Formula 1 returns to Montreal this weekend for another edition of the Canadian Grand Prix. Here are our top five storylines heading into the race.
Can sprint weekend shake things up?
Montreal is hosting a sprint race for the first time, which means there will be competitive sessions Friday through Sunday. If this sprint weekend follows the trend of the other two this year, unpredictability will be in the cards. So far, no driver has won both the shortened race and grand prix this season.
The volatility and fine margin for error that comes with the sprint could be the perfect ingredient for a Canadian GP that has served up its fair share of surprises. Last year, Lando Norris crashed into Oscar Piastri to end an 11-race podium streak for McLaren. George Russell and Max Verstappen set the exact same lap time for pole in 2024 - the first time that's happened since 1997. Nico Hulkenberg qualified second in a Haas in 2023 before a grid penalty ruined that result. In 2022, Fernando Alonso started on the front row in an Alpine. And who can forget about Sebastian Vettel's controversial time penalty ruining his grand prix victory in 2019? This Canadian GP is set to be anything but a straightforward weekend.
Get ready for Mercedes' upgrades
McLaren, Ferrari, and even Red Bull put pressure on Mercedes in Miami after the Silver Arrows brought considerably fewer upgrades than their rivals. Although Mercedes still managed to escape with a victory, it gets a chance to punch back in Montreal.
Mercedes is expected to bring a bigger upgrade package to Canada after delivering only two updates last time. If the new updates deliver, it could signal a return to form for the German outfit and reestablish the team's dominance in the pecking order. The outcome of the Canadian GP will reveal whether Mercedes is being hunted down or if Miami was a missed opportunity by others to capitalize on a rare weakness.
Do rule changes impact Verstappen's future?
Will he stay or will he go? The paddock's favorite game when it comes to Verstappen may have a chance to be put to rest. F1 and the FIA have begun ushering in significant changes to the regulations that could sway the Dutch driver's feelings about his long-term future in the sport.
F1 recently agreed to slightly increase the power of the internal combustion engine in 2027 while reducing electrical output. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem also said in Miami that V8 engines could return in 2030 or 2031. That should all be music to Verstappen's ears as the four-time champion previously teased that he could leave F1 earlier than expected due to his dislike for the new cars. The Red Bull pilot will surely be asked in Montreal about his thoughts on the changes, and how the always-honest Verstappen responds will likely reveal if he's interested in what the sport's offering.
Is Montreal the start of Russell's turnaround?
All drivers have tracks they love. While Miami definitely isn't on Russell's list of favorites, the Gilles Villeneuve circuit certainly is. The Mercedes veteran claimed pole in each of the last two seasons in Canada, and he won last year's race. His comfort level navigating the Montreal street track bodes well for a rebound weekend.
That's not to say it'll be easy. Kimi Antonelli, his teammate and the championship leader, has also done well in Canada, grabbing his maiden podium in Montreal in 2025. However, Russell has put on his best display in Canada recently, and that form has been enough to beat his 19-year-old teammate in the past. If Russell wants to start eating into the 20-point deficit to his teammate, he won't get a better opportunity to jumpstart his comeback than the Canadian GP.
Can Ferrari or McLaren exorcise Montreal demons?
Canada has been a stomping ground for Red Bull and Mercedes, with Verstappen claiming three straight victories from 2022-24 and Russell winning last year. Meanwhile, neither McLaren nor Ferrari has scored much success there, barring the odd podium. The Scuderia's 2018 victory in Montreal is their only win at the circuit since 2004, and the Papaya team hasn't won in Canada since 2012. It's too soon to say whether Mercedes is as beatable as it looked in Miami or if Red Bull's uptick in pace is legitimate, but those factors could open the door for Ferrari or McLaren to reverse their Montreal misfortunes.
Daniel Valente is theScore's lead Formula 1 writer. Daniel has covered the sport for multiple years, conducting analysis and interviewing key figures inside the paddock. His expertise is breaking down data and discovering unique stats. Follow Daniel on X at @F1GuyDan.
