Good news, race fans: it’s race week. This week, Formula 1 heads to Montreal for the F1 Canadian Grand Prix, which marks the second race since Formula 1’s month-long break following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid the Iranian conflict. Despite it still being early in the season, there are already plenty of storylines to watch heading into this week’s F1 Canadian Grand Prix.
Mercedes Upgrade Package
Mercedes has been the dominant team from the very start. As a matter of fact, Mercedes has won every Grand Prix so far this season. However, rival teams McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari all brought major upgrade packages for Miami, and Mercedes did not. Although McLaren appeared to have the faster car in Miami, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli still managed to take victory on Sunday.
While Mercedes didn’t bring an upgrade package in Miami, they are bringing a major upgrade package to the F1 Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. It will be interesting to see if the upgrades reassert Mercedes as the top team, or if rival teams truly have closed down the gap from the start of the season.
McLaren Back on the Rise
Arguably the biggest shock coming back from the month-long break was the upgrade package that McLaren brought. While Ferrari and Red Bull certainly brought powerful upgrades, it was McLaren that posed a legitimate threat to Mercedes in Miami. Lando Norris ended up winning the sprint race and finished just 3.2 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli for the main race.
With Mercedes bringing their upgrade package in Canada, it remains to be seen if McLaren will be able to continue to fight for wins as they did in Miami. Just like Mercedes, McLaren is also bringing additional upgrades for Montreal, setting up another intriguing battle at the front.
Tricky Weather Conditions
The F1 Canadian Grand Prix is notorious for unpredictable weather conditions. It looks like this year’s Canadian Grand Prix will be no different, with rain expected during the race on Sunday. You can find the full weather forecast below:
- Friday (FP1, Sprint Qualifying): Sunny, high of 68 degrees
- Saturday (Sprint Race, Qualifying): Cloudy, high of 70 degrees
- Sunday (Race): Rain from 8:30am to 7:30pm, high of 58 degrees
Colapinto on the Rise
Colapinto has taken a major step forward compared to last year. After failing to score last season, Colapinto already has seven points in 2026.
While Colapinto is nine points behind his teammate, Pierre Gasly (16 points), Colapinto’s stunning 7th place finish in Miami was one of the first times we saw Colapinto shine on the grid. Look out for the Argentine driver to keep up the pace in Canada and beyond.
Russell’s Redemption
It’s no secret that Russell hasn’t been performing nearly as strongly as he would’ve liked since he won the season-opener in Australia. Since Australia, Russell lost the following three races to his teammate, Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli has also out-qualified Russell in the last three races. Russell will look to get back into rhythm in Canada, a race where he previously won just last year.
Final Thoughts
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has historically produced chaotic and unpredictable races. With major upgrades, unpredictable weather, and several drivers looking to build momentum, this year’s Canadian Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most interesting races of the Formula 1 season so far.
The sprint race will take place at 4:00pm on Saturday, with the main race taking place at 4:00pm on Sunday.
