Canadian Grand Prix Preview

The Canadian Grand Prix is usually a real hi-octane affair and the 2012 renewal should be no exception after such an unpredictable and action packed start to the season.

Half a dozen different drivers have taken the chequered flag in the first six races of the campaign and a wide open affair looks on the cards in Montreal around a circuit which should once again suit the pure speed freaks and talented over-takers.

Dual world champion Fernando Alonso sits in pole position in terms of the Drivers Championship heading into Canada and the Spaniard has been highly impressive so far despite experiencing initial problems with the set-up of his Ferrari after testing.

But it is 2008 king Lewis Hamilton who assumes narrow favouritism for the race at a general 4/1 in search of his first win of the year. Hamilton scored at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in 2007 and 2010 demonstrating a clear love for the track – and the 27-year-old’s obvious pace and forceful tactics make him an obvious candidate this time around to triumph and record a treble Canadian success.

Teammate and 2009 champion Jenson Button already has a victory to his name this season having won in Melbourne however that performance feels like a long time ago following a number of poor showings since.

Indeed, Button has only collected a meagre 20 points from the five subsequent Grand Prix and his odds of 12/1 for glory in Canada typify his current form and detached seventh place standing in the Drivers Championship.

Kimi Raikkonen sits directly above Button overall at present and the Finn can continue his solid return to F1 across the Atlantic.

Although the Lotus man finished a rather disappointing ninth last time out in Monaco, he previously recorded sound podium efforts in Bahrain and Spain and Montreal should be much more to his liking than the streets of the French principality.

Raikkonen is a very tempting 14/1 to cross the line first and his 2005 win at the circuit offers further validity to his chances.

Whilst Alonso cannot be discounted from the equation, his odds of 5/1 look a little skinny in such a competitive affair and the Spaniard is passed over marginally in favour of Red Bull pair Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber who should also relish the conditions.

The latter has been a model of consistency so far in 2012 after recording four fourth place finishes and he improved markedly on that standard to romp home in Monaco two weeks ago.

Webber has played bridesmaid to Vettel for a considerable period of time at Red Bull but this season could really prove to be the Australian’s best yet and a fitting final hurrah as he approaches the end of his career in F1.

Webber is around 8/1 to follow up in Canada and that potentially looks the most solid each way pick amongst the field.

Nico Rosberg is prominent in the standings thanks largely to his victory in China but Mercedes teammate Michael Schumacher may outperform him for the first time this year in Canada after a horrible run of bad luck so far. Romain Grosjean, Sergio Perez and Pastor Maldonado are the remaining drivers who should fill the points barring any serious complications.

Go To bet365

#Ad

04/06/2012     © Frixo 2025