Good morning.

Doesn't matter what the track configuration looks like nowadays, but you can always guarantee a German on pole position. Schumi? Na. Vettel? More like it. Now you're wondering why you should tune in. What if I said rain? A lot of it?.....

- today's forecast
- radar

Rain is expected to continue on and off throughout the morning, so a damp start in the least is anticipated. I think I should note, which is important to remember: DRS is banned in the rain. For those in the UK, coverage starts at 5pm with the race starting at 6pm.

The chance of a thunderstorm is interesting and so is the forecast of 12mm of rain, which sounds to be like a lot. I imagine in the event of thunder and lightning during the F1 that it would be red flagged.

If McLaren did go for a wet set-up, then they will be in a strong position, however as always its about being on the right tyres at the right time. Would be nice to see a surprise result as well. Also, it is worth noting that the gear ratios are locked after FP2, so if it is dry, the prime tyre may be the preferred one due to the green surface. (thanks to Dunder for pointing that out here)

Predictions:

Dry - Top 8
1 - Vettel
2 - Alonso
3 - Hamilton
4 - Webber
5 - Button
6 - Massa
7 - Rosberg
8 - Di Resta

Wet - Top 8
1 - Button
2 - Vettel
3 - Hamilton
4 - Schumacher
5 - Alonso
6 - Sutil
7 - Webber
8 - Kobayashi

There is %80 chance that it will rain so expect lots of SC guys.

And fast Mclarens hopefully.

I don't mind a shower to provide changing conditions, but a wash-out just recks the race.

My podium predictions:

Dry:

Vettel
Alonso
Hamilton

Wet:

Vettel
Alonso
Hamilton

Will Button surprise everyone once again?

Glock has got a full wet set up, this race is his to lose.

predictions:

Dry: Vettel
Wet: Vettel


everyone else will be behind him

We will see Vettel in the wall of champions again

Heidfeld is on wet setup as well.

Am I right in saying that the difference between a dry and wet setup nowadays is not very much? I know like 10/15 years ago the difference was pretty big, but I don't think it is nowadays is it?

According to Jenson Button there is very little difference.

i guess we should keep an eye on him then

I reckon if its dry, Alonso has this one. The Ferrari's have been fast since FP1 and Alonso always looks in control around here.

I suppose running a wet setup on high donforce track like Monaco makes less difference in the dry than at a track like Monaco or Montreal, where you can suffer on the straights. But the Mclarens and Heidfeld don't seem to be that far down on the speed trap, which I'd guess is a result of the DRS.

Dry race, I think Alonso and maybe even massa might have too much for Vettel, particularly if he doesn't lead into T1
Full wet race, might be Vettel but maybe the Mclarens can make an impression
Mixed conditions- Draw lots out of a hat.

Big night of motorsport for me - MotoGP, Le Mans, GP. Lucky it's a holiday tomorrow for me to recover.

Let's hope together that Vettel crashes out in T1 or even better, bogs down at the start. Sounds good ??

I know DMN mentioned red flags if there's thunder and lightning, and to follow up on that, Hockenheim 2000 there was thunder as well as rain, but no lightning, and they carried on, and Malaysia 2009 they had thunder and lightning bolts which hit the track but they carried on (albeit they red flagged the race more due to light and the amount of water on track, rather than because of the lightning). I don't see us having a fully dry race, but I do expect SC's whether it's wet or dry, particularly if it's mixed conditions. Oh and as far as the 12mm of rain goes (may be different for the track compared to the city) but Japan last year saw 54mm in 6 hours.

i think its about time we have a first corner incident, i dont think we have had a lot of accidents on the first lap yet. also its about time one of the top 5 retires

This and we really need some rain. This year is too dry so far.

But Button seems to indicate that there is not a world of difference between wet and dry set-ups. Basically, he was saying that McLaren have an optimized setup that could work in both dry and wet conditions.

http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/06/11/butt...ualifying-pace/

They all said that yesterday. What happened is that they don't have a low downforce win with them like the other teams, while this isn't a wet setup it will work better in the wet compared to the teams carrying less wing.

It is a short run up to the 1st corner, so the likelihood of a pileup involving the front runners are diminished. But I expect Alonso to be overly aggressive at the start because he knows Vettel would not risk a 1st turn incident. Vettel has his eyes on the long term WDC goal, while Alonso is only looking for his 1st win of the season.

Then McLaren are screwed at Monza...

Is Monza dropped from the calendar?

You do realise that it will be Webber that gets punted off if it's going to be one of the top 5?

Just checking whether anybody was paying attention...

Canada weather update: Showers throughout this morning, leaving the track damp at the start. Thunderstorms possible, wet race very likely

Nah, Webber will punt someone else off

Vettel ??

And it is unlikely that he'll punt his teammate because that will cost him a seat next year.

Well if he does they will keep going and he will DNF anyway...

that wasn't the pattern last year...

Depends if he plans on retiring next year

So... what effect will the lack of DRS have on the teams? Good for Redbull or bad?

Bad for Mercedes - that's for sure.

well, in the past, this was the one track were you always got first corner crashes, most memorably 1998

good, as it is harder to overtake Vettel without DRS aid, than with DRS aid.

Good for anyone at the front

Very excited for the race, I love Canada and I've yet to see a boring race there in the past few years. A wet race does sound interesting, hopefully Hamilton can pick something out of it, it is his best circuit.

You do realise last year was a statistical anomaly?

Does it have to be declared a wet race for DRS to be banned or is it arbitrary?

And in the wet, visibility is an issue with the spraying coming from the cars ahead of you. Coupled with no DRS, it could make overtaking a bit difficult. Advantages to those who qualified in front!

The track has to be declared wet before DRS not to be used either in practice, qualifying or race.

why? the top gun with the Newey car got a plenty of failures making him fail from the front, and alonso lucked in those victories. perfectly usual to me

What is the weather now in Montreal?

Well I was referring to Webber's luck and last year it being generally of the good kind - but fair enough...

yeah but he was long overdue for a season with a bit of luck but this season is making him remember that he wont have the luck like last year.

http://www.pjcci.ca/francais/video/directC...;intDirection=1

Live video from a traffic webcam just north of the circuit. Road was damp, now fully wet.