The Briton looked a little annoyed during post-qualifying interviews yesterday, but he seems relaxed now. Here he is, chilling out (or whatever the young people say these days), with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Image source, Getty Images

Winning from that far back in Canada is not something Hamilton has yet experienced. His record in Montreal is excellent - but his previous six wins in Montreal have all come from the front row of the grid. Five came from pole, while he won from second in 2012.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hamilton can take some solace from the fact that it is possible to win the Canadian Grand Prix without starting on the front row. It has happened 18 times in the 48 World Championship races to be held in the country - and below are the 10 wins secured from the furthest back starting position.

Image source, BBC Sport

It's been a strange weekend for Lewis Hamilton so far, on a circuit where he normally thrives. Remember, a win in Canada would be his seventh, equalling Michael Schumacher's all-time record.

He looked good in practice on Friday - as Mercedes held back on using the hypersoft tyres. Yet when those tyres came into play on Saturday, he didn't kick on, and so is only fourth on the grid.

Image source, Getty Images

Msgr. Matt Albans: Unfair to place Hamilton and Vettel above Alonso. The four titles they've won a piece has come while they've been a part of the dominant team. Vettel's Red Bull was untouchable, as is Hamilton's Merc.

Bob McFeil: Alonso is the best driver of the modern era along maybe with Hamilton, no doubt about it. He has always shone whether in a leading or midfield car and not many can achieve that.

Joanna Harran‏: Fernando one of the greatest? Well of course! He dragged that Ferrari round and missed out by a few points and fighting no matter what in a poorly performing McLaren. F1 will miss him if and when he goes and I intend to follow him no matter what motorsport he decides.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Montreal

Red Bull have chosen to start the race on the hypersoft tyre, while Ferrari and Mercedes preferred the ultrasoft, feeling it is a better race tyre, with more consistent performance over a longer period.

Everyone will be pushing for a one stop, and, interestingly, Pirelli’s strategy predictions say that hypersoft-supersoft option is slightly quicker than the ultrasoft-supersoft, despite the need for an earlier stop.

Could Red Bull actually have got themselves an advantage? Max Verstappen, third on the grid, certainly thinks so.

Image source, Getty Images

There's been a lot of talk about tyres this weekend... As a reminder - Pirelli have seven dry-weather tyres in their F1 range this season. The three softest in the range, supersoft, ultrasoft and hypersoft, are the ones available in Montreal.

If that sounds a bit confusing (and let's be honest, it might be a good idea to rethink the names going forward), the hypersofts are the softest. In theory, they should be the fastest too. In theory.

On the subject of Alonso, here is, speaking to Sky Sports: “It was amazing as always here. We love coming here because of the fans. It’s a perfect day, a good temperature and I think we’ll see a good show. It’s one of the places we all want to come. I think today’s a perfect day for the 300 and now we need to execute the race properly.”

Every year at the Canadian Grand Prix, on the Saturday evening after qualifying, members of the various teams get together to have a raft race.

Ferrari didn't take part, but all the other teams did - including Red Bull, pictured here - and the winners were Williams. A bit of a bright spot in a season that hasn't been much fun for them.

Image source, Getty Images

Salviano: For me Alonso is one of the greats in my life time together with Senna, Prost, Piquet, Schumacher and Lauda. A true racer and an indomitable spirit who will forever be an F1 legend.

Sean Flynn: Alonso has won two world titles, so has to be considered a great. But he only just makes the top 10 greats. Senna, Prost, Vettel, Hamilton, Schumacher, Lauda all ahead of him. Right now though, he’s only the third best on the grid.

Stephen D'Albiac: The greatest driver of his generation without a doubt. That he's still stuck on two titles is an absolute travesty. Still performing miracles in a car that does not come close to being his talents justice.

Some early thoughts from the drivers for you. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, on pole, has been speaking to Sky Sports.

He says: "There's so much support for us, which is incredible. So many passionate fans. Thanks for coming out on a beautiful day, and we hope to make it more beautiful."

Image source, Rex Features

Matthew Thomas: While Fernando really should have more world titles, he is still just behind Schumacher as the best driver of the modern era. He gets the best out of any car he drives but did he have the influence, both on races and his teams as Michael did? Don't think so.

James Taylor: Alonso comment is subjective. Among the greatest 20, maybe. Among the greatest 3, nope.

Amit Mandalia: One of the greats yes but I still consider Senna to be my greatest ever.

And there was drama too in the world of a member of our audience, as reader Chris Marsh revealed that he was missing qualifying, having been whizzed away by his wife for a romantic night out instead.

Did it go well, Chris? And are you with us for the race? Please get in touch!

Image source, Twitter

There was high drama on the BBC live text commentary during qualifying yesterday as, thanks to a typo, it appeared as if our pit lane reporter Jennie Gow was suggesting that nudity had been introduced to F1. (To my knowledge, it hasn't, but I'll let you know if that changes. If you're wondering, by the way, it should have read "naked eye".)

Image source, BBC Sport

What else has happened this weekend? Well, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, doing a live link to Sky Sports during qualifying yesterday, suggested that Marcus Ericsson looked like his wife Geri driving - just as the Swede hit the wall. It turned out that Horner was referring to the '9 ERI' on the front of Ericsson's car, rather than casting aspersions over the former Spice Girl's ability at the wheel. I'm sure it was all smoothed over afterwards. Probably.

Image source, Getty Images

Kayleigh: Is Alonso one of the greatest? Yes. But his negative attitude every race weekend makes it difficult to get behind him and root for him. The little nugget needs to cheer up a bit!

Chris of Ballard: One of the best? Certainly, but it's worth exploring. The best on the current grid? Debatable because Lewis and Seb exist. The best of all time? No because Senna, Prost, Clark, Fangio et al.

Pere Duran: Fernando Alonso is certainly one of the greatest. Poor team choices left him with two titles. Winning car, he wins title.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Montreal

The sun is shining and it is a glorious day in Montreal, as it has been all weekend, with the pine trees and modernist buildings of the picturesque Ile Notre-Dame offset against big, blue North American skies.

The race at the front is set up nicely - Ferrari-Mercedes-Red Bull-Mercedes-Ferrari-Red Bull on the grid - and the suspicion is that the fastest guy is not on pole, after Lewis Hamilton suffered braking problems at the hairpin in qualifying that may or may not have been caused by a bird being ingested into a brake duct.

The racing is fast and furious around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and even if the drivers say overtaking is harder since the rules changes of 2017, a close race with mixed strategies is very much in prospect.

Image source, Getty Images

This is Fernando Alonso's 300th Grand Prix entry. He hasn't had a good weekend - almost going out in Q1 yesterday and only taking 14th place on the grid.

But there's no denying his quality. "I am one of the best to have raced in F1," he said this week.

So what do you think? Can he claim to be not just one of the best - but the very best? If so, why? And if not, why not - and who would you choose instead? Thoughts and reasons please, via Twitter, using the hashtag #bbcf1.

Image source, EPA

I can't do this live text all on my own (as you may have noticed) - so I'll be calling on our chief F1 writer Andrew Benson as we build up to the race, which starts at 19:10 BST.

I'd also like your help too.