It’s a case of as you were for the Canadian Grand Prix – after two races in Spain and Monaco where the over-taking and wheel to wheel action that was commonplace at the start of  the season was at a premium, the Montreal race should address that issue nicely as the chasing pack try desperately to conjure up anything to stop Sebastian Vettel running away with his second world title.

So where will the 7th race of the season be won and lost? Formula1fancast is here as ever to give you the inside line on the Canadian Grand Prix.

DRS back to centre-stage

The new-for-2011 Drag Reduction System (DRS) was causing quite a stir a month ago, now after Red Bull demonstrated their strengths at the Circuit de Cataluña and the tight twisting track in Monte Carlo left literally little room for manoeuvre, the most hotly debated addition to formula 1 in years was put on the back burner as talk of diffusers and off-track controversy took centre stage.

Now DRS is back at the fore-front after the announcement that the Canadian Grand Prix will be the first race to have two activation zones, meaning if the high-speed corners of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve weren’t enticing enough, now there will be even more opportunities to pass.

Tired of talking about tyres yet?

If there is one race that will be decided most by tyres – it is this one. Pirelli have opted for the super-soft and soft tyres for Canada, and while these are the same tyres used for Monaco, tyre wear and speed in the principality are low – something that can’t be said of Montreal.

Before the Monaco race, Pirelli warned that the super-soft, or options, would only last around ten laps, an estimate that appeared conservative, while Vettel managed on a one-stop strategy (until the red flag at the end of the race) on the soft tyres. Canada offers a potent combination of low grip and high wear meaning strategy and qualifying are all thrown into the air, with a wide variety of approaches likely to be taken by teams on the grid.

Unfortunately with the super-soft tyre the most precious commodity this weekend, a return to the increasingly frustrating tactic of saving an extra set of tyres in qualifying by sacrificing a final run in Q3 looks likely after a Monaco race which placed a premium on qualifying position.

Last years race was a thriller…expect the same again

If last year’s race was anything to go by, then this years should be even better. The 2010 event was on a knife edge as Red Bull failed to secure pole for the first time, and the same could happen this time round as McLaren in particular seem increasingly confident of having the pace to at least match their championship rivals, while Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag 12 months ago.

Tyres were at the heart of the action while 61 stops were performed, how much is that number going to increase with the delicate Pirelli rubber pounding around the circuit?

The long-back straight should see some spectacular action, and have no doubt about it; if anyone gets close to Sebastian Vettel they will have the tools at their disposal to pass the German. the run-down to the fast first corner into the tight exit will claim its fair share of victims, and as ever should provide fireworks on the first lap.

A four stop strategy will likely to the norm, while it would take a brave man to risk a three-stopper with tyres edging close to the cliff-face and those with fresh tyres closing in; last year Red Bull got their strategy wrong and paid the price, and this year the Milton Keynes outfit haven’t looked exactly watertight after glitches in China and Monaco in particular, and Canada could well be the race they are over-hauled for the first time in 2011.

Keep checking back to formula1fancast for all the build up to the Canadian Grand Prix – you can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

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