PREVIEW: Debuting in Montreal for Round 3

After the thrilling weekend in Miami, FIA Formula 2 heads north for another brand-new event, this time from the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.

Once again, the teams and drivers face a circuit that nobody has raced at before, and if the last weekend on American soil is anything to go by, you won’t want to miss a moment.

Here’s all you need to know for Round 3 of the 2026 season.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Track time will be pivotal this weekend and the drivers will get out onto the circuit for the first time in Free Practice, scheduled for 10:05 local time on Friday.

Qualifying follows later, with the green light at the end of the pitlane set for 14:00 in Montreal.

The opening race of the weekend takes place on Saturday, with the Sprint Race scheduled to get underway at 14:10 local time.

Sunday’s Feature Race brings Round 3 to a close and promises to serve up non-stop action, beginning at 12:05 in Canada.

Pirelli has allocated the red-marked Soft and purple Supersoft compounds for this weekend.

STAT PACK

• The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve runs to a total of 4.361Km, features four DRS zones and is built on a man-made island

• The ‘Wall of Champions’ is situated on the exit of the final corner and has caught out plenty of big names in Formula 1 history

• Four drivers have claimed a podium at each round this season: Nikola Tsolov, Rafael Câmara, Laurens van Hoepen and Alexander Dunne

FROM THE GRID – Alexander Dunne, Rodin Motorsport

“It looks like quite a cool track, very bumpy and technical, getting the car in the right window will be very important with the limited mileage we have. I think T10 can be a good spot for overtaking, there’s a new DRS zone just before which has been added for this year which should make things more interesting.

“The general bumpiness and curb usage needed will be tricky, F2 cars are very stiff so they’re not always the most compliant with those sorts of things. Canada is a new venue for us so I am excited for the challenge of mastering a new track."

TECHNICAL PREVIEW

Pierre-Alain Michot, FIA Formula 2 Technical Director

“The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is another new challenge for every team and driver to take on and has historically provided entertaining racing in other categories.

“The four DRS straights offer plenty of overtaking opportunities, with the braking zone into the final chicane theoretically the best place to make a pass.

“Montreal has a flowing layout in the first and second sector, before the long run from Turn 11 to Turn 13 where drivers face the heaviest braking zone of the lap.”

PIRELLI PREVIEW

The Formula 2 championship heads to a circuit it has never raced on before once again. After the Miami round, this week it is Montreal’s turn. It is a semi-permanent circuit built on the banks of the St Lawrence River, with a so-called “stop-and-go” layout that demands strong braking stability and high traction efficiency. The compounds selected for this Canadian round are the two softest in the range. In Sunday’s Feature Race, the theoretically quickest strategy should be based on a Soft–Supersoft combination. One of the most likely variables on this street circuit is neutralisations. The reduced time loss in the pit lane could prove advantageous both for those able to extend the stint on the Soft tyre while waiting for a safety car, and for those who choose to line up on the grid from the outset on the purple-walled tyres, hoping for an early neutralisation. In this context, graining, often seen at Montreal, and the weather, which frequently delivers a wet weekend, could also play a significant role.