F1 Canadian Grand Prix 2024: Predictions, odds, betting tips and best bets for Montreal race | Sporting News Canada

Race number nine of the 2024 Formula One season gets underway on this side of the Atlantic, as the 20 drivers prepare to tackle the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and the Canadian Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc’s home win in Monaco last time out created headlines, as the Ferrari driver qualified top of the pile and kept his nose ahead of the chasing pack amidst the carnage of Monte Carlo’s tightly-packed street circuit.

Leclerc heads into the 53rd Canadian GP with confidence, as another track of similar dimensions awaits in Montreal.

Three-time world champion Max Verstappen could only muster a lowly sixth in a day to forget for Red Bull, with teammate Sergio Perez crashing out on the first lap.

McLaren once again showed their competitive mettle with a second-placed finish for Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris coming in fourth behind Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

The ninth weekend of the 2024 F1 season should offer up similar thrills, and The Sporting News has all the best bets, tips and predictions from our partner bookmakers ahead of the race.

F1 Canadian Grand Prix 2024: odds to win

Despite a disappointing sixth-place finish in Monte Carlo last time out, three-time world champion Max Verstappen is the favorite to secure a return to form in Montreal this weekend — and by quite a distance too, with Sports Interaction offering a moneyline lean of just -182 for the Dutchman to claim the checkered flag in Canada.

Leclerc’s home victory at the Circuit de Monaco still leaves him languishing behind Verstappen in the favorites’ stakes, tied joint-second with McLaren’s Lando Norris on a moneyline lean of +450. 

Norris and Leclerc’s teammates Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz are the fourth and fifth favorites, respectively, at Montreal. Piastri is some way behind Norris at +1400 despite finishing second to Leclerc in Monaco, while Sainz, winner of the Australian Grand Prix in week three, is at +2000.

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez’s odds have widened to +4000 following his first-lap crash and exit in Monaco, and that moneyline lean is also shared by Mercedes duo George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.

Sports Interaction have Fernando Alonso next in the running at +8000, with Yuki Tsunoda, Alexander Albon and Nico Hulkenberg jointly rounding out the top 10.

Odds via Sports Interaction (Canada), correct as of June 5 2024.

MORE: Predictions and best bets for the 2024 Formula One season

F1 Canadian Grand Prix 2024: Best bet

• Pick: Charles Leclerc to qualify on pole position
• Moneyline lean: +400 (Sports Interaction)

He’d already threatened to do so a few times this season, and Charles Leclerc finally broke through in his home race of Monaco last time out, qualifying on pole and seeing out his first victory of the season the following day. He’s the second favorite with Sports Interaction to make it two poles in a row, and we think he could have the beating of Max Verstappen again.

Not only is the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve another street circuit — albeit not as compact and short as Monaco — but Leclerc has already recorded the fastest lap in two previous races this season, the same as Verstappen. We think he can again make time as the fastest in Canada, securing top billing on the starting grid for Sunday’s race.

F1 Canadian Grand Prix 2024: Prop bet

• Pick: Max Verstappen to win AND record the fastest lap
• Moneyline lean: +250 (Sports Interaction)

For the first time in a very long time, Max Verstappen has a point to prove following his dismal sixth-placed finish in Monte Carlo last time out. Languishing behind all four Ferrari and McLaren units will no doubt spur the Dutchman on to come out firing on all cylinders in Montreal this weekend.

Sports Interaction have the Dutchman at a +250 moneyline lean to both win and record the fastest lap of the race at Montreal, and given his domination of this circuit last year — winning by 9.57 seconds as his Red Bull teammate Perez took the fastest lap — we think Verstappen could wrap up both accolades for maximum Championship points.

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F1 Canadian Grand Prix 2024: Flier bet

• Pick: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton and Alonso to all finish ahead of their respective teammates
• Moneyline lean: +500 (Sports Interaction)

This flier bet is something of a long shot given it hinges upon the placings of 10 of the 20 drivers, but given their recent form it’s not hard to see this situation panning out. Leclerc, Verstappen and Norris have won each of the last three races, while Hamilton recorded the fastest lap at Monaco last time out and Alonso did likewise in China.

Sports Interaction‘s +500 moneyline lean could be upset by Russell and Piastri in particular, who have both recorded race-fastest laps in recent meetings, with McLaren’s Australian star finishing second behind Leclerc in Monaco, but if Hamilton and Norris are on form, placings favorable to this flier could well come to pass.