Sprint qualifying at Montreal's Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve set for today

Formula 1 begins its Canadian Grand Prix sprint weekend on Friday, May 22, at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, with the format compressed into one practice session followed by sprint qualifying later the same day. Formula1.com’s event schedule lists Free Practice 1 at 12:30 p.m. local time and Sprint Qualifying at 4:30 p.m. local for the third sprint weekend of the 2026 season. The race itself is scheduled for Sunday, May 24, over 70 laps at the 4.361-kilometer circuit, Formula1.com said. The Globe and Mail’s weekend guide lists Sunday’s Grand Prix start at 4 p.m. ET. ### Why is Friday so important in Montreal? Friday’s timetable leaves teams one hour to prepare before parc fermé conditions and sprint qualifying shape the rest of the weekend. Formula1.com said the Canadian Grand Prix is using the sprint format, which means the first competitive session comes only hours after the only practice run. GPFans also described Friday as the start of the sprint weekend at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. (formula1.com) The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve layout adds to that pressure. Formula1.com says the Montreal track is defined by heavy braking zones, quick direction changes and the Wall of Champions at the end of the lap, making setup confidence and track position relevant from the outset. ### What exactly is on the schedule this weekend? Formula1.com’s Canada timetable says Friday, May 22, features FP1 at 12:30 p.m. local and Sprint Qualifying at 4:30 p.m. local. (formula1.com) Saturday then carries the Sprint and the main Qualifying session, before Sunday’s Grand Prix. PlanetF1’s live weekend schedule also lists practice, sprint qualifying, sprint, qualifying and the race across May 22-24. (formula1.com) Sunday’s race start has been widely listed at 4 p.m. ET. The Globe and Mail’s guide to the Montreal weekend gave that start time, and a USA Today Motorsports Wire schedule published this week matched it. ### How much could the weather affect sprint qualifying? (formula1.com) GPFans said weather could play a major role over the Montreal weekend, pointing to changing conditions across the three days. Its forecast for Friday said the early outlook for FP1 and sprint qualifying was favorable, with the main uncertainty building later in the weekend. Formula1.com’s weather report said Friday should be cool and dry, while Sunday could bring rain and wind. (motorsportswire.usatoday.com) Montreal has a long record of weather swings during Grand Prix weekends, and Formula1.com said Canada’s “changeable weather” remained part of the current forecast. That matters more on a sprint weekend because teams have less time to react before competitive running begins. That last point is an inference from the sprint format and session order. (gpfans.com) ### Where can readers verify the official timings? Formula1.com has published both the event timetable and the race hub for the Canadian Grand Prix, including session start times and circuit details. The official results page for sprint qualifying was already live ahead of the session, showing Canada as the next session on the schedule. (formula1.com) The next competitive steps are fixed on the calendar: Sprint Qualifying on Friday, the Sprint and Qualifying on Saturday, and the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, May 24, at 4 p.m. ET in Montreal. (formula1.com)