Jun.9 (GMM) Jacques Villeneuve is tipping a strong race for the McLaren team in Montreal this weekend.

The 1997 world champion will be at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, whose layout is named after his late and revered father.

"I really love this track and I think the cars equipped with the F-duct should have a good performance," Villeneuve, 39, is quoted in a column at rds.ca.

"It is a circuit requiring low downforce and with low speed corners, which I think will suit McLaren," added the French Canadian.

"But we must not forget about Red Bull, whose qualifying this year has been monumental."

The Red Bulls have indeed monopolised pole position so far in 2010, and for the past couple of months have been the standout favourites for grand prix victories.

But Turkey two weeks ago showed that McLaren's MP4-25 is stepping up to the pace of the RB6, and combined with the Mercedes engine and the F-duct, the British team might now be seen as the favourite for the Montreal win.

"A few races ago people were predicting a Red Bull runaway and I think people now suspect that the whole thing's going to be a lot closer than that," said team boss Martin Whitmarsh.

"I think predicting the outcome of this coming weekend is impossible for any pundit to do and that's how the sport should be," he added.

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