After a six-week gap with only one race, Formula 1 returns to a more regular schedule this weekend in Montreal. The drivers’ championship has so far revolved around the Mercedes duo — can that dynamic change at the Canadian Grand Prix? Here are five key talking points to watch.
Will Russell hit back?
Pre-season forecasts suggested George Russell would dominate the 2026 championship in a commanding Mercedes. While Mercedes have delivered a competitive W17, Russell trails his younger team mate in victories after four rounds, with the rookie holding a three-to-one advantage in wins and a 20-point lead in the standings.
If Antonelli extends his streak to four straight wins this weekend, he could leave Canada with a buffer that exceeds a single race victory — a useful psychological cushion. It would be excessive to label Montreal a do-or-die event for Russell this early in the year: there are still hundreds of points available across the season. Nonetheless, the circuit will be an important test of Russell’s ability to respond.
Russell won in Montreal from pole last year and has previously identified circuits of the “Montreal style” as ones that suit him. He has also encountered misfortune this season — mechanical problems in qualifying in China and an untimely Safety Car in Japan — yet he has lost ground after restarts and made errors that have cost him results. If he is to challenge for the title, Russell must convert Mercedes’ clear pace into more consistent race outcomes.
Can Mercedes pull further ahead?
Mercedes were the only one of the leading teams not to bring a major upgrade package to Miami. They still took victory, though McLaren applied heavy pressure and won the sprint race. This weekend Mercedes will introduce upgrades, but so will several rivals, notably McLaren. The team that set the early benchmark in 2026 will be hoping to widen its advantage, while its customer squad could soon close the gap.
Red Bull also looked improved after bringing a new package to Miami. A rare Sunday error from Max Verstappen and a penalty for Isack Hadjar masked some of the gains the RB22 showed, and Hadjar appeared less at ease in his upgraded car than his team mate. Ferrari’s position inside the leading quartet is less clear: they started the season strongly but looked unsettled after their Miami upgrade — whether that was a temporary dip or the start of a slide remains to be seen.
Has F1 got its 2027 engine rules right?
Late on the Friday after the Miami Grand Prix, Formula 1 revealed changes to the planned 2027 engine regulations. After years of promoting new power units designed to split power evenly between combustion and battery systems, the FIA announced it will abandon the 50/50 power split for 2027.
The decision to revise the 2026 power unit package so soon after its introduction is significant. Despite earlier insistence that the new regulations were delivering strong racing, this rapid reappraisal suggests the initial concept did not meet expectations. That such sweeping change is being implemented after only a few rounds raises questions about the planning and consultation that shaped the rules in the first place.
Stroll on for another decade?
Lance Stroll had been due to celebrate his 200th Formula 1 race at his home event, but cancellations early in the season postponed that milestone. Now in his tenth season, Stroll’s place on the grid remains unique: none of his rivals reached F1 because their father owns the team. His career has had highs, but 2026 looks set to be one of his most disappointing seasons, especially given the expectations around the Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin-Honda AMR26.
Teammate Fernando Alonso faces constant questions about how long he will stay in the sport as he approaches his mid-forties, but a parallel question surrounds Stroll — who has been out-qualified by Alonso consistently. Stroll has been vocal in his criticism of the 2026 cars, saying he finds recent machinery less enjoyable to drive and even calling Formula 3 cars more fun. After a season like this, it’s reasonable to wonder whether he intends to continue racing in F1 for another decade.
First wet race for the new rules?
Early forecasts for the Canadian Grand Prix pointed to a high chance of rain, though the probability has eased slightly as the weekend approaches. There is still a roughly 50% chance of light rain for several hours on race day, which could make Montreal the first real wet-weather test for the 2026 cars.
The new cars have already proved challenging in dry conditions — Miami highlighted that — so any drizzle or changing grip levels in Montreal could produce lively, unpredictable action. If rain arrives, expect strategy swings, dramatic tyre choices and intense wheel-to-wheel racing as drivers adapt to the unfamiliar behaviour of the latest generation of F1 cars.
Are you going to the Canadian Grand Prix?
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