Three In A Row For Rosberg?

With Nico Rosberg closing the gap on Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship, can he make it three in a row in Montreal this weekend?

The Season So Far
Nico Rosberg showed that his victory in Spain wasn’t a flash in the pan by winning the Monaco Grand Prix last time out to close the gap on Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship to ten points. Sebastian Vettel took second ahead of Hamilton, and while Williams suffered a rare bad race, Red Bull enjoyed their best result so far, with Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo making the top five.

The Circuit
Round seven sees the Formula One circus crossing the Atlantic to the popular Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. It’s a semi-street circuit, with slow corners, long straights and plenty of overtaking opportunities. The heavy braking and demands placed on traction means this venue is tough on tyres, and to make things trickier; it often rains there. Pit stop strategy will be crucial.

In The Pits
In a season that has been plagued by power issues and mechanical faults, Red Bull managed their best performance yet in Monaco, where the narrow, winding track negated some of the other teams’ power advantage.

But it is hard to see them being that competitive back on a more traditional track where their relative lack of straight-line speed will see them struggle, and neither Kvyat nor Ricciardo are worth backing, even at big odds, in Canada.

Recommended Bets
Nico Rosberg’s resurgence has not only been a welcome development for Mercedes but it has also given punters another option at the top of the betting market.

The Mercedes is still the quickest car on the grid and Hamilton is still the better driver of the two, but now that his team-mate has got his confidence back, things don’t look as easy for the reigning world champion as they did three weeks ago.

Hamilton has a good record in Canada but the value still lies with Rosberg who is available at 11/8.

A decision to pit with twelve laps to go may have cost Hamilton the race in Monaco, but once again Sebastian Vettel was able to get amongst the two Mercedes and finished second. Ferrari are the closest challengers in the Constructors’ Championship but they are still some way behind in terms of power and it is a testament to Vettel’s skill that he has been snapping at the heels of Rosberg and Hamilton throughout. He remains the likeliest non-Mercedes winner and is a good bet at 15/2.

After a string of solid performances, the Williams drivers struggled in Monaco, failing to make an impact in qualifying and finishing fourteenth and fifteenth in the race. But the return to a more conventional track should suit them and Valtteri Bottas could be worth adding to your shortlist. He was third in qualifying in Canada in 2013 and fourth last year, so clearly finds the circuit to his liking. Back him each way at 66/1.