Forecasting what will happen in qualifying and the race based on Friday practice is a risky business, especially on a track like the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where conditions will change a lot.
But judging by the first day of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, it's going to be a very close fight for the final podium position.
Mercedes is, as always, well ahead as the free practice times showed, but as well as the clutch of cars that ended up just behind on the timesheet, there's also one dark horse to climb the order from what might be a starting position outside the top 10.