What happened: Nico Hulkenberg was one of seven drivers who started the Canadian Grand Prix on intermediate tyres. Audi explained the reasoning behind the call: with a persistent drizzle, a grey sky and no cars yet running to read the conditions, the team judged the rain could just as easily continue. As Audi put it, "for the same money it could have continued like this" — so they rolled the dice.

Why it matters: Wet-weather tyre choices at the start can define a race, and they carry outsized stakes for a midfield team chasing every point. Committing to intermediates before the field shows its hand is a high-variance bet that can either steal track position or cost it instantly if the rain never materializes.

What to watch: Watch whether the intermediate gamble rewarded Hulkenberg as track conditions evolved, and how Audi's read compared with the six other drivers who made the same opening-lap call.