Montreal won’t see a repeat of Monaco boredom

Looking back on the laborious Monaco Grand Prix it could have come under a new race classification: Formula Yawn. Non-existent overtaking is a surefire inducement of tedium, and I cannot believe there were not thousands trackside who shared my ennui at the lack of excitement overshadowing Aussie Mark Webber’s untroubled, unhassled lights-to-flag victory. The same, I confidently predict, will not be true of Sunday’s 70-lap Canadian showpiece around the Ile Notre-Dame on the outskirts of Montreal. However, Jenson Button will be hoping that the race is not as challenging as it was for him last season when he rose as if by magic from a seemingly hopeless last place to take the most memorable win of his career.It was among the finest of F1 triumphs ever, anywhere. The recollection of his masterpiece of courage, ability and confidence in the dark face of such towering odds stacked against him brings a smile to his face — and even now stirs obvious pride and admiration among his McLaren pit crew. In pouring rain he amassed an amazing 34 passes and overtook wonder boy, title pacemaker and eventual champion Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull for a dramatic finale on the last lap. Button, the world champion in 2009, is aiming to take his career tally to 15 wins and he enthuses: “Obviously returning to Montreal is an extremely proud and happy time for me.” And the 32-year-old recalls: “My win here last year was one of those rare occasions in F1 when everything came just right for me. It is still hard to believe that I was running last place past half-distance, and yet still managed to come through and claim victory on the final lap. “The memories of that win will stay with me forever.” And for all of us who were there to admire a supremely brave hero. An action replay of his attitude and finesse at 200-plus mph in Montreal last time around would surely propel him to the forefront of the rumble again. But caution, too, has trickled into his build-up, and he admits: “At the last two races, qualifying has not gone my way, so no matter what pace you may have in the race you are still compromised, particularly as we are all a tightly bunched pack right now. “My aim will be to have a stronger qualifying show and build on it for the race.” Main threat Button’s main threat could come from his fired-up teammate Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, whose own race results so far have suffered from a disastrous mess of blunders by his pit crew. He is looking for a breakthrough as the seventh different winner in seven races. and forecasts: “I know the results we want will soon come to us. I will be striving to get every last tenth out of the car and making it a great fight on what is one of the favourite tracks.“We are still very much in the hunt for the world title.”His fighting words, though, will only serve to stir up a renewed taste for a repeat triumph in partner Button. If so, watchers worldwide will all benefit.from gulf news.