F1 Canadian Grand Prix 2026: Sprint and Race start times, how to watch and Montreal weather forecast

Follow us on Google Discover

Formula 1 heads to Montreal this weekend for the fifth round of the 2026 season, as the Canadian Grand Prix returns to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the race weekend.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrives in Canada firmly in control of the championship after another landmark performance in Miami. The Mercedes driver became the first person in Formula 1 history to convert his first three career pole positions into victories.

The young Italian has also joined an exclusive group of drivers to secure their first three pole positions consecutively and three successive wins, which have strengthened his grip on the title race. Antonelli now holds a 20-point advantage over Mercedes teammate George Russell as he looks to extend his momentum in Montreal.

The previous round in Miami marked the first race after Formula 1’s five-week break, which was caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Several teams introduced major upgrade packages during the hiatus, with McLaren appearing to close the gap to Mercedes at the front of the grid.

Mercedes are expected to bring their upgrades to Canada this weekend as they aim to maintain their advantage over the chasing pack. However, with McLaren showing encouraging pace in Miami, the battle at the front could become even tighter at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Who is going to win the Canadian Grand Prix?

Let us know why in the comments!

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

When is the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, including full weekend schedule

The 2026 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix takes place from 22–24 May, with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosting the third Sprint weekend of the season. The event also marks Formula 1’s return after a three-week break in the calendar.

Track action in Montreal builds towards Sunday’s Grand Prix, which gets underway at 4pm local time on 24 May. Before that, the Sprint Race will take place at 12pm local time on Saturday, offering drivers another opportunity to score valuable points across the weekend.

How to watch the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, including free highlights

Full details on how to watch the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix in your country can be found on the official Formula 1 website.

UK viewers can catch all the action from the Canadian Grand Prix on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage, including practice, qualifying and the sprint race on the Sky Sports F1 channel. Sky Sports packages start at £22 per month. NOW TV customers can also access the race via the Sky Sports pass, with access starting from £27.99 a month.

Free-to-air highlights of the race in Miami will be shown on Channel 4 at 1:20am and 9:40am on Monday 25 May.

In the United States, Formula 1 is now available on Apple TV after the broadcaster secured the rights from ESPN last season. Fans who previously subscribed to F1 TV should see savings, having previously paid $129 per year last season compared to Apple TV’s $99 annual subscription.

Exclusively for the Canadian Grand Prix, American fans will be able to stream the race on Netflix. It is the first time the streaming platform has broadcast a race live, despite partnering with the sport for several seasons of Formula 1: Drive to Survive.

Netflix will broadcast the Apple TV coverage of the race weekend, including commentary from Alex Jacques and Jolyon Palmer, but will not broadcast the pre- and post-show coverage.

In Australia, fans can watch the Canadian Grand Prix through Kayo or Foxtel. Kayo is a streaming platform that gives subscribers access to more than 50 live sports, including F1 coverage for $29.99 per month. Foxtel is currently offering a significant discount until 18 May 2026, with its packages starting from $69 per month.

Formula 1 will also upload race highlights from the Canadian Grand Prix to its official YouTube channel later on Sunday, following the race.

What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix?

The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix is set to feature mixed weather conditions across the weekend at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, following the challenging conditions seen last time out in Miami, where the race start was brought forward by three hours.

Friday’s sole practice session and Sprint qualifying are both expected to take place in dry conditions, with sunny intervals and a light south-westerly breeze of around 4mph. Temperatures are forecast to peak at 19°C during the afternoon, while the chance of rain currently remains low.

Wet weather is expected to arrive on Saturday, although the Sprint Race itself should still be held in dry and sunny conditions. However, the likelihood of light drizzle is expected to increase ahead of qualifying later in the day. Temperatures will again reach highs of 19°C, with the light wind shifting to an easterly direction.

Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix is currently forecast to be wet, with rain expected throughout the day around Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Temperatures should once again peak at 19°C, while light winds and intermittent showers could create difficult conditions for the race, with a 38% chance of rain during the Grand Prix.

What is the Pirelli tyre allocation for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix?

Pirelli has confirmed it will bring the three softest compounds in its tyre range to Montreal for the first Sprint weekend at the circuit, with teams set to use the C3 Hard, C4 Medium and C5 Soft compounds across the event.

The Canadian Grand Prix takes place at the semi-permanent Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which was resurfaced ahead of the 2024 season. As the venue is used primarily for Formula 1, the track surface tends to evolve rapidly throughout the weekend as more rubber is laid down during each session.

Tyre graining proved to be a key factor during last year’s event, although Pirelli expects the issue to be less severe in 2026 due to the introduction of the new-generation tyres and the improving grip levels as the circuit evolves.

However, the threat of unsettled weather and cooler temperatures than usually seen in Montreal could still have a major impact on race strategy. Teams are expected to closely monitor tyre degradation and track conditions throughout the weekend, with a one-stop strategy currently viewed as a realistic possibility for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Who won the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix?

George Russell claimed his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a commanding lights-to-flag win for Mercedes at the Canadian Grand Prix. Starting from pole position, Russell successfully defended against Max Verstappen into Turn 1 before controlling the race from the front.

Behind him, Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli made an impressive start, overtaking Oscar Piastri through the opening corners to move into third place. The move proved crucial in what became a strategically complex race in Montreal.

The Grand Prix featured a variety of race strategies, with most frontrunners opting for a two-stop approach. That led to a tense finish, with as many as five drivers in contention for victory during the closing stages.

Piastri attempted to recover a podium place late on, but McLaren teammate Lando Norris was rapidly closing in behind. The pair became locked in a fierce battle before contact between the two drivers ended Norris’ race after he ran into the back of Piastri’s car, forcing the Brit to stop at the side of the circuit.

The incident triggered a late Safety Car, allowing Russell to maintain control at the front and lead Verstappen across the finish line, with Antonelli securing third place. The result marked the Mercedes rookie’s maiden Formula 1 podium finish.