Formula 1 has returned to the island on the St Lawrence Waterway for the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix. Mercedes fans may still be on a high from their double podium at the Spanish Grand Prix, but Aston Martin is the team with all the new upgrades this weekend.

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Aston Martin had a relatively poor showing in Barcelona, with Stroll finishing ahead of his teammate, Fernando Alonso, for the first time this season. However, the new upgrades could put the top four teams against each other this weekend as they scrap for a spot on the podium. If you’re curious about what to expect at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix, here’s a quick roundup to catch you up.

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Hamilton On The Charge

Sir Lewis Hamilton has yet to win a race in the new era of Formula 1. While the Mercedes W14 is still far off the pace, the recent upgrades have put them into serious contention for second place in the constructor’s championship.

Hamilton has been vocal about how happy the team is with the new upgrade package and its results. Since the seven times World Champion is yet to sign a new contract with the Silver Arrows, he may be pushing the W14 to its limits to see whether it’s worthwhile to stick around with the team in the next few years.

Hamilton won his first-ever Grand Prix in Canada and is nothing short of brilliant around the track. With the weather looking gloomy, the rain might give him the edge he needs to fight for a win this weekend.

All Eyes on Aston Martin

Aston Martin has brought a major upgrade package to Canada this weekend. Both Stroll and Alonso are optimistic about the package, with Charles Leclerc stating that they should shoot back up to that P2 spot.

Aston Martin owner, Laurence Stroll, noted that he foresees a double podium for his team this weekend. That’s a big ask from his son, who has not been able to extract as much pace from the team’s car as is more illustrious teammate. All eyes will be on free practice to see how well these upgrades perform on the track.

Can Perez Close the Gap?

Perez has taken a massive hit in his title ambitions over the last two races. Monaco was a disaster, while Barcelona was damage limitation with a P4 finish. However, the points gap between Perez and Verstappen has grown and makes it a massive hill for the Mexican driver to climb.

Perez made it clear in the press conferences that he sees Canada as a reset for him. As the closest thing to a championship contender, he can’t afford to make any more mistakes.

Four-Way Scrap for the Podium

Ferrari showed some impressive pace in both Monaco and Barcelona. However, the team is still struggling with a few issues that see them sitting in a, nearly unbelievable, 7th place in the constructors’ championship.

Despite this, things can turn around very fast as the team understands their car’s potential. Either way, Ferrari is still very much in the running for a podium place this weekend. This means that Red Bull, Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Ferrari are all going to be fighting for the podium.

If you consider the pace advantage of Red Bull, it means that Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin will all be slugging it out for the final spot on the podium. Unless adverse weather really upsets the formbook…