Both Manor F1 Team drivers saw the Chequered flag in Monaco, and both Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi will be looking to do the same this weekend at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the venue for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Stevens is looking to avoid the legendary ‘Wall of Champions’ this weekend, with the British driver eager to continue the team’s run of finishes. He has never raced on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, but has been pleased with the way he has adapted to the new circuits he has faced so far this season.
“After the luxury of a couple of races at tracks I’m quite familiar with, it’s a step back outside the comfort zone for Montreal and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve,” revealed Stevens.
“I’m pleased with the way I acclimatise to new circuits, although this is certainly one to be respected as it’s pretty unique; a lot of fun but with more than its fair share of challenges.
“It has that street circuit feel like Monaco, because the walls are so close, but the similarity ends there and it’s a track where we really have to look after the brakes.
“And of course, the right hand side of the car at ‘The Wall of Champions’! Avoiding that will be my first objective, but bigger picture, I hope to have a stronger race than I experienced in Monaco but another great team result with both cars taking the chequered flag.”
Team-mate Merhi has been busy since Monaco, racing last weekend in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series at Spa-Francorchamps with Pons Racing, but is looking forward to getting back into his Formula 1 seat this weekend in Canada. He feels more confident in his driving following racing at Monaco, where he beat his team-mate for the first time in 2015.
“The races are coming thick and fast now and it feels like we are in a good rhythm, which certainly made a difference for me in Monaco,” said Merhi. “I was very happy with my performance there.
“I’m looking forward to Canada next, as the track looks pretty challenging but also a lot of fun; a real adrenaline rush. The mix of long straights and really slow sections is interesting and I know the weather can play a big part in mixing things up a bit.
“I hear great things about Montreal also; plenty of events for the fans and a fantastic city to experience. Monaco gave me a real boost, so I can’t wait to be back in the car at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, picking up where I left off there in performance terms and extracting as much as possible from the current package.”
