The racing world is suffering the tragic and unexpected passing of NASCAR Cup Series winner Kyle Busch, who died Thursday at the age of 41. Sunday’s Formula 1 event in Montreal could pay tribute to the late NASCAR driver, who was hospitalized with a serious illness earlier in the week.
As for the action on the track, the Montreal Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is one of the few courses in the world that incorporate roadways that are open to the general public for most of the year. Tire grip is key for Sunday’s race, and should set the stage for a fast pace, unless the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Much of the trading volume leading up to this weekend has focused on two drivers: 19-year old Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and British veteran driver George Russell. Our pick – weather permitting – is Antonelli, who has won three F1 Grands Prix in two seasons of his budding career.
However, the weather forecast is calling for rain on Sunday, which could give the edge to Russell, who has more in-competition experience dealing with the elements. Side bite issues can quickly derail any driver this weekend, especially given the mid-50s temperatures and 75% chance of precipitation.
The bottom line is: Russell has the advantage during inclement weather while Antonelli is favored if the track remains dry. Both drivers are currently priced just above 30 cents to win the race. We also think George Russell at 61 cents to place in the top 3 is a deal worth taking.
Unfortunately, news of Kyle Busch’s death has dampened spirits ahead of this weekend’s marquee event. Fans are stunned by the off-track illness suffered by Busch, and are awaiting further details in the lead up to Sunday’s action.
Other than that, weather forecasters have become a primary focal point of interest. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve “Wall of Champions” at Turn 14 will come into play if it rains, and has the capacity to instantly dash hopefuls’ chances of finishing in the top 10 overall.
The track is 2.7 miles in length (4.36 kilometers for Canadians) and is famous for its “street” design on the manmade Notre-Dame Island in Quebec’s capital city. Drivers will need to navigate the sole hairpin (Turn 10) and shift into second gear to avoid traction issues.
McLaren driver Lando Norris has moved down as a Podium Finisher and has current odds of 58% to complete the race in the top 3 spots. Ironically, Norris’ chances to actually win the race, according to prediction market forecasters at Kalshi, have increased from 14 to 16 percent.
There’s less than $10k in total volume for Saturday’s three qualifying stages, with both Antonelli and Russell dominating the odds to start in pole position (P1) once the final grid is determined. Except noticeable fluctuations in market price for the sprint weekend qualifiers, especially if trading volume spikes ahead of Sunday afternoon.
The Canadian Grand Prix is set to begin promptly at 4:00pm. With 70 laps scheduled, the total race time should clock in at around 90 minutes.
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