Race Ready: Canada F1 Schedule and Travel Guide

Welcome to the Race Ready for the Canada F1 Grand Prix, taking place in Montreal, from 22-24 May 2026.

We’re here to ensure you have all the information available at your fingertips to enable you to get the most out of your live motorsport experience.

Table of Contents

Canada F1 weekend schedule

FRIDAY 22 MAY

SATURDAY 23 MAY

SUNDAY 24 MAY

Support races at the Canada F1 Grand Prix

Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit Map

Where is the best place to sit at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix?

Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve Track Stats

Where to stay at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix

Getting to the Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve for the Grand Prix

Important Information

Emergencies

Good to Know

Customer Service

FAQs

Canada F1 weekend schedule

A weekend in Montreal is a truly special experience, add in one of the most exciting races on the F1 calendar and you’ve got an authentic experience of a lifetime.

In 2026 Canada will host its first ever Sprint weekend, with qualifying set to take place on Friday and the race on Saturday. View the full schedule below.

FRIDAY 22 MAY

LOCAL TIME (GMT-4) | UK TIME (GMT+1) | SERIES | SESSION
09:00 | 14:00 | F1 ACADEMY | PRACTICE SESSION
10:05 | 15:00 | FORMULA 2 | FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
12:30 | 17:30 | FORMULA 1 | FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
14:00 | 19:00 | FORMULA 2 | QUALIFYING SESSION
16:30 | 21:30 | FORMULA 1 | SPRINT QUALIFYING SESSION
18:00 | 23:00 | F1 ACADEMY | QUALIFYING SESSION

SATURDAY 23 MAY

LOCAL TIME (GMT-4) | UK TIME (GMT+1) | SERIES | SESSION
09:45 | 14:45 | F1 ACADEMY | FIRST RACE
12:00 | 17:00 | FORMULA 1 | SPRINT RACE
14:10 | 19:10 | FORMULA 2 | SPRINT RACE
16:00 | 21:00 | FORMULA 1 | QUALIFYING SESSION
18:05 | 23:05 | F1 ACADEMY | REVERSE GRID RACE

SUNDAY 24 MAY

LOCAL TIME (GMT-4) | UK TIME (GMT+1) | SERIES | SESSION
10:45 | 15:45 | F1 ACADEMY | FEATURE RACE
12:05 | 17:05 | FORMULA 2 | FEATURE RACE
16:00 | 21:00 | FORMULA 1 | CANADIAN GRAND PRIX

Support races at the Canada F1 Grand Prix

Formula 2 and the F1 Academy will be on display in Montreal in 2026. Canada will also host its first ever F1 Sprint weekend in 2026, with the Circuit Gilles Villenueve selected as one of six venues on the calendar to host this racing format across the weekend.

2026 F1 Sprint Races: Everything you need to know

Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit Map

Use our track map to plan your trip as best you can. You can download the image or take a screenshot to have it to hand during the Grand Prix weekend. We also have a guide on how to get to the track in Montreal.

Where is the best place to sit at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix?

It is essential to have your priorities in order when planning your trip to a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Use the map above to help you in your planning.

Use our handy Canada Grandstand Guide to make sure you find the right spot for your Formula 1 trip to Montreal.

Grandstand guide: Where to sit for the Canadian Grand Prix

Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve Track Stats

CIRCUIT DE GILLES-VILLENEUVE | TRACK STATS
FIRST GRAND PRIX | 1978
LAP LENGTH | 4.361 km
LAP RECORD | 1:13.078 Valtteri Bottas (2019)
LAPS | 70
RACE DISTANCE | 305.270km
TURNS | 13

Where to stay at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix

Making the trip to a big city like Montreal for a Grand Prix means that you can enjoy a wealth of accommodation options. Generally, the closer to the centre or the circuit, the higher the price you will pay. You can check out hotels close to the circuit here.

A top tip before booking your accommodation is to plan the journey to the circuit from the place you want to reserve. Use the section below on getting to the circuit to help you do this.

Downtown Montreal is the hub of the city where you will find the shopping district, high-end restaurants and most of the world’s best known hotel chains. It may be a little pricier, but you can be at the track in around 30 minutes on the metro.

Old Montreal is renowned for the towering Notre-Dame Basilica. As the name suggests, this is the most historic part of the city. Popular with tourists all year round, prices here will increase over the race weekend but it does give you the chance to get to know the heart of Montreal while enjoying the Canadian Grand Prix.

You can be at Jean-Drapeau – the metro stop to get to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – in just one stop. If a short commute to the track is your priority, Old Montreal is the neighbourhood for you.

Plateau Mont Royal is a leafier area of the city, where prices will be lower and your stay a more chilled one. This will of course come with a commute of up to an hour on racedays, but that still isn’t bad for a Grand Prix travel time.

Neighbouring Outremont has similar vibes with a youthful student twist. This is trendy neighbourhood is again more affordable than the Downtown but with a lengthier trip to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Getting to the Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve for the Grand Prix

Montreal is a very well-connected and modern city, with efficient infrastructure. This makes it easy for international visitors traveling around the city for the F1 Grand Prix. A taxi from the airport costs a around of $41, and the 747 bus runs 24 hours a day. Once in the city, a slick metro system will make getting to and from the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve simple.

Image: Google Maps

Jean Drapeau is the closest metro stop to the circuit and sits on the yellow line of the Montreal Metro. From there, it takes around 15-30 minutes to reach the track, depending one where you’re sitting.

A single journey costs around $3.50 but we recommend buying a day or weekend pass. More informations on the Montreal Metro fares is available here.

Uber is widely used in Canada, and Montreal is no exception. Alternatively, taxis can be hailed on the street – remember to tip!

Important Information

Emergencies

911 is the general emergency number

Good to Know

The local currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD – $). The exchange rate is around 1 GBP to 1.85 CAD. All goods and services are paid in the local currency.

The official languages are English and French.

Prohibited Items at the Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve.

Customer Service

If you require assistance during the race weekend, feel free to contact our customer service team through the Motorsport Tickets Help Centre.

FAQs

If you have some more queries or would like more information, head over to our FAQs section.

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