Lewis Hamilton might be home and hosed in the world championship race, but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is always good for some drama as one of the headline acts on the F1 calendar.
The 2019 Canadian Grand Prix shifts into gear in the early hours of Monday morning (AEDT) with the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas favoured to finish one-two.
A seventh Candian Grand Prix victory for Hamilton this weekend will see him tie Michael Schumacher atop the all-time winner’s list, but there’s a case to be made for Ferrari after Sebastian Vettel’s win last year.
For all the top bets and tips, be sure to read our complete preview below.
Best Bet – Lewis Hamilton @ $2.15
The bookies have been generous with the odds following Hamilton’s engine and temperature problems in Canada last year.
To say the five-time World champ is hungry for revenge would be an understatement, and after the tight turns at Monaco a fortnight ago, Mercedes’ scintillating speed should be on full display.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve calls for plenty of raw speed and power, which has opened the window for Mercedes to introduce a new engine specification this week. It’s a scary thought given how dominant Hamilton has looked already, and with a chance of joining Schumacher as the only other driver to record seven Canadian Grand Prix victories, you have to like these odds.
Podium Finish – Max Verstappen @ $3.00
Mercedes’ consecutive streak of one-two finishes came to an end in Monaco as Sebastian Vettel finished second. This time around, it might be Max Verstappen’s turn to upset the favourites as he hopes to finish on the podium for the third time this year.
Verstappen was the fastest driver during all three practices in Montreal last year on his way to a third-place finish. After a season full of mistakes and car troubles, the Dutchman is due.
Car to Set Fastest Lap – Ferrari @ $3.25
Ferrari will hold fond memories of Montreal after Sebastian Vettel’s thrilling win last year. The red colours have won only three races since, but after a disappointing start to 2019, Scuderia could finally be in for a successful weekend.
This track calls for plenty of pace, which should suit Ferrari and their stubborn front wing decision making to a tee.
Ferrari looked good in practice in Azerbaijan and Bahrain, but failed to execute on race day. Poor decision making, particularly in regards to tyres, has cost the team so far. Even so, this is a track Vettel has plenty of experience with, and if he can avoid the infamous ‘Wall of Champions’ on the final turn, he or Charles Leclerc should post a speedy time.