Canadian GP date moved to reduce carbon emissions

The Canadian Grand Prix will be held in late May rather than early June from 2026 as part of Formula 1’s attempts to reduce carbon emissions.

The move allows the Montreal event to be run straight after the Miami Grand Prix, which avoids freight being sent back and forth across the Atlantic.

Montreal will now be held on the third or fourth weekend of May each year, a statement from Formula 1 said.

Since Miami made its debut in 2022, there have been a number of races in Europe between it and Canada.

F1 president and chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali said: “We applaud the tremendous effort from all involved to accelerate the temporary build of the event, to be ready to host the Formula 1 community earlier than in the past.

“The change will make the future flow of our calendar not only more sustainable, but logistically more sensible for our teams and personnel.

“Our Net Zero by 2030 commitment continues to be a priority for us as a sport.”

Canadian organisers, whose contract runs until 2031, had in the past been reluctant to move their date, arguing that they needed the extra time to prepare the track and environs after the long Quebec winter.

The event also coincided with a wider celebration of the beginning of summer in the city.

But a new promoter, which took over this year, has backed the change.

F1 has also had concerns over organisational problems that have emerged in recent years. There have been growing concerns that Montreal was falling behind the times in terms of organisation and facilities.

F1 demanded changes following a series of logistical issues at this year’s event, including traffic management.

Jean-Philippe Paradis, chief executive officer of Montreal race organisers the Octane Racing Group, said: “This change in the schedule is a major step in our commitment, as well as Formula 1’s, toward a more sustainable future.”

Canada’s change of date is the latest in a series of steps made by F1 to rationalise the race calendar with the aim of greater sustainability.

These have included moving the Japanese Grand Prix from October to April so it can be at a similar time of year to Australia and China, switching the Azerbaijan event to the end of the European season before Singapore, and moving Qatar so it is twinned with Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.