F1 Practice Today: Canadian Grand Prix 2026 Schedule, Start Times… read more 👇
The 2026 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix weekend officially begins today, Friday, May 22, as teams and drivers head to the famous for another exciting sprint race weekend. Fans around the world are preparing for a packed schedule in Montreal, with the only practice session of the event taking place before sprint qualifying later in the day.
Following the action-packed Miami sprint weekend earlier this month, Formula 1 returns with another shortened race format that leaves teams with very limited preparation time. Unlike a traditional race weekend that includes three practice sessions, drivers will only have one hour of practice in Canada before competitive sessions begin. This puts extra pressure on engineers and drivers to quickly understand the track conditions and fine-tune their cars.
The spotlight heading into the weekend remains firmly on , who have completely dominated the 2026 season so far. The Silver Arrows have won every grand prix this year and currently lead both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. Their impressive form has been powered by and teenage sensation .
Antonelli continues to surprise the F1 world after securing his third straight victory in Miami. At just 19 years old, the Italian driver now leads the championship standings and holds a 20-point advantage over Russell. His calm performances and consistency have turned him into a genuine title contender, while Mercedes appear stronger than ever heading into Canada.
Russell, however, will be determined to fight back this weekend after losing ground in the championship battle. The British driver remains one of the fastest competitors on the grid and will hope Montreal provides the perfect opportunity to close the gap to his younger team-mate. Mercedes are also expected to introduce their first major upgrade package of the season during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, which could make them even more difficult to beat.
Despite Mercedes’ dominance, rival teams are beginning to show signs of improvement. displayed encouraging pace during the Miami weekend and are hoping their latest developments can help them challenge for victories once again. are also aiming to return to the front after a difficult start to the new regulations era.
Fans will be eager to see whether Mercedes can continue their winning streak or if McLaren and Red Bull can finally reduce the gap during the sprint weekend in Montreal. With limited practice time available, every lap will be crucial for teams trying to maximize performance before sprint qualifying begins later in the evening.
The single practice session, FP1, starts on Friday, May 22, at 12:30 PM local time in Montreal, which is 5:30 PM BST for viewers in the United Kingdom. Unlike the extended 90-minute practice session seen in Miami after the long spring break, this weekend returns to the usual sprint format with only a standard one-hour session.
Later on Friday, sprint qualifying will take place at 4:30 PM local time, or 9:30 PM BST, setting the grid for Saturday’s sprint race. The quick turnaround between sessions means teams must gather as much information as possible during practice because there will be very little time to make major setup changes afterward.
Away from the track action, Formula 1 fans can also take advantage of special merchandise discounts during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. The official F1 Store is currently offering 25 percent off selected products until Monday, May 25, using the promo code CANADA25. Additional discounts are also available through various racing outlets for supporters looking to purchase team gear ahead of the race weekend.
With championship battles intensifying and teams introducing fresh upgrades, anticipation is building for what could become one of the most important weekends of the 2026 Formula 1 season.