Formula 1 has confirmed the Canadian Grand Prix will move to an earlier date in 2026 in order to reduce the emissions generated by the championship.
The change in date for the round at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal will allow F1 to move it closer to the Miami Grand Prix, and therefore reduce the number of transatlantic crossings required during the season.
Next year’s Canadian Grand Prix will be held on June 15th. From 2026 the race “is planned to be scheduled on the third or fourth weekend of May each year,” said F1 in a statement. The earliest the race has previously been held was June 2nd, in 1991.
The move to an earlier date will mean the race is likely to take place in much cooler conditions. The average temperature in Montreal during May is 13.5C compared to 18.7C in June.
F1’s announcement follows last week’s confirmation of a new date for the Monaco Grand Prix. The race, which previously took place in the last week of May, will move to the beginning of June.
“I am incredibly grateful to the promoter and all of the government stakeholder partners involved in the Canadian Grand Prix, from the local, to the provincial and national government,” said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. “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 and it is thanks to changes like this that we are on track to hitting our goal.”
F1 has already made other changes to its calendar in order to cut the distances its personnel and freight travel each year, which is its largest source of carbon emissions by far. This year the Japanese Grand Prix moved from an autumn date to spring, moving it alongside the Chinese Grand Prix in the schedule.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories – and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
Formula 1
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at RaceFans…