• Canadian Grand Prix

Toro Rosso drivers warming to Montreal

Conditions in Montreal were a little different last time out for Sebastian Buemi © Red Bull Racing

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• Race:
• Canadian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Jaime Alguersuari
• |
• Sébastien Buemi

• Teams:
• Toro Rosso

Toro Rosso drivers Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari are looking forward to seeing the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve again, this time without a covering of snow.

The last time the drivers visited the circuit was during the Canadian winter and they got a very different and unique perspective of the track.

"I came here during the winter time, as part of a promotion that involved driving the Formula One car on ice," said Buemi. "I didn't see much of the track because it was under one metre of snow! However, the last time there was a Grand Prix here, I was the Red Bull reserve driver, so I got a feeling for how the weekend pans out and how the track changes over the practice days.

"I remember they had problems with the asphalt breaking up and I understand that much of it has now been resurfaced. It will be the first race of the year where we run the cars in low downforce trim and that's something I'm looking forward to, as those conditions can make for a few surprises. It's the sort of track where the driver can make a difference and therefore I really hope I can pick up some points."

Alguersuari, who only has experience of driving the circuit on the team's simulator, says he is looking forward to his first Canadian Grand Prix weekend whilst admitting he has a lot to learn.

"I only have a "virtual" memory of Canada, from seeing the races on television and, more recently, driving the circuit on our simulator. It looks like a very interesting circuit with the barriers very close to the track. I actually like this feeling of being on a street circuit, or a fast track with the walls very close. I know it is a very tricky circuit to get the best from because of the combination of low downforce and the fact the surface has very little grip, given that in winter it's covered in snow and ice and then hardly used during the year.

"I think my first race weekend here will be really interesting, getting used to the low downforce and its effect on braking, which in any case is an important factor here. It should all be about finding the right compromise in terms of your set-up to deal with these unusual characteristics that we do not encounter on any other track on the calendar. I will have a lot to learn, but I am really looking forward to another new experience as part of my F1 learning curve."

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