Odds: Hamilton the bookies favourite to triumph at Canada

The Brit, who won the Canadian Grand Prix in 2007 and 2010, is priced at 10/3 with Paddy Power to prevail for the third time on circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Hamilton has also been a three-time pole sitter around the Belle Isle track, and odds of 13/2 for a win/pole double look attractive.

Win 92 for Schumacher?

While Lewis Hamilton's record at Montreal is good, Michael Schumacher's is even better, the German having won the race seven times in eight years between 1997 and 2004. Last year he came agonisingly close to a podium in a Mercedes that's far inferior to this year's version and odds of 10/1 for a Schuey win are generous. Team-mate Nico Rosberg is rated at 7/1 for his second win of the season.

Can Alonso surprise again?

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is second favourite at 5/1, but the Canadian GP hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Spaniard. He's won there just once, in 2006, and the Ferrari isn't expected to go well. But we said that ahead of Monaco, and with a slightly braver strategy, he could have won.

Will Jenson rediscover his mojo?

Jenson Button was victorious in last year's Canadian GP with a stunning drive and late-race pass on Sebastian Vettel. His odds of 17/2 are enticing, but he'll need to overcome he recent qualifying issues to make that pay.

Is this Lotus's chance?

By common consent the Lotus is the best overall package on the grid, but Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean and the team have conspired to undermine any winning opportunities. Still, it's surely just a matter of time before it all comes together. Kimi, the 2005 winner, is 10/1, while Grosjean, who's never raced at the track before, is 12/1.

The others

Red Bull has never won the Canadian GP and Vettel (6/1) and Mark Webber (17/2) are priced to reflect this. Force India reckons it has the potential to surprise and at 150/1 for Paul di Resta and 200/1 for Nico Hulkenberg, it's tempting to get behind them for an each-way punt. There's generally a first-corner pile-up in Canada, so what about backing a Ferrari (courtesy of Felipe Massa) to be the first car to retire at 12/1?