F1 moving Canadian Grand Prix to May to ‘rationalise’ calendar
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Las Vegas will host the finale of the 2025 all-female F1 Academy series.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Formula One announced the Canadian Grand Prix will move from mid-June to May on the 2026 schedule to “rationalise” the circuit’s schedule.
The move is expected to see the Montreal event follow the Miami Grand Prix, while the recently announced extension for the iconic Monaco Grand Prix will shift to the first weekend in June. The changes will eliminate F1 from criss-crossing the Atlantic Ocean as part of its sustainability and cost-efficiency efforts.
In 2024, F1 held nine races in Europe, with the Canadian Grand Prix interrupting the stretch with its June 9 date.
“The move will allow the European leg of the F1 season to be consolidated into one consecutive period over Europe’s summer months and is planned to remove an additional transatlantic crossing by the F1 community each year – meaning significant associated carbon reductions,” F1 said in a statement.
It is a continuation of the sport’s ongoing efforts to improve efficiencies in the schedule.
The Japanese Grand Prix has been moved to the spring to align with other races in the Asia Pacific Region.
The Azerbaijan event was moved to the autumn to better align with Singapore, and Qatar was shifted to before the season-ending Abu Dhabi race.
In other news, Las Vegas will host the finale of the 2025 all-female F1 Academy series after races on three continents, organisers announced on Nov 18.
Las Vegas was one of three new venues listed on the seven-round 14-race 2025 calendar, along with Shanghai as the opener in March and Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Europe will have only one round, at Zandvoort in the Netherlands in late August, while North America has three – Miami in May ahead of Montreal in June and Las Vegas in November.
Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah circuit hosts round two in April and Singapore the penultimate round in October.
“Finishing our season in Las Vegas will be an iconic moment and its addition to the calendar is testament to the wealth of support we receive from Formula One and Liberty Media,” said F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff.
The series, supported by all 10 F1 teams with a nominated driver and liveried cars, uses 1.4 litre-engined Tatuus F4 cars with a top speed of 240kmh and is in its second season.
An F1 Academy docuseries is also set to be released by Netflix, which also films the hit F1 “Drive to Survive” series, in 2025. The 2024 championship ends in Abu Dhabi in December. REUTERS
