp” – Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve to be completely resurfaced for 2024
After the Monaco Grand Prix, the event at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Canada will be the second Formula 1 race in a row to be held on a street circuit with lots of bumps and higher kerbs. Due to the new aerodynamics with ground-effect cars since 2022, the Formula 1 cars react very sensitively to bumps due to their stiffness, which could turn the balance of power upside down, as in Monaco
However, although the severe bouncing from the 2022 season is no longer a major issue, McLaren driver Lando Norris reveals that he still struggles with pain on such circuits, although he does not want this to be an excuse.
When asked whether he prefers classic Formula 1 circuits with lots of bumps or the new state-of-the-art, super-asphalt courses such as Jeddah, he says: “Whichever suits my car better. I mean, I don’t mind, to be honest.”
“You like the bumps, but sometimes it gets too much,” he adds. “And last year there were some corners where it was maybe a bit too much. Also on the straights I still have problems with my back and things like that in general. Maybe some people don’t have that, maybe some people do.”
“But I don’t know, I don’t want to be a wimp and say that everything has to be perfect. I don’t want to be that guy. Maybe I sound like that guy when I say these things. But I definitely want everything to be original and old school, of course, and that’s why we have to go out and adapt to every situation, the conditions, the bumps, the track surface, whatever. “
“As long as they don’t take it too far, because sometimes it’s too much and these are things that are just not necessary because they either cause damage to the car or to the bodywork, and we don’t want that. “
Track resurfaced: Characteristics remain the same, according to Pirelli
However, the track has been resurfaced for this year, but according to tire supplier Pirelli, the basic characteristics should not have changed: “The entire track has been resurfaced for this year and the kerbs have been replaced,” reads the Italian company’s press release ahead of the weekend.
“On paper, the existing characteristics of the track, namely low aggressiveness and thus reduced grip, should remain the same, but the real clues will have to wait until the Pirelli engineers have carried out their first measurement tests on Wednesday. “
