Fred Vasseur has warned that cooler-than-usual temperatures in Montreal could complicate the Canadian Grand Prix, with early forecasts pointing to conditions that may stay below 20 degrees Celsius throughout.
The round in Montreal has moved from its traditional June slot to late May this year as part of Formula 1’s push to regionalise the calendar, grouping North American races to reduce transatlantic crossings.
The consequence is a race held in cooler spring weather, and Ferrari’s team principal believes that will pose a distinct challenge.
“Canada is always a special event, with a great atmosphere in the city and at the track, and we know how much support Ferrari has there, including from the many tifosi with Italian roots,” Vasseur said ahead of the trip to Montreal.
“From a racing point of view, Montreal is never straightforward. The track is demanding on brakes, traction is important out of the slow corners and chicanes, and this year the weather and low temperatures could add another layer of complexity, especially with the sprint format giving us limited preparation time.”
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is already one of the most punishing venues on the calendar for brakes and tyres. Its stop-go layout, with long straights feeding into heavy braking zones, chicanes and the famous hairpin, places enormous thermal stress on the cars.
Cold conditions only amplify those difficulties. When ambient temperatures dip below 20 degrees, F1 tyres struggle to reach their optimal operating window, leading to reduced grip, longer warm-up phases and increased risk of graining.
Making matters worse is the sprint format. Teams will have just a single 60-minute free practice session to gather data and fine-tune their setups before the competitive sessions begin on Friday afternoon.
In changeable conditions, that leaves precious little time to understand how the tyres will behave or how the track surface will evolve.
Tyre management will be a critical factor. The constant braking and acceleration, combined with aggressive use of the kerbs and a track surface that evolves rapidly across a weekend, can all influence degradation. With limited preparation time, any misstep in understanding the tyres could prove costly.
“We will need to be on the ball from the first session, focus on execution and make the most of every opportunity over the weekend,” Vasseur added.
Montreal’s weather has long been one of the great wildcards on the F1 calendar, with conditions capable of switching from dry to wet in a matter of minutes.
Variable weather is again expected this weekend, and should rain arrive on a cold track with little rubber laid down, grip levels could drop significantly, making an already demanding circuit even more treacherous.
