The Lenovo Grand Prix du Canada brings to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a 4.361-kilometer, 14-turn monitor that runs 70 laps round Montreal’s Ile Notre-Dame. The format has lengthy rewarded drivers who can brake late, assault chicanes, trip curbs with out unsettling the automobile, and keep exact close to the partitions.
Current winners match that profile: gained three straight Canadian Grands Prix from 2022 to 2024, gained from pole in 2025, and stays tied with Michael Schumacher for the occasion file with seven wins.
Commercial
The 2026 guidelines make this race much less of a straight comparability to previous Montreal outcomes. Straight Mode replaces the outdated DRS-style framework, and Canada has three designated Straight Mode zones, whereas Overtake Mode prompts out of the ultimate chicane onto the beginning/end straight. The current regulation refinements additionally modified power administration, capped race increase at +150 kW, and restricted MGU-Ok deployment exterior key acceleration zones.
That ought to put additional weight on traction out of gradual corners, braking stability, power use down lengthy straights, and the way nicely groups handle cooling on one of many season’s heavier braking tracks.
Observe, Dash, Qualifying and Climate
Kimi Antonelli led the lone observe session, with George Russell second and Lewis Hamilton third, giving Mercedes the strongest early learn at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Russell carried that tempo into Saturday, profitable the Dash forward of and Antonelli, whereas , and Hamilton adopted within the high six.
Commercial
Qualifying saved Mercedes on the entrance. Russell took pole with a 1:12.578 time, beating Antonelli by 0.068 seconds after a little bit of Mercedes-on-Mercedes controversy throughout the Dash. Norris certified third, Piastri fourth and Hamilton fifth, whereas Max Verstappen begins sixth after struggling to match the Mercedes and McLaren tempo.
Climate may nonetheless have an effect on Sunday’s race. The 4 p.m. ET begin at present seems to be cool and cloudy, with temperatures round 51 levels, however showers are forecasted for later within the race window. That retains wet-weather technique, tire warmup, and security automobile threat in play, particularly if rain arrives after groups decide to their opening race plan.
Principal Race Beginning Grid
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Workforce
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce
Alexander Albon, Williams
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
Commercial
David Kirouac-Imagn Pictures
Greatest Bets for the 2026 F1 Canadian GP
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are topic to vary. DraftKings doesn’t sponsor this content material.
George Russell Race Winner (+135)
Regardless of the dust-up throughout the Dash, Russell was sturdy within the prerace classes, and his main competitors might be Antonelli with the best way every little thing is shaping up for Montreal. Between his kind this week and racing historical past right here, he earns the good thing about the doubt. Final yr, Russell gained from pole place and raced to a third-place lead to 2024 off pole, so he has a powerful current file to go on.
Commercial
Successful Workforce: Mercedes (-300)
That is about as near straightforward cash as you may discover among the many Montreal wagers, with a Mercedes win seemingly a lock. In fact, nothing is a assure, however that is shut. It might not be an enormous payout, however cash is cash!
Double-Podium End: Mercedes (-150)
Very like the earlier wager, it is tough to go fallacious betting on two of the three podium spots going to probably the most dominant workforce within the area, which occurs to be beginning atop the grid.
Commercial
Quickest Lap: Kimi Antonelli (+260)
Whereas the workforce could make the decision for Antonelli to take a again seat to Russell when it comes to profitable the race, that does not imply he will not race arduous or that his setup cannot publish the quickest lap. Antonelli led the observe session at 1:13.402, and Russell topped him by simply 0.068s in qualifying. There’s somewhat added incentive to push his teammate after the Dash shenanigans, too.
Successful Margin: Below 6 Seconds (-125)
Within the final 10 races right here, the profitable separation was 5.702 seconds, however solely three of the margins have been larger than the six-second mark. For the reason that two skipped pandemic races, we’ve a profitable margin of greater than 3.879s simply as soon as in 4 runs. Moist climate may complicate this guess.
Commercial
This story was initially printed by on Could 24, 2026, the place it first appeared within the part. Add Athlon Sports activities as a
