MONTREAL — Formula 1 is back at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve this weekend, and Canada isn’t getting a quiet, slow-burn grand prix. Not this time. The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, running from May 22 to May 24, is being held as a Sprint weekend, giving fans competitive track action on both Saturday and Sunday at one of F1’s most unpredictable venues.
The main race is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, at 4:00 p.m. local time in Montreal, which means an early-morning start for viewers in Pakistan: Monday, May 25, at 1:00 a.m. PKT. The race will run over 70 laps, unless it reaches the two-hour race limit first.
| Session | Montreal time | Pakistan time |
|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday, May 22 — 12:30 p.m. | Friday, May 22 — 9:30 p.m. |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday, May 22 — 4:30 p.m. | Saturday, May 23 — 1:30 a.m. |
| Sprint | Saturday, May 23 — 12:00 p.m. | Saturday, May 23 — 9:00 p.m. |
| Grand Prix Qualifying | Saturday, May 23 — 4:00 p.m. | Sunday, May 24 — 1:00 a.m. |
| Race | Sunday, May 24 — 4:00 p.m. | Monday, May 25 — 1:00 a.m. |
The Canadian weekend also features support categories, including Formula 2 and F1 Academy, with F1 Academy races and the F2 Sprint scheduled around Saturday’s F1 Sprint and qualifying programme.
Formula 1’s own F1 TV Pro / F1 TV Premium service is carrying live coverage of every Grand Prix, Sprint, qualifying and practice session in supported territories, with extras such as onboard cameras, team radio, live timing, replays and 4K Ultra HD/HDR coverage where available.
In the UK, Sky Sports F1 has live coverage of the Canadian GP weekend, including the Sprint, qualifying and race build-up. Sky’s published schedule lists Saturday coverage from the Sprint build-up through qualifying and post-session analysis.
In the United States, ESPN’s F1 listings show the Canadian Grand Prix race at 4:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, while 2026 U.S. streaming coverage is also being widely listed through Apple TV’s F1 offering.
For Canada, viewers should check TSN/RDS and local listings. Formula 1’s official broadcast information page advises fans to consult country-specific broadcasters for exact TV coverage details, as session placement can vary.
The weekend has already delivered a proper storyline. George Russell won Saturday’s 23-lap Sprint from pole, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli. It wasn’t just a tidy Mercedes result, though. Antonelli was unhappy after a close fight with Russell, accusing him over team radio of aggressive defending during their lap-six battle. Russell later said he had done nothing wrong, and the incident was not investigated by stewards.
That tension matters because Antonelli came into Montreal as the championship leader, and Russell’s Sprint win cut the gap at the top. So yes, Mercedes may look quick, but the garage atmosphere probably isn’t exactly relaxed.
There was also one of those very Montreal moments in practice: Alex Albon hit a groundhog, damaging his Williams badly enough to miss Sprint Qualifying. Williams had to replace major components, including the gearbox and power unit, after what team boss James Vowles called a freak accident.
Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve rarely gives drivers much room to breathe. The long straights reward power and efficiency, the chicanes punish even small mistakes, and the famous Wall of Champions has ruined plenty of weekends over the years. Add a Sprint format, a Mercedes intra-team fight, McLaren lurking, Ferrari looking for points, and Verstappen starting the weekend outside the sharp end of the Sprint podium — and this race has a bit of edge to it.
For Pakistan-based fans, the timing isn’t forgiving. Qualifying and the race both fall after midnight. But given how the weekend has started, the late night might be worth it.
