Positions after lap one of 70-lap race:

1.

2. Kubica (BMW Sauber)

3. Raikkonen (Ferrari)

4. Rosberg (Williams)

5. Raikkonen wins Spanish Grand Prix ...
F1: Ferraris set early pace ... Alonso (Renault)

6. Massa (Ferrari)

7. Kovalainen (McLaren)

LATEST ACTION (all times BST)

To get involved, text us on 81111 (UK users only) or contribute to 606 Join the debate on 606 By Sarah Holt

Lap one: A clean start in Montreal. Hamilton pulls clear away but the only major move is Rosberg who has leapfrogged Fernando Alonso for fourth.

1802: Green lights are go and we are off.

1759: The cars speed off on the formation lap and Hamilton is out on soft tyres while most of the pack start on the hard compounds, except for Rosberg who is also on the softs.

1758: "Hamilton is very much in tune with this track and the McLaren works particularly well here. It soaks up the bumps much better than the Ferraris and that's important."
BBC 5 live analyst Maurice Hamilton

1757: Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button will both start from the pitlane. Vettel had to have his chassis replaced after a crash in final practice on Saturday while Button had a gearbox problem during qualifying. The safety car whizzes round the 2.7-mile track for some final checks as the drivers wait in their cars.

1755: Wet conditions could affect the race in Montreal dramatically and there were early reports of a 60% chance of rain. BUT now it looks like the forecast is dry and bright for the race with temperatures up at 27C.

1750: "Another win for Lewis and the title will swing his way big time over the next two months!"
Rockfmbus on 606

1747: The cars are lined up on the grid and there's the usual hubbub but the drivers are looking pretty focused out there. Hollywood veteran Michael Douglas was hanging about as a guest of McLaren during qualifying but he's nowhere to be seen at the minute. Hmmmm a disappointing celeb count in Canada.

1739: For the second day running, I'm going head-to-head with Ms Caroline Cheese in the "Live" stakes. She appears to have dropped her "Swiss" Cheese moniker today and you can keep up with her Euro 2008 exploits using this link: Live: Euro 2008

1735: It's not all glamour in the world of Formula One you know and for the sport's more sedate fans the Williams team have launched an F1-branded lawnmower. Apparently the four-wheel drive machine can "tame any paddock, scrubland or high grass." So there's a Father's Day idea for you.

1725: "Any thoughts on how Sutil will perform in an ever improving car given his race at Monte Carlo?"
RajivD on 606

Here's my thought; he's starting in 17th so has got some work to do to get up to fourth as he did in Monaco. But more relevant are words from the man himself who says; "I take good and positive things from [Monaco]. It's important to have a good race in Canada. It is a kind of street circuit with a few places where you can go off quite easily, so it's important just to finish."

1715: I mentioned the track being a bit dubious earlier and here's what the drivers have been saying:

Kimi: "It is quite a joke with the circuit. It is going to be a nightmare. We have 70 laps to do and it broke up after two laps in qualifying so it will be interesting.

Kubica: "The biggest problem is the race track, it is quite a big joke to have these conditions. It's quite a big lottery...it will be a tough race for sure."

Lewis: "It was a real challenge but if there is a problem, it is my job to find a solution and get around it as quick as possible. For me, more of a concern is the safety cars that there probably will be there."

Webber: "We'd be better bringing motocross bikes here than F1 cars."

In response to those kind words, officials at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve have done their best to repair the track in the last 24 hours. The hairpin has had a lot of work done to it and officials are just hoping the product - used at Nascar tracks - holds.

1705: "Other than interference from the safety car it's probably Hamilton's to lose. Kubica probably needs to concentrate more on defending his position rather than challenging the McLaren off the start and I just don't see Kubica finishing ahead of Hamilton or Raikkonen in a straight-forward fight."
Maverick Wonder on 606

1700: A crumbling track, unpredictable weather and five different teams in the top five grid slots - could we have an upset in the Canadian Grand Prix?

If Lewis Hamilton has his way, the answer will be no. The McLaren driver is chasing a second straight win in Montreal on the track where he claimed his maiden Grand Prix win in 2007.

The Briton was relentless in qualifying, setting the pace in all three sessions and defying deteriorating track conditions to clock the fastest lap of 1:17.886 for pole.

BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica starts alongside Hamilton on the front row with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen third, just ahead of Fernando Alonso's Renault.

Both Kubica and Raikkonen described the track conditions as a "joke" and there are fears the circuit, despite overnight repairs, might not withstand 70 laps.

Nico Rosberg should be feeling much happier in the Williams camp, as the German produced his best result in qualifying to take fifth on the grid ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

So will it be quelle surprise in Montreal or plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose? Join the debate on 606

(BBC)

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