Canadian GP agrees to carbon-reducing date change from 2026

Reuters

Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix will take place in May instead of June from 2026, a move aimed at reducing the sport's carbon footprint and aligning the European season into one continuous period.  

In a statement issued on Monday, Formula One confirmed the rescheduling to the third or fourth weekend of May would eliminate an additional transatlantic journey from the current 24-race calendar.  

This year’s race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was held on June 9, following Monaco and preceding Spain, with next year’s event planned for June 15, after Spain and before Austria. Miami’s race, which took place on May 5, is expected to be paired with Canada in the future.  

Montreal’s May temperatures are considerably cooler than June, and the race has not been held earlier than June 2  since 1991.  

The organisers of the Monaco Grand Prix have already agreed to shift their marquee event from late May, where it regularly clashes with the Indianapolis 500, to the first full weekend of June starting in 2026. Other races have also been restructured to create a more geographically logical calendar, reducing the distance travelled by teams and air freight, which is a significant contributor to carbon emissions.  

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali expressed gratitude to Canadian government stakeholders for their collaboration.  

“This adjustment will make our future calendar not only more sustainable but also logistically more practical for our teams and personnel,” he said. “Our commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2030 remains a key priority, and it is through changes like this that we are progressing towards our goal.”  

Jean-Philippe Paradis, CEO of promoter Octane Racing Group, highlighted the sustainability focus of the decision.  

“This change demonstrates our dedication to a more sustainable future for Formula One,” he said. “We are committed to offering our fans, communities, and loyal audience an enhanced experience, while also extending Montreal’s summer season.”  

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