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Tyres NorthamptonUnlike last time out in Barcelona, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has no altered layout for the drivers to get to grips with, so expect the drivers to be flat out from the first FP1 lap. Pirelli will, again, bring the softest three tyre compounds for the trip over the Atlantic Ocean, meaning the teams' strategic choices to play as vital a part in the race as the drivers' talents.
It sounds a little cliché to say at this point after the past few rounds, but the weather is again a huge unknown to keep an eye on for the race. Wet weather might interrupt the grand prix weekend at any point to introduce some unpredictability in a race that Red Bull and Verstappen will otherwise look to dominate.
On the other extreme of rain, the Quebec forest fires that have ravaged the French Canadian province in recent weeks and whose smoke created apocalyptic-looking skies as far away as America's east coast should not impact the race despite earlier concerns.
Meanwhile, on the race track, it's all about who might dare challenge Verstappen in Saturday's Qualifying session. Although the circuit isn't impossible to overtake on, a high-starting position is far more crucial for anyone dreaming of a win than at Spielberg or Silverstone, F1's subsequent visits after Canada.
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The teams and drivers have the C3, C4, and C5 tyres available for them in Montreal, the softest trio possible. With the circuit not seeing much use over the year and F1 not having support from Pirelli-equipped Formula 2 or Formula 3 cars, track evolution plays a role from Friday to Sunday as the rubber slowly seeps into the surface.
A two-stop strategy is the most likely choice for the teams as tyre degradation on the soft compounds plays its part. Sergio Perez's early engine failure last year had many drivers pitting as early as Lap 9 under the Virtual Safety Car. Quick reactions to any retirements or crashes could prove critical in deciding the points-paying positions, as balancing tyre grip and tyre life plays a part.
Fernando Alonso joined Verstappen on the front row in last year's race after a wet qualifying led to an out-of-place Alpine on Sunday afternoon. Alonso's switch to F1's green team for 2023 has had the Spaniard enjoying front-running positions more, so don't be surprised to see an Aston Martin high up again this weekend. Though, whether he can repeat his 2006 triumph in Canada is another story.
Mercedes were the closest challenger in race specification during the Spanish Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and George Russell joined Verstappen on the podium. The Brackley-based squad are still a ways back from Red Bull, as are all teams, but should feel best-placed for the top prize should problems hit either Verstappen or Perez on Sunday. Still, Ferrari's pair continues to most frequently pester Verstappen for pole, so the Dutch driver has plenty of suitors to challenge for a Canadian P1.
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You'll get to enjoy your June weekend with some late starts for all Canadian sessions. 7 PM is your Grand Prix start, and Qualifying is at a rather late 9 PM. If you're a Channel 4 viewer, that means next-day viewing for Quali.
Qualifying – On air: 8 PM, Session start: 9 PM Saturday 17th June
Race – On air: 5:30 PM, Session start: 7 PM Sunday 18th June
Qualifying – 8:30 AM Sunday 18th June
Race – 11:30 PM Sunday 18th June, repeated 8:25 AM Monday 19th June
Qualifying & Race – Changeable is the best description for the weekend's forecast. There is currently around a 60% chance of rain for Qualifying and 20-40% in the run-up to the race. Meanwhile, temperatures look warm but not hot, peaking in the low 20s.
