Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Montreal

Image source, Getty Images

Lando Norris has had an engine change in his McLaren after the electrical sensor failure that caused him to have to abandon his running in second qualifying and left him 14th on the grid.

He is using the other engine that was in his pool and there will be no penalty. Norris regretted the problem because, as he put it, he “loves” wet conditions.

The McLaren has not been especially quick in Canada, but it is still a lot faster than some of the cars in front - such as the Haas cars, which tend to fade quickly in races with high tyre wear, and perhaps both Alfa Romeos, too. So he is another to look out for in terms of progress up through the field along with Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and perhaps even George Russell in eighth.

Jack Aitken
Williams reserve driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

This is one of the trickier first corners on the FI calendar because as you go into Turn One, it's not straight. You are straight into the right hander into Turn Two. In previous years we have seen collisions even before the first corner. It's a potential flashpoint that's for sure.

Zhou Guanyu on Sky Sports: "It was a good day yesterday considering the conditions. The target is to get into the points with both cars today.

"We have a good chance. There's a Red Bull and a Ferrari behind us. We have a good chance. I'll take it as it comes, not sure what will happen. It will be a long race ahead."

The National Anthem of Canada is in full flow. The singer has belted that out with gusto. Well done.

If it's a one-stop strategy you're thinking of going with then Pirelli reckon the medium tyres should get you to lap 22 to 28. After that, you can make the switch to the hard rubber for the remainder of the race.

And Vettel's response this week to the drama that unfolded three years ago in Montreal?

"Well I won last time around here, at least I felt like it," joked the Aston Martin driver.

"I’m over it, clearly as you can see!"

Image source, Getty Images

Fans have had to wait three years for the Canadian Grand Prix's return, so where did we leave off at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2019? Well, not a good footing if you're Sebastian Vettel.

The four-time world champion gave us this remarkable moment when he switched the number one and two boards around in protest of his five-second time penalty for dangerous driving against title rival Lewis Hamilton, who was handed the win as the then Ferrari driver was demoted to second place.

Image source, Rex Features

Vettel was adamant he had nowhere to go when he ran wide at Turn Three and pushed Hamilton wide as he rejoined the track.

The TV footage of a sheepish Charles Leclerc, who was third, a Mercedes team member and three Canadian Mounties watching on in the cool down room as Vettel and Hamilton (very politely) discussed what happened is still really funny.

Local boy Lance Stroll talking to Martin Brundle on Sky Sports: "We're just gonna have to climb through the field. Yesterday was a challenging day for us.

"There is always something to do something on Sunday. We've been in this position a couple of times. It's a track you can overtake, anything can happen. Looking forward to it.

"I think there's a lot of opportunities today. We're on the backfoot today but its a mixed up grid and anything can happen."

Drivers love challenging themselves around the 14 corners, heavy-braking chicanes and famous hairpin of the Montreal circuit - in the wet or the dry.

Image source, BBC Sport

It's 1,104 days since Canada last staged a Grand Prix. And boy, F1 fans are out in force in Montreal...

Image source, Getty Images

Sergio Perez's purple patch has faded in vibrancy slightly this weekend as the Red Bull driver lines up towards the rear of the field today after his bump in Q2.

"I think we had the pace to be a lot further up the grid, so today is a painful one," said Perez. "It was a mistake from my side, I messed up and I am very sorry for my team because I let them down today."

Following Perez's Monaco victory and a second place in Azerbaijan, he finds himself firmly in the frame as a championship contender. Today, however, will be about recovering as many points as possible. "I will attack from lap one and see where we end up," he said. "We have a very quick race car."

Lucy Eardley: Hamilton to win, Alonso 2nd, Charles to crash and DNF, Toto the happiest boss.

Andrew Priestley: I don’t recall a time where we have seen Charles Leclerc have to start from the rear of the grid and battle through the field.

What a difference a day makes. Soaking wet (but quite colourful) ponchos, be gone. Short sleeves, bare legs and sunglasses all the way.

Image source, Google

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Montreal

Although Fernando Alonso was the undoubted star of qualifying, there were a number of other notable performances. Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher locked out the third row for Haas in the US-based team’s best collective qualifying performance since their made their debut in 2016. And in eighth, Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu made it into the top 10 for the first time, beating team-mate Valtteri Bottas for the second time in a week.

And in 12th, out-performing the car’s capabilities in the dry, Alex Albon continued his impressive season and the reconstruction of his career. The British-born Thai could have a busy opening few laps with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Lando Norris right behind him, and his long-time friend Charles Leclerc coming through from the back of the grid.

Image source, Getty Images

Disappointed on one side of the Alfa Romeo garage, roars of delight over in the other.

Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu, in his rookie season in Formula 1, made it into Q3 for the first time in his career - and was absolutely gobsmacked on the team radio when told the news.

Zhou will start one place higher than his team-mate Bottas in 10th.

There was only one team that supplied the top 10 shoot-out with both drivers - and that outfit was Haas.

Instead of the wet conditions being a hindrance for Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen, the pair were on the pace throughout and ended the session starting fifth (Magnussen) and sixth (Schumacher) on today's grid.

I don’t envisage us going further forward, only because of the pace the other cars have around us," said Schumacher, who is searching for his first points in Formula 1. "But we’ll try our best and see where we end up."

Magnussen, who retired from last weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, added: "It’s what we had hoped for. We’ve seen before in Imola that we like these conditions and we got the job done today."

Image source, Reuters

Jeremiah Kariuki: A race for Max to lose. Only a Technical issue possibly to deny him. As much as Alonso would want to race him to Turn 1, Max will be flying away. If anything, Alonso will possibly slow everyone else down to a gap of a Max's free pitstop within 10 laps.

Nulla Pax: Perhaps it might be safest to let Fernando take the lead at the start? Then take it back after he has calmed down.

Andrew Priestley: Alonso was always known for his fast starts when he regularly lined-up at the sharp end of the grid. But he doesn’t have much track to do the business today.

Image source, Getty Images

Carlos Sainz is picking up the extra slack due to team-mate Charles Leclerc's grid penalty this weekend and is desperate to deliver a positive result for Ferrari after their double DNF in Baku.

The Spaniard, who starts third and is fifth in the drivers' standings, has the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton alongside him for company this evening.

"On the very last sector I felt it was a bit of an “all or nothing” situation and I pushed a bit too much at the last chicane," Sainz said of his desire to achieve a maiden pole position.

"Unfortunately, it cost me the front row, but I’m not too disappointed, as it was a great battle to the very last moment, I had to go for it, and P3 is not a bad starting position on this track."