F1 Canadian Grand Prix race betting preview, tips, TV time

Sky Sports F1, 7.10pm Sunday

Sebastian Vettel scorched to his first pole position for 17 races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and is favourite to take victory in this evening's Canadian Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion - and his Ferrari team - are yet to win a race this season and with championship leader Lewis Hamilton starting second the German is likely to have his work cut out.

Hamilton has not been out of the first two this season and is going for a hattrick of victories after winning in Spain and Monaco.

But this may come down to how much the Briton wants that victory.

Vettel is 55 points behind Hamilton and the defending champ may not consider the Ferrari driver a true title rival this season.

Top tip
Valtteri Bottas podium finish 15-8

Hamilton's closest pursuer in the standings, his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, starts sixth after a scrappy couple of laps in Q3.

Bottas's mission in the early laps will be to dispatch the two cars starting ahead of him - Pierre Gasly's Red Bull and the Renault of Daniel Ricciardo.

Mercedes' power advantage over those cars coupled with the fact Bottas starts on more durable medium tyres means it should be a matter of when, not if, the Finn is able to pass them.

If he can get it done quickly then, judging from Mercedes' long-run pace in Friday practice, Bottas could still be on for a podium finish and at the prices he's worthing backing to get one.

Passing a Ferrari on track won't be easy - they have bossed the speed trap figures this weekend - but the Mercedes strategists have been far sharper than their Italian counterparts and it would be no surprise if they are able to engineer Bottas into the top three.

Max Verstappen gave Lewis Hamilton a fright in MonacoCredit: Charles Coates

Other markets
Max Verstappen not to finish 5-1

We've seen a much more mature Max Verstappen this season than the hot-headed youngster who got involved in incidents in the first six races of last year.

But he has had a much less frustrating time in 2019 with no pressure from his teammate, good reliability and starting every race in the top five.

Bad luck in qualifying means the Dutchman starts 11th in Montreal, though, and we can expect the kind of aggressive driving that makes Verstappen one of the most feared rivals by his peers.

There's only a short run to the first corner but late lunges on the first lap are common into the turn. They can end in heroic gains - or an early bath.

Verstappen was lucky to see the chequered flag in Monaco last time after tagging Hamilton as he tried to pass in the closing laps, and the Red Bull driver was already carrying a five-second time penalty for colliding with Bottas in the pitlane.

The circuit is also tough on engines and brakes, and it's worth a punt that Verstappen's run of 15 straight finishes comes to an end.

Recommendations
V Bottas podium finish
2pts 15-8 Sky Bet
M Verstappen not to finish
1pt 5-1 general

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