Lando Norris fears a real leap into the unknown this Sunday in Montreal, where rain and cold could turn the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix into total chaos.
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For several days, forecasts have predicted rain on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit for the race. And just hours before the start, the threat remains very real with showers expected for much of the afternoon.
The FIA has even officially declared a “rain hazard,” indicating that conditions could become particularly challenging for drivers and teams.
But for Norris, the problem is not limited to just the rain.
“It could be incredibly difficult”
The McLaren driver believes that the very low temperatures forecast for this Sunday could make the new 2026 F1 cars extremely difficult to drive.
“I have no idea. We have never driven in the rain with these cars, Norris explained. I don’t think anyone really knows how difficult it will be to drive. Not necessarily bad… but difficult.”
The Briton, third on the grid behind the two Mercedes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, admits that the entire field is moving almost blindly before this race.
“It could be an incredibly tricky race” he warns.
Tires at the heart of concerns
Like several drivers this weekend, Norris also points out the difficulties in getting the tires to work in cold conditions.
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With temperatures forecast about ten degrees lower than during qualifying, managing wet and intermediate tires could become a nightmare.
“It’s already difficult to get the soft tires up to temperature, so with ten degrees less and wet or intermediate tires…” explains the reigning world champion.
This issue echoes concerns already expressed by Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, and even Pirelli, which recommends using extreme wet tires for the race.
A totally unpredictable race
Under these conditions, the performance gaps observed since the start of the weekend could be completely overturned. The wet setups adopted by several teams during qualifying could also have a major influence.
Between lack of visibility, tires difficult to exploit, new power units delicate in the rain, and freezing temperatures, Montreal could offer one of the most unpredictable races of the 2026 season.
“Yes, I’m excited. Very excited to see how it all unfolds” Norris concludes cautiously.
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