You know, we try, we honestly try, not to be sceptical but we just can't help it.
What with FOM's determination to wring every last cent out of the sport, along with the teams, broadcasters and everyone else involved, these days we always get the feeling that they're 'at it'.
In Miami such was the threat of rain the race was moved forward three hours, while all week we've been told that the start of the race was also under threat. Yet here were, and the Weather Gods don't appear to be playing ball... have we been lied to?
In fairness there was rain earlier, and the support races were affected accordingly, but as it stands we are not expecting anything like what was being predicted.
That said, conditions are entirely different to the preceding two days, for other than being much cooler, it is very, very windy. Furthermore, it is overcast, and being located beside the mighty St Lawrence there is the possibility of precipitation.
All that aside, whatever the weather, we are hoping for a cracker. First there's the developing intra-team battle at Mercedes, and while McLaren is edging ever closer, Hamilton appears to be getting the better of his Ferrari teammate, and then there's Max, who is once again threatening to walk away from the sport.
Throughout the weekend we have seen incidents and this will no doubt continue into the race, especially with the changed conditions, and that can only be good for us, right?
A one-stop strategy is the best option, with the medium-hard combination indicated as the quickest on paper. This conservative approach, which will be the most widely adopted by the teams in the absence of rain, calls for the pit stop to take place between laps 21 and 27.
Slower than the previous option is the hard-medium strategy, which allows the first stint to be extended until laps 38 to 44. Depending on grid position, some drivers could benefit from starting on the soft, bringing forward their stop to between laps 17 and 23, before completing the final stint on the hard.
However, opens up the use of the two wet-weather options. From Miami onwards, Pirelli has extended the authorisation for the use of tyre blankets to the full wets as well, setting them at 40 degrees C for two hours. A temperature increase had already been adopted for the Intermediates, which can be heated to 70 degrees C for two hours, as is the case with slicks.
The use of the blankets makes it easier to bring wet tyres up to temperature in the opening laps, even in low-grip conditions, such as low ambient temperatures or due to the characteristics of the circuit itself. Both factors apply at here, where the relatively low lateral forces make it difficult to generate tyre temperature, as seen in qualifying.
Lance Stroll will start from the pitlane after taking on a new Power Unit Control Electronics Unit.
"We are seeing a bit of everything," Antonelli tells Sky, "it is hard to predict what is going to happen. It was meant to rain all morning up until race time, but now it is holding on. It is very cold, very windy, very gusty. Tyre temperatures... It is not easy, you try to weave and brake on the formation lap but you can only do so much on one lap."
The pitlane opens and Verstappen leads the way, followed by Hadjar, Hulkenberg, Colapinto and Ocon. Probably just a precaution but a number of drivers, including Russell, are on Inters.
It is now spitting, but Verstappen pits to switch from Inters to slicks.
A big lock-up for Colapinto at the Hairpin. A lock-up for Leclerc at the Harpin and Norris at Turn 10.
Russell is among the first to take his place on the grid, with Antonelli joining him for company.
"Are you happy on the tyres or do you want the Intermediates?" Piastri is asked. "Honestly I have no idea," he replies"
Bortoleto, Bottas and Gasly will be investigated after the race for failing to keep to the delta time.
Going back to how we started out, it is no longer spitting, however there is one sole umbrella on the grid... it belongs to the Sky team. Performative? Much.
A number of drivers comment that it is slippery. Indeed, though it is no longer spitting the track is damp.
Air temperature is 12 degrees C, while the track temperature is 17 degrees.
Norris, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Bortoleto Sainz, Perez and Bottas are on Inters. Lindblad, Colapinto, Lawson and Gasly are on mediums. The rest are on softs. Fresh rubber for all bar the Mercedes pair, the Red Bulls, Ferraris and Bearman. That is quite a mix!
As they head off on the formation lap, Race Control advises that there is a 50% chance of rain.
They head off, all getting away cleanly.
Russell takes his place on the grid.
The grid forms as Stroll heads into the pitlane.
They're away! Or rather they're not. There is confusion, and as Antonelli finally pulls away Race Control declares another formation lap. Seemingly Lindblad had stalled.
As they head off, Piastri reports that the rain has stopped and that he thinks it is time for slicks. "Should we box?" he asks. Lindblad is pushed off the grid.
The grid forms again, but again an extra formation lap is signalled.
Piastri is told that those on softs will have cold tyres by now. "These Inters are a mistake now," he replies.
Finally, they're away!
Russell and Antonelli both get away well, however, Norris is coming up on the pit-wall side of the track. As they head into Turn 1 Norris leads, ahead of Antonelli, while Russell falls into the clutches of Hamilton and Piastri.
As Norris leads Antonelli out of Turn 2, Hamilton, Russell and Piastri are three abreast, with the Ferrari on the inside. The superior speed of the Mercedes allows Russell to pull clear.
Further back, there's a big lock-up for Gasly as Hulkenberg is passed by Lawson for tenth.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Norris, Antonelli, Russell, Hamiton, Verstapepn, Leclerc, Hadjar, Colapinto, Lawson and Hulkenberg. Piastri pits as Bearman passes Alonso and Bortoleto in one move.
As Norris pits, at the end of Lap 2, Antonelli leads, Russell has a go in Turn 1 but gets it wrong and is almost collected by Hamilton who is on a charge.
Hulkenberg, Sainz, Bortoleto and Perez all pit.
Antonelli leads Russell by 0.6s with Hamilton 0.8s behind, 0.6s clear of Verstappen.
Bottas pits as Norris almost hits the wall as he runs wide at the second chicane. "We could be going very long here," he is told.
Gasly passes Alonso for tenth and immediately sets about Bearman.
All the Inter runners have now pitted.
Lap 4 sees a new fastest lap from Verstappen (17.834). Piastri is up to 15th.
At the end of Lap 6, Russell makes a late, late move on Antonelli, the Italian locks-up and misses the final chicane. That will not have done his tyres any good.
Hamilton has lost ground to Russell and is now under attack from Verstappen. Norris is up to twelfth, hard on the heels of Alonso.
A new fastest lap from a fired-up Antonelli (16.047), as Verstapepn nails Hamilton in Turn 1 for third.
"I've got no power, man, come on guys," urges Hamilton.
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