Grand Prix Betting in Ontario: Facts and Betting Tips for the Montreal Grand Prix
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When it comes to Grand Prix betting in Ontario the prime venue has got to be the fantastic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, host of the Canadian Grand Prix. Not only does the track have a storied history, unlike some classic circuits it's still producing thrilling races today. Here's a quick rundown of the circuit's unique characteristics, and how these can affect betting on the event.
Layout of the Grand Prix Montreal Circuit
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is designed for drama. For the most part, the track is narrow, with a twisty first sector where passing is nigh on impossible. It's very easy to crash out, due to nearby barriers and the possibility of wet weather (more on that later).
Passing normally happens at or just after the hairpin at turn 10. While a following car can brake later to get ahead, many prefer to stay behind and get a better exit, then pass on the long straight that comes right after the hairpin. This straight ends with the turn 13/14 kink chicane, and many a driver has misjudged this and smashed into the aptly named Wall of Champions. Then comes a second straight which starts a new lap (but it's too short for many passes to happen here, though there have been some notable crashes).
Because it's a short circuit, 4.3km, there are 70 laps, and we often see more rather than fewer pit stops. In turn, this means strategy can play a big role, especially when the weather turns wet. For players in Ontario betting on the Grand Prix, this means that outside bets can come off here.
Weather and F1 Montreal
The weather is crucial, with Canada seeing numerous races dramatically affected by rain in recent years. And the weather might prove even more treacherous in the near future. There's an earlier slot for Canada in the F1 calendar in 2026, and this means that not only rain but potentially snow is on the agenda.
The wet/dry difference in F1 at Montreal can be stark, with huge changes possible in the wet but in the dry passing can be surprisingly difficult. In the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix we saw Oscar Piastri fail to pass Kimi Antonelli, and Lando Norris fail to pass Piastri despite having superior pace.
Great Races at the Canadian Grand Prix
Canada might just have hosted the best F1 race of all time, when Jenson Button won the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. He started 7th on the grid and about halfway through was running last of those still in the race. Yet, despite half a dozen visits to the pits (and a two hour rain delay), his excellent touch in changing conditions as the track shifted from soaked to increasingly dry enabled him to pass Sebastian Vettel on the last lap to claim one of the most dramatic wins ever.
We saw another compelling race in 2025, but in the dry. The race was dry, and despite starting on pole George Russell was odds against to win the race (he was 4.6 to win). However, he never really looked like losing once the race began, because defending at Canada in the dry can often be easier than people imagine. The McLarens had the fastest race pace, yet weak qualifying meant this was the first time in 2025 that neither finished on the podium.
In 2008 Polish driver Robert Kubica started 2nd, right behind Lewis Hamilton. But the most successful driver of all time failed to finish the race. Instead, it was Kubica who claimed his only win in the sport. To make it even better, he led team mate Nick Heidfeld to a Sauber 1-2, the rarest of results.
Stats and Facts for about F1 Montreal
There's a very high chance of a safety car (83% or so)[1]. That also opens a door to strategies for teams able to take the advantage of a cheap pit stop. Remember that teams with drivers close together might find this more difficult, as it costs extra time to double stack (pitting both cars, so the second one has to wait while the first is serviced).
Front end grip is vital, and many corners are slow, especially the critical turn 10 hairpin. According to Pirelli's stats, the circuit is at the top end for braking and the bottom end for downforce[2].
Major Incidents at the Canadian Grand Prix
The epic 2011 Canadian Grand Prix also saw Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button collide, as the former tried passing the latter on the starting straight, leading to a DNF for Hamilton.
That crash happened in wet conditions but a near identical collision happened in 2025 in the dry. Lando Norris tried to fit his McLaren into a gap that wasn't there and rammed right into the rear of Oscar Piastri. Piastri was fine but Norris, like Lewis Hamilton, suffered a DNF.
And the similarity of these crashes highlights how difficult it can be for gamblers in Ontario betting on Grand Prix results. The closeness of the walls means it's easy to DNF without another car being involved. In 2024, five drivers were not classified, six were not classified in 2011, and seven failed to be classified in 2008. In drier years, two to three non-classified finishers are more common.
This is much higher in the wet, when a quarter of the field may fail to finish. Although not due to rain, the 2014 race saw Lewis Hamilton among eight drivers to DNF, enabling Vettel to make the podium in 3rd.
Lewis Hamilton has an amazing record at the Canadian Grand Prix, tying Michael Schumacher with 7 wins each at the circuit. But even he can find passing in the dry difficult, as in 2019 when he was unable to pass race leader Sebastian Vettel for lap after lap. The German driver briefly went off-track due to an error and was, controversially, given a penalty that gifted the British driver the win. But the fact remains Vettel was able to defend his position despite Hamilton's excellent speed and talent.
Grand Prix Betting in Ontario: Canada in the Dry
Helpfully, 2025 perfectly highlights when to make bets based on grid slots. George Russell nailed qualifying to secure pole, and the short run (186m) to the first braking point then leads into a twisty section where passing is all but impossible. This means that unless the pole-sitter has a terrible start he should retain his place, and can defend it pretty easily.
The odds on a pole-sitter in F1 winning can often be around evens, sometimes a little longer, sometimes a little shorter. In 2025, George Russell had odds of 4.6 to win. Both Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri (starting 2nd and 3rd respectively) had shorter odds. Verstappen was 2.5 and Piastri was 2.6. While it's true that Russell had yet to win at this point in 2025, the pole-sitter having longer odds than those starting behind him is pretty unusual, especially as his great qualifying lap wasn't due to weather or luck.
In the dry, Canada can be rough for overtaking, and people sometimes forget this fact because races like 2011 can loom large in the mind. This can present betting opportunities based on good grid positions.
Grand Prix Betting in Ontario: Canada in the Wet
However, in the wet things can be very, very different. In 2011, the odds on McLaren winning were 5.9, with Lewis Hamilton starting 5th and Jenson Button 7th. The weather was so awful this ended up being the longest race in history (over four hours, including a long rain delay). But it also meant Jenson Button's top class understanding of finding grip in changing conditions saw him rocket from last to the lead in around 30 laps.
Obviously, wet weather can lead to drivers crashing out (as per Lewis Hamilton 2011) but it also means unlikely winners can emerge. When it's wet, outside bets have a much better shot of coming off, particularly for drivers notably good in the rain (Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris etc). Also consider the car. Power matters less and downforce more when it's wet, as the rain cuts down grip and extra downforce can make all the difference.
Smart strategy is essential in the wet. We saw the antithesis of this by Ferrari in 2024, when the team put Charles Leclerc out on hard tyres, on a wet track, with intensifying rain. Needless to say, this didn't work well (he ended up with a DNF due to reliability failure but was out of scoring contention anyway).
Essentially the dry (especially with major dirty air being a problem as per 2025) can see cars defend pretty well, but in changeable conditions Canada can be a crazy event. Races like 2011 lingering in the mind can see bettors overestimate the chances of a huge turn around, which then leads to a pole-sitter having odds of 4.6.
Where to Bet in Ontario
DraftKings is one site worth thinking about when betting on F1 in Ontario. As well as standard markets, Draftkings has interesting variations such as top 2 or top 4 finishes, leader after 5 or 10 laps, winner without markets, and more. Another solid choice is Bet365, which has a large number of markets, including both regular options and more unusual ones.
Canada: a Surprisingly Good Circuit for Defending
Canada's a great circuit that can throw up astonishing results but this can also lead people astray: Russell and Antonelli showed in 2025 that playing defence is very possible in dry conditions. And the short run to the first corner makes for a very good chance of retaining the lead. If you are planning to bet on the Canadian Grand Prix, we advise checking out our list of the top Ontario gambling sites to find the best odds.
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