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Motorsport
Lydia Mee

Jolyon Palmer explains Canadian GP energy management challenge

Former Formula 1 driver and F1 TV reporter Jolyon Palmer has explained why the Canadian Grand Prix provides an energy management challenge for the drivers.

Speaking on the F1 TV Weekend Warm-up, Palmer branded Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as a "circuit of two halves" and argued that it must be treated that way when it comes to harvesting and deploying electrical power in the new-regulation cars.

"The challenge is it's a circuit of two halves. You've got the first, and most of it is really easy to recharge because you've got short bursts. You've got big stamps on the brakes. It's a difficult circuit for the brakes. They are usually on the limit of overheating around a place like this, and that's great for recharging," Palmer explained.

"What's then difficult is the run out of the hairpin up towards that final chicane because you've only got the chicane to recharge something before you get another run to complete the lap in qualifying. You've got quite a low recharge limit as well.

"It's the lowest we've seen so far: six megajoules that you can harvest through a lap, so you have got plenty of opportunity to do that in the first two-thirds of the lap. But then you've got to make sure you can still top the battery up in the latter part because you're going to need that energy on the longest straights, which are late on.

George Russell, Mercedes (Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images)

"So, I'm really interested to see how it's going to unfold because the first half of the lap, you'd think this is absolutely driving as normal, but will you have to have half an eye on the later parts to make sure that you don't run out of juice?"

George Russell secured pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race. The Briton will be joined on the front row by his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli. McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will start third and fourth, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fifth and sixth on the sprint grid.

Photos from Canadian GP - Friday

59 Formula 1 George Russell, Mercedes

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Haas F1 pitstop practice

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexandra Leclerc, wife of F1 driver Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

Fire marshal

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Canadian GP - Friday, in photos

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