What can we expect from the Canadian Grand Prix?
Ferrari’s masterful Monaco performance has now put Mercedes firmly on the back foot in the race for both the Drivers and Constructors titles. Sebastian Vettel holds a 25 point lead over rival Lewis Hamilton, while the Scuderia are 19 points ahead of the Silver Arrows in the Constructors standings. Can Mercedes bounce back in Canada? Here’s what to expect from the Canadian Grand Prix:
Tyre Troubles
Mercedes’ Monaco meltdown seems to have come from struggling to warm up Pirelli’s ultra soft tyres. All season long Ferrari have seemed able to have a wider window to keep their tyres working faster and longer, and also looks like an easier car to set up. Pirelli are bringing the same compounds used at Monaco to Montreal. So even though the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve should play to Mercedes’ strengths, their Monte Carlo problems could reappear in Canada. Ferrari have the momentum and will be happy to consolidate their lead in what has been a happy hunting ground for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton has won five of the last ten races in Montreal, but he may struggle to add to his tally this year.
Rueful Raikkonen
After claiming his first pole position since Magny Cours in 2008, Kimi Raikkonen lost out to team-mate Vettel as the German claimed the win in Monaco. So which Kimi will show up this weekend? A furious Finn still reeling after missing out on what could’ve been his final win? A resigned Raikkonen accepting his apparent status as second-fiddle to Sebastian? Or a motivated man who has found some pace again at last? Raikkonen needs a good result in Canada, if only to show that he had moved on from Monaco.
Red Bull walking a tight rope
Red Bull were the second best team in Monaco, outpacing Mercedes all weekend and comprehensively beating them in the race with Daniel Ricciardo. However, if Red Bull have any hope of rekindling a championship challenge, they need an engine upgrade from Renault this weekend, otherwise they will be too far behind Ferrari and Mercedes. However, there has been no word on an upgrade making an appearance in Canada, which could mean that Ricciardo and Max Verstappen are battling for little more than best-of-the-rest honours this weekend.
Midfield mix
Toro Rosso were the fastest midfield team in Monaco, with Carlos Sainz holding off Hamilton’s Mercedes for sixth. However, Haas scored points with both cars while current leaders Force India failed to finish in the points. Renault and Williams were nowhere in Monaco, struggling for pace throughout the weekend. Force India should be the favourites in Montreal thanks to their Mercedes engines, while Haas could be their closest challengers with Williams also likely to be more competitive. Toro Rosso and Renault will be at a disadvantage, but each have a strong chassis and could still sneak into the points.
Alonso returns
After his impressive Indy 500 debut ended prematurely after his Honda engine expired 20 laps from the flag, Fernando Alonso will return to the F1 paddock this weekend. And McLaren need him to deliver a miracle after team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne and stand-in Jenson Button failed to score points at what will be McLaren’s strongest track of the season, despite both qualifying in the top ten initially. And unless a Honda upgrade magically appears overnight, even the mighty Alonso could struggle to catch Sauber for ninth in the Constructors standings.
