(Motorsport-Total.com) – Formula 1 returns this weekend with the fifth race of the season: the Canadian Grand Prix. For the third time this season, the sprint format is on the agenda. The sprint qualifying takes place late Friday afternoon, with the sprint race already on early Saturday afternoon.
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This makes the only Free Practice session even more important, as the teams have significantly less time to prepare. Compared to Miami, where an additional 30 minutes of practice time was available, Montreal returns to the classic format: only 60 minutes of Free Practice on Friday. Preparation in the simulator and in the factory thus gains great importance again.
However, this Friday could be deceptive. According to the current weather forecasts, dry weather is predicted for the start of the weekend. Both the first Free Practice and the sprint qualifying are expected to take place on a dry track. From Saturday, however, the situation is expected to change drastically.
Rain is expected on Saturday and Sunday, both for the sprint race, the qualifying, and the Grand Prix. If this forecast is confirmed, it would further complicate an already complex sprint weekend, as the teams have little time to optimally adjust under real conditions.
A possible advantage arises for those teams that have already conducted tire tests with the upcoming Pirelli compounds on wet tracks. These tests were actually intended for the development of tires for the next season but simultaneously provided valuable experience in handling wet tires, especially in warming them up and working within the optimal temperature window.
These teams include Ferrari, Red Bull, Alpine, and Racing Bulls, who conducted corresponding test drives among others in Fiorano, Suzuka, and Magny-Cours. Tim Goss, Technical Director at Racing Bulls, explains: “The likelihood of rain on Saturday and Sunday brings a new variable.”
“We have a slight advantage in this area because in a Pirelli test session after Japan, we tested both wet tires and intermediates. We will use this knowledge about warming up the tires and the setup to our advantage.”
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur also emphasizes: “The weather and low temperatures could add an additional layer of complexity this year, especially with the sprint format, which leaves us little time to prepare.”
Thus, teams with more experience on wet tracks could have better reference values than competitors who have not yet accumulated these test kilometers.
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New aerodynamic reality in Montreal
Even though rain is considered likely, preparation for dry conditions remains crucial. Should the weather change, simulator work and the first Free Practice will again play a central role.
Traditionally, teams in Montreal have relied on very low downforce levels due to the long straights. This year, however, this is expected to change. With the introduction of active aerodynamics in the so-called “Straight Mode,” drag on the straights is significantly reduced. This allows teams to run with considerably more downforce while still achieving sufficient top speed.
This is particularly relevant for Montreal, as the circuit features many medium-speed and slow corners where aerodynamic downforce is crucial for lap time.
“The long straights of the track have traditionally led teams to choose a rear wing configuration with low downforce to reduce drag and maximize top speed,” confirms Goss.
“With the regulation changes for 2026, the use of active aerodynamics in ‘Straight Mode’ will significantly reduce drag, so we will maintain a standard level on the rear wing,” the Technical Director continues.
This development simplifies some aerodynamic decisions but simultaneously creates new challenges in other areas, especially regarding the chassis and the use of power unit energy. Additionally, it is expected that almost all teams will bring technical updates.
Many have developed new packages specifically for tracks like the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Especially the current frontrunner Mercedes is bringing an extensive upgrade package, while the other teams are also making targeted improvements to be prepared for all eventualities.
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