58 replies to this topic

[Cadence]

This is beyond stupid.

Hope Pirelli come up with a snow compound tire.

https://www.formula1...Dj8Rs9DCRHD.htm

With renewed commitment and collaboration, from the 2026 season, the Grand Prix is set to scheduled on the third or fourth weekend of May each year, with all future Formula 1 calendars subject to confirmation by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council.

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 planneda to remove an additional transatlantic crossing by the F1 community each year - meaning significant associated carbon reductions.

This will coincide with one of the biggest long weekends of the year (Victoria Day) which heralds the unofficial beginning of summer.

It's not unusual for it to snow in Montreal this time of year. Expect temperatures in the single digits and possibly below freezing.

Edited by Cadence, 18 November 2024 - 13:42.

[SophieB]

You know how the teams like to illustrate how the usual car regs don’t apply during testing by saying they how they could even run a snow plough on the front of the car if they liked? Well…

[aportinga]

Page appears to have gone bye bye.

 

How close to the Indy 500 weekend will this be?

[SophieB]

Page appears to have gone bye bye.

 

How close to the Indy 500 weekend will this be?

I think they just moved it, it’s here:

https://www.formula1...Ls6mDj8Rs9DCRHD

[Stephane]

Maybe at the same time

[Risil]

the unofficial beginning of summer [...] Expect temperatures in the single digits and possibly below freezing.

 

Love it

[Anja]

It used to run in October for a while, was that any better than end of May? We've been talking about this move for years in the context of streamlining the F1 logistics - it might be a bit risky but it's pretty much the only realistic way to reduce the transatlantic journeys. 

[Anderis]

It's not unusual for it to snow in Montreal this time of year. Expect temperatures in the single digits and possibly below freezing.

Is this really not an exaggeration?

 

According to wikipedia, record low temperature in Montreal in May is -4.4°C. Mean daily minimumm is 8.3°C and daily mean is 13.9°C. And that's for all of May. Given that the race is supposed to be towards late May, one would think those low temperatures are less likely to be recorded than in early May.

 

By the way, those values are nearly identical to where I live and here it would be a huge anomaly to have winter-like weather in late May.

[jonpollak]

Maybe at the same time

After we finally avoided Monaco!!!
Terrible if true.

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 18 November 2024 - 14:41.

[Stephane]

Joy was short lived

[FLB]

It's not unusual for it to snow in Montreal this time of year. Expect temperatures in the single digits and possibly below freezing.

Montrealer here 

 

 

It hasn't been this way for the past couple of years. They'll sell less beer, that's all.

[Bleu]

I would think it's the same weekend as Indy qualifying with Miami GP on the previous week.

 

So early part of 2026 calendar may look like this assuming all current GPs will stay in the calendar:

8 March Melbourne

15 March Shanghai

29 March Suzuka

5 April Sakhir

12 April Jeddah

26 April Imola

10 May Miami

17 May Montreal

31 May Spain

7 June Monaco

 

Indy 500 on 24 May.

Edited by Bleu, 18 November 2024 - 15:09.

[InSearchOfThe]

Great idea. Why bounce back and forth across the pond?

Cadence, do you attend this race?

[Anja]

 

I would think it's the same weekend as Indy qualifying with Miami GP on the previous week.

 

So early part of 2026 calendar may look like this assuming all current GPs will stay in the calendar:

8 March Melbourne

15 March Shanghai

29 March Suzuka

5 April Sakhir

12 April Jeddah

26 April Imola

10 May Miami

17 May Montreal

31 May Spain

7 June Monaco

 

Indy 500 on 24 May.

 

 

Imola will probably be out - the contract ends next year and the whole point of this exercise is to keep all the European rounds together for easier travel.

Edited by Anja, 18 November 2024 - 15:14.

[sportyskells]

In 2026 Ramadan finishes on march 19th so keep that in mind for when the 2026 dates come out

[Cadence]

Great idea. Why bounce back and forth across the pond?

Cadence, do you attend this race?

I have serval times, but not recently.

[Viryfan]

I would think it's the same weekend as Indy qualifying with Miami GP on the previous week.

So early part of 2026 calendar may look like this assuming all current GPs will stay in the calendar:
8 March Melbourne
15 March Shanghai
29 March Suzuka
5 April Sakhir
12 April Jeddah
26 April Imola
10 May Miami
17 May Montreal
31 May Spain
7 June Monaco

Indy 500 on 24 May.

Madrid race will be at the back end of the european season if i am not wrong.

[Anja]

Madrid race will be at the back end of the european season if i am not wrong.

 

But Barcelona still has a deal until 2026. 

[NewMrMe]

 

I would think it's the same weekend as Indy qualifying with Miami GP on the previous week.

 

So early part of 2026 calendar may look like this assuming all current GPs will stay in the calendar:

8 March Melbourne

15 March Shanghai

29 March Suzuka

5 April Sakhir

12 April Jeddah

26 April Imola

10 May Miami

17 May Montreal

31 May Spain

7 June Monaco

 

Indy 500 on 24 May.

 

 

That could be very close if you remove Imola. Middle eastern races have to work around Ramadan. I checked when it is and in 2026 it is from 28th February to 30th March. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will therefore have to be in April.

[midgrid]

[August]

This will coincide with one of the biggest long weekends of the year (Victoria Day) which heralds the unofficial beginning of summer.

Fortunately no clash with the Indy 500. Both are on Monday but Victoria Day is at latest on May 24, Memorial Day at earliest on May 25.

[Silverstone96]

It’s literally 2-3 weeks earlier than normal, hardly the end of the world.

[LolaB0860]

Yeah it's 100% fine. Montreal is not some arctic winter wonderland in May.

Edited by LolaB0860, 18 November 2024 - 16:37.

[Stephane]

Listening to locals, it may be really cold.

[FLB]

Listening to locals, it may be really cold.

This gives an idea. It's going to be between 12 - 20C.

 

https://world-weathe...treal/may-2016/

[Dan333SP]

It’s literally 2-3 weeks earlier than normal, hardly the end of the world.

 

Yea I'm confused by the reaction here. It's usually the 1st or 2nd weekend of June, now we're talking a couple weeks earlier. I've been to this race ~20 times, it's not like the snow has just finished melting on June 1st. I'm actually happy about the date change, when it's sunny it can be very hot in the stands in June, wouldn't mind cooler air temps. 

 

Edit: Just checked the weather for this past May 26th (final Sunday of the month). Sunny, high temp was 77F/25C, low was 55F/13C. The prior Sunday the 19th was almost identical but with a slightly higher avg temp. Sounds perfect to me! 

Edited by Dan333SP, 18 November 2024 - 17:13.

[LolaB0860]

Even if it was +8 celcius on race day, what does it matter.

 

And plenty of local/regional Canadian motorsport series have already started racing at that point too, many of the circuits are even further up north.

Edited by LolaB0860, 18 November 2024 - 17:17.

[Dan333SP]

I've been there when it's pouring rain and very chilly, the crowd is still huge (2011 comes to mind). They're not going to lose a single fan over this date change. I'll also be thrilled to not have to smell so much body odor on the metro after a long hot day at the track (hopefully). 

 

I bet the restaurants and businesses that get a huge boost from this will like that the boost comes in a bit earlier in the year. 

[pacificquay]

It won't be the same day as Indy - they've said Monaco will be the first Sunday in June and it's very unlikely there won't be a week break between the Miami-Montreal sweep and Monaco

[Beri]

The whole reason that Monaco has changed dates, is partly to ensure F1 doesnt clash with the Indy 500. Which is in my book a good idea. If that means having F1 drivers trying to enter for Indy. So I cant imagine Canada ever getting in the way of Indy.

[404KF2]

Tabarnak !

 

I've not gone to that race since 1998 during the glorious V-10 era. I'll bring the igloo instruction kit next time I go!

[bargeboard]

Thirty or forty years ago the risk of snow would've been a problem. It's much warmer in Canada in May these days than in the past.

[404KF2]

Gilles would have had a field day in the May snow due to his snowmobile experience.

[jonpollak]

Thank you to all who allay my fears here.

Jp

[Anja]

The whole reason that Monaco has changed dates, is partly to ensure F1 doesnt clash with the Indy 500. Which is in my book a good idea. If that means having F1 drivers trying to enter for Indy. So I cant imagine Canada ever getting in the way of Indy.

 

Not gonna happen since you need two weeks off to participate in the Indy practice + qualifying. 

[MikeTekRacing]

Even if it was +8 celcius on race day, what does it matter.

 

And plenty of local/regional Canadian motorsport series have already started racing at that point too, many of the circuits are even further up north.

are other racing series using cars and compounds not designed for this weather?

[Stephane]

The whole reason that Monaco has changed dates, is partly to ensure F1 doesnt clash with the Indy 500. Which is in my book a good idea. If that means having F1 drivers trying to enter for Indy. So I cant imagine Canada ever getting in the way of Indy.

I think it was more to group Miami and Montreal before the European season.

[Ruusperi]

I don't think there will be a big difference. And so what if it's cold and rainy? If I was an F1 overlord, I would have a race calendar that maximizes the chances for wet racing. So, European rounds from March to May and again from September to November, Australian GP in July and so on...

They tried that in 2000 when the British GP was in late April, buy while Friday and Saturday were gloomy, obviouly it was dry and sunny on Sunday.

[GuilhermeMach]

Montrealer here


It hasn't been this way for the past couple of years. They'll sell less beer, that's all.

I have only been living here for two and a half years, so allow me to ask: when was the last time we had snow in late May? With my limited sample of two winters here, it seems almost unthinkable. Late May is already t-shirt weather for me.

[MaxScelerate]

Snow or no snow (we get snow in early may about every few years but not really any later), so snow or no snow I'd expect Montreal to do away with the GP and its expenses when the tax payers can't even be sold the usual "yeah, it costs a whole ****in' lot but it's allllll coming back through festival goers and restaurant/bar terraces". 

[Alfisti]

That'd be my concern, if it's a cold weekend, say under 15 degrees and cloudy, do the terraces still open? 

 

I cannot believe the lack of grief F1 gets promoting itself as eco-responsible yet zig-zagging across the planet for no good reason, they could really chop a chunk of the travel off if they demanded races run at better times. Then you've also got them shipping 10,000 wet tyres zigzagging all over the planet, or whatever the number is, that never get used. 

[LolaB0860]

Then you've also got them shipping 10,000 wet tyres zigzagging all over the planet, or whatever the number is, that never get used.

Intentionally terrible and disposable one-use tires are far worse sustainability crime than that is.

[Beri]

Not gonna happen since you need two weeks off to participate in the Indy practice + qualifying.

 
2017. Alonso. He didnt miss any race, despite him having to go through all the rookie programs AND said 2 weeks that youve mentioned, except the Monaco Grand Prix.

I think it was more to group Miami and Montreal before the European season.

If so, then Ive missed that one. But that would be a wise move.

[loki]

Page appears to have gone bye bye.

 

How close to the Indy 500 weekend will this be?

Same as before.  About 1500 kilometers…

[LolaB0860]

That could be very close if you remove Imola. Middle eastern races have to work around Ramadan. I checked when it is and in 2026 it is from 28th February to 30th March. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will therefore have to be in April.

 

No, that is 2025. In 2026 it ends earlier.

 

Which is why (unfortunately  ) they will probably revert back to Bahrain-Jeddah as season opener in 2026.

 

So sth like

 

22 March Bahrain

28/29 March Jeddah

12 April Melbourne

Edited by LolaB0860, 18 November 2024 - 21:31.

[Wes350]

The whole reason that Monaco has changed dates, is partly to ensure F1 doesnt clash with the Indy 500. Which is in my book a good idea. If that means having F1 drivers trying to enter for Indy. So I cant imagine Canada ever getting in the way of Indy.

 

F1 didn't clash with the Indy 500.

 

You could watch Monaco in the morning, The 500 around noon, and if you were so inclined, Nascar in the afternoon.

[LolaB0860]

Liberty and the FIA don't care rats ass whether Monaco (or any Grand Prix for that matter) clashes with Indianapolis, they just want to have more regionalized calendar.

 

Which even with this change still means going to North America 3 separate instances... but at least it's better than current 4 separate times. Of course this too could be fixed to "only" 2 visits by pairing COTA with Vegas and removing Mexico altogether (once Perez is fired and the event dies out)

Edited by LolaB0860, 18 November 2024 - 21:46.

[FLB]

I have only been living here for two and a half years, so allow me to ask: when was the last time we had snow in late May? With my limited sample of two winters here, it seems almost unthinkable. Late May is already t-shirt weather for me.

More than 30 years ago, IIRC.

[sgtkate]

That'd be my concern, if it's a cold weekend, say under 15 degrees and cloudy, do the terraces still open?

I cannot believe the lack of grief F1 gets promoting itself as eco-responsible yet zig-zagging across the planet for no good reason, they could really chop a chunk of the travel off if they demanded races run at better times. Then you've also got them shipping 10,000 wet tyres zigzagging all over the planet, or whatever the number is, that never get used.

It's so obvious you've never been to the British GP! 15c and rain would be seen as a luxury here. 🤣

[Risil]

Remember those Nurburgring races in early autumn? Briefly reprised in 2020.