Canadian Grand Prix: Picks, Predictions and Odds

After a one-sided start to the 2024 season, McLaren and Ferrari are laying down a strong challenge to world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team entering the Canadian Grand Prix.

All three outfits have recorded Grand Prix victories in the last three races and this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix could see another hotly contested race.

Charles Leclerc banished a history of heartbreak in his home Monaco Grand Prix last time out, giving Ferrari their second victory of the season. That saw him close to within 31 points of Verstappen in the drivers championship, and Leclerc will be expecting another strong showing in Montreal.

However, McLaren have recorded three second places and a win in the last four races between their two drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and they should find the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve more to their car's liking than Monaco.

Canadian Grand Prix betting picks and predictions

Lando Norris to win (+650)

It is likely we will not see McLaren at their strongest until F1 visits the faster circuits, like Austria, Great Britain and Belgium.

That should be a concern for their rivals, since the papaya cars have proved super competitive at slower, theoretically less-suitable tracks since the team introduced a significant upgrade package in Australia.

McLaren employed clever tactics to help Norris beat the Ferraris for second place in China, and while strategy played a part in the Briton's maiden F1 victory the next time out in Miami, he had more than enough pace to pull away from the pack after a safety car restart.

While some would claim his Miami win was lucky, there is no denying Norris was unfortunate not to follow up at Imola in the ensuing race.

He missed out on pole position only because Verstappen found a handy slipstream on his fastest qualifying lap, and the flying Dutchman had to pull out all the stops to keep Norris at bay in the closing stages.

The twisty streets of Monaco were not expected to play to the McLaren's strengths, but Piastri was able to finish second and Norris fourth in a tactical battle.

Like Imola, the Montreal circuit requires drivers to attack the kerbs - a factor that seemed to upset the Red Bull cars in Emilia Romagna.

The latest iteration of the dominant Red Bull of recent seasons seems difficult to set up, and with rain threatening to disrupt this weekend's practice sessions - and indeed the race - the reigning champions could be facing another challenging weekend.

Nico Hulkenberg points finish (+150)

Monaco was a weekend to forget for Nico Hulkenberg but the German veteran can put that behind him with a points finish in Canada.

Hulkenberg should have started 12th in Monte Carlo but was disqualified from qualifying for a technical infringement, then his race lasted barely two corners before he was caught up in the accident between his Haas team-mate Kevin Magnussen and Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

Last year in Montreal, Hulkenberg qualified second fastest in changeable conditions, but had to start fifth after a penalty. His race was ruined by a safety car appearance shortly after he had made a pitstop.

However, Hulkenberg seems to have a liking for the track, having finished in the points in his six previous visits.

Prior to Monaco, the former Le Mans winner had started three consecutive races in the top 10 and had six straight top-11 finishes, so he looks a decent bet at odds-against to add to his points tally.

Canadian Grand Prix outright odds

Max Verstappen	-275
Charles Leclerc	+500
Lando Norris	+650
Oscar Piastri	+1400
Carlos Sainz	+2500
Sergio Perez	+4000

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.