Our F1 expert fancies points for Perez but pain for Alonso in Canada
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After the glamour of Monaco comes a very different type of street circuit as the European season gets interrupted by a quick hop across the Atlantic for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
A firm favourite with the drivers for its fast chicanes and close walls, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is often the scene of dramatic races too courtesy of unpredictable weather conditions.
Jenson Button even won here in a race spanning more than four hours in 2011…
Button made a one-off return in Monaco but Fernando Alonso will be back in for McLaren this weekend after his Indy 500 appearance, and the Spaniard features in our latest tips.
Sergio Perez to finish in the top six @ Evens
Force India’s impressive start to the season came to an end in Monaco, with both drivers missing out on the top ten after accidents and collisions.
For Sergio Perez, it marked the end of a run of 15 consecutive point-scoring results, but the car was still quick and has been on all circuits.
With Red Bull likely to struggle somewhat in Canada due to the emphasis on the power unit, Force India could be closer than in recent races and Perez has had the better of the battle with Esteban Ocon so far this year.
The Safety Car to appear @ 4/11
The Safety Car was seen in Monaco (although unfortunately not on the first lap) and there is a high chance of it appearing again in Canada.
A much faster circuit, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has a number of walls waiting to punish drivers on the exits of chicanes, with the Wall of Champions – the final corner – often seeing errors.
With the cars being more difficult to drive this year and with overtaking much easier on the track layout in Canada, the Safety Car may well be needed again.
Turn 1 gets pretty tight as well, so another first lap Safety Car is also be worth a look again at 10/11.
Fernando Alonso to fail to finish @ 5/6
Fernando Alonso returns after his Indy 500 appearance and McLaren will still be frustrated after failing to score a point in Monaco despite having a quick car.
Canada is likely to be much more difficult for the team, with the long straights showing up the weaknesses of the Honda power unit.
Honda has failed to deliver an expected upgrade in Canada, so Alonso is likely to be trying to take an un-competitive car beyond its capabilities.
If the power unit doesn’t break, something else might…
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
