The third sprint race of the 2026 F1 season takes place this Saturday in Montreal. Here is the exact start time.
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The Canadian Grand Prix hosts this weekend the third sprint race of the 2026 Formula 1 season. After the successes of George Russell in China and Lando Norris in Miami, it is now the Gilles Villeneuve circuit that is preparing to offer a new short but intense race.
This sprint format, which has become a must-see on the F1 calendar, offers a race of about 23 laps on the Canadian track. The goal for the drivers will be to earn valuable points while avoiding incidents on a circuit that is often unpredictable.
A start set at 12:00 local time in Montreal
The start of the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix sprint race is scheduled for this Saturday at 12:00 local time in Montreal. For European fans, this corresponds to a start at 18:00 French time.
This time difference remains important to consider so as not to miss the action, especially since sprints often offer closer and more lively races than traditional Grands Prix.
With only 23 laps on the program, the sprint race leaves little room for error. Teams will have to find the right balance between aggressiveness and tire management, especially on a circuit like Montreal where the walls do not forgive.
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Unlike classic Grands Prix, car settings cannot be changed between the sprint qualifying and the race, which makes the qualifying session held the day before even more crucial.
Drivers will also have to deal with delicate energy management and often complicated overtaking, despite DRS zones that can favor attacks.
An uncertain hierarchy
After very contested sprint qualifying, Mercedes has established itself as the reference at the moment with George Russell on pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli. McLaren and Ferrari remain in the mix, with very small gaps at the front of the pack.
In this context, the sprint race could well reshuffle the cards before the main qualifying of the Canadian Grand Prix, scheduled later in the weekend.
One thing is certain: the 12:00 start in Montreal will be not to be missed for Formula 1 fans.