Jun.9 (GMM) Friday showed there are many favourites for Canadian grand prix victory this weekend.

As F1 seeks an unprecedented seventh different winner for its seventh different round of 2012, the top teams will need to keep an eye on dark horses Sauber and Williams, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports.

Much less than a second separates much more than half of the entire field.

"Last year it (the gap) was two and a half seconds," said Peter Sauber.

Red Bull's Christian Horner predicted: "Q2 is going to be interesting. A mistake, or traffic at the wrong time, and you're out."

An analysis of Friday's practice results shows that McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, Lotus, Williams and Sauber are all potential candidates for the win -- and Force India may be an outside chance as well.

"We want to have both cars in the top ten, which should be possible," said sporting director Otmar Szafnauer.

The ultimate favourite, however, is McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

"We are on average a tenth slower (than Hamilton) on the long runs," said Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko.

And the Austrian added that Ferrari is "just behind us".

But Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder insisted: "They (the top teams) fail to realise that Perez and (Williams' Pastor) Maldonado are just as fast."

British commentator Martin Brundle added: "The Mercedes is making a good impression."

And Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez said: "This could be our weekend."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  F1 Tickets  Live F1 Coverage

Full Version: Formula 1 News  Formula 1 Schedule  Formula 1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  Live F1 Coverage  10 'n' Pole  F1 Regulations  The Forums  Motorsport Shop  F1 Merchandise  F1 Tickets  F1 Diecast  F1 Videos  F1 Games