Ferrari could take on Mercedes in Canada - Surer

Jun.4 (GMM) F1 pundit Marc Surer thinks Ferrari could be set to take on Mercedes this weekend in Canada.

Reports this week suggested an engine performance upgrade for the Italian team could move it within 15 horse power of dominant Mercedes.

And Speed Week separately reports that Ferrari's works oil partner Shell has developed a new fuel that will also be debuted on the long straights of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"We do not stand still," team boss Maurizio Arrivabene is quoted by SID news agency. "We have a few things in the pipeline."

Surer, a former Swiss F1 driver who now works for the German broadcaster Sky, thinks Canada could be a good venue for Ferrari.

"There are a lot of straights," he said, "where the Ferrari is actually even slightly faster than the Mercedes.

"And the use of the softest tyre compounds also plays into their hands," added Surer. "But this track also gives an advantage to the drivers who brake latest, like (Lewis) Hamilton."

Also tipping Mercedes' championship leader Hamilton to bounce back strongly from the Monaco strategy blunder is fellow double world champion Mika Hakkinen.

He told Germany's Sport Bild: "Lewis will emerge from that race even stronger.

"He knows full well that he was not beaten on that day."

Another former champion, Jacques Villeneuve, also thinks Hamilton will emerge in Canada in a fighting mood, similar to the way he hit back after the collision with Nico Rosberg at Spa last year.

"Nico woke up the sleeping giant that day," Villeneuve said, "and Lewis will want to destroy him more than ever now."

But Surer noted: "I think Nico proved in Barcelona that he is not inferior in speed to Hamilton, and that on a good day he is able to beat him."