After a two-year absence, the Canadian Grand Prix returns to the Formula 1 calendar this weekend.
The races in both 2020 and 2021 were both called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the action will resume at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend for the ninth round of racing action in F1 this season.
Track Information & Records
The Canadian Grand Prix has been staged as part of the F1 calendar since 1967, but it has been held at a number of different venues.
Its current home at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal has been staging the F1 since 2002, with the track also set to host races in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
It has historically been a track that Ferrari has enjoyed success on, as the constructor has recorded seven wins. Ferrari also enjoyed a double podium in 2019, with Sebastian Vettel finishing second and Charles Leclerc taking third.
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton are the joint-most successful drivers with seven victories, with Hamilton’s most recent success coming in 2019.
A total distance of 305.270 km will be covered in the race this weekend, with 70 laps in total being completed. There are two DRS zones for overtaking and 14 corners that drivers will need to navigate.
Leading Contenders
The pressure will once again be on Ferrari this weekend after a damaging weekend in Baku last time out. Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failed to finish the race, while Guanyu Zhou and Kevin Magnussen, whose cars are also powered by Ferrari engines, also suffered DNFs.
It has been claimed that the engine struggles to perform in warm temperatures, which means that there should be a response this weekend. Leclerc will certainly need to hit back, as the Monaco driver now sits third in the Drivers’ standings, 34 points off Max Verstappen.
Last weekend was a routine one for Red Bull, with Verstappen finishing over 20 seconds clear of teammate Sergio Perez. Verstappen was able to overtake his Mexican teammate after the team ordered Perez to ‘not fight.’
However, Perez will be looking to further his own claims of a world championship this weekend with a victory as he trails Verstappen by 21 points heading to Montreal.
Mercedes endured a painful weekend in Baku, with bouncing issues once again damaging their chances of closing in on Red Bull.
George Russell maintained his record of finishing in the top five of all races this season with a third-place finish, while Lewis Hamilton battled through a back injury caused by the bouncing to finish fourth and win the Driver of the Day award.
However, the bouncing issue is one that Mercedes will need to fix immediately if they are going to fight for an eighth straight Constructors’ Championship this season.
2022 Canadian Grand Prix Picks

The track in Montreal is one that will certainly play to the strengths of the Ferrari. Red Bull hasn’t won this race since Daniel Ricciardo’s success in 2014, and I could see that run continuing this weekend.
I could see Ferrari hitting back in Montreal, with Leclerc taking the win and Sainz finishing on the podium. However, it would be hard to rule out Verstappen finishing in between the Ferrari drivers to maintain his advantage.
2022 Canadian Grand Prix Betting Lines
Max Verstappen -120
Sergio Perez +300
Charles Leclerc +300
Carlos Sainz +1600
George Russell +3300
Lewis Hamilton +3300
Lando Norris +10000
Pierre Gasly +15000
Valtteri Bottas +20000
Fernando Alonso +25000
Daniel Ricciardo +25000
Esteban Ocon +35000
Yuki Tsunoda +50000
Sebastian Vettel +50000
Kevin Magnussen +75000
Mick Schumacher +100000
Lance Stroll +100000
Guanyu Zhou +100000
Alex Albon +200000
Nicholas Latifi +300000