Which Sunday morning includes an F1 race in 2026? With a sport that hops time zones every seven days, figuring out how to watch Formula 1 in Canada feels like its own kind of race.
F1 Canadian fans currently have more legitimate ways to watch F1 than ever before, between TSN's broadcast rights, F1's own streaming platform, and the annual home race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. This guide breaks down exactly where to watch, what it costs, and how to plan your weekends to watch F1.
| Option | Live Races | Practice/Qualifying | On-Demand Replays | Extra Features | Device Support | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F1 TV Pro | Yes, all races | Yes - full sessions live | Yes, full archive | Onboard cameras, live team radio, telemetry, multi-view | Smart TVs, mobile, tablet, web, select 4K devices | Fans who want the deepest F1-only experience |
| TSN (Cable/Satellite) | Yes, all races | Yes | Limited, via on-demand where offered | Canadian commentary, integrated with other sports | TV, and TSN app if bundled | Viewers who already have a TSN-inclusive TV package |
| TSN App / TSN Direct (streaming) | Yes, all races | Yes | Limited, via on-demand where offered | Same Canadian broadcast, no cable box needed | Mobile, tablet, smart TV, web | Cord-cutters who want Canadian commentary without cable |
How To Watch F1 In Canada
F1 TV In Canada
Canadian TV Broadcasters And Sports Networks
In Canada, F1's domestic broadcast rights are held by TSN (Bell Media), which airs races, qualifying, and practice sessions with Canadian commentary across its TSN 1-5 channels. Availability depends on your cable package (if you still have one, or if you go to a bar, it's likely the option they have); most mid-tier sports bundles that include TSN carry F1.
Still, it's worth checking your provider's channel guide ahead of a race weekend, since practice sessions, in particular, don't always have the same channel placement as the race itself.
In Canada, F1 French-language coverage runs on RDS, TSN's sister network under Bell Media.
Streaming Options For Cord-Cutters
TSN's direct-to-consumer streaming service (accessible through the TSN app and TSN.ca) carries the same live F1 coverage as the cable channels, without needing a traditional TV subscription. You'll need to create a TSN account and log in through the app or website; some content also requires you to verify that you're accessing it from within Canada. F1 TV doesn't require any cable or provider login at all: just a direct subscription through F1's platform.
How To Watch F1 On Race Weekend
A typical Grand Prix weekend runs Friday through Sunday. On a standard weekend, that means two practice sessions on Friday, a third practice and qualifying on Saturday, and the race itself on Sunday.
Sprint weekends compress this: a single practice session on Friday, Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint race on Saturday, then qualifying for the main Grand Prix later Saturday and the race on Sunday.
Not usually. The 2026 Canadian Grand Prix was held at the end of May at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, marking the first Sprint weekend in the event's history. Friday 22nd carried a single practice session followed by Sprint Qualifying, and Saturday combined the Sprint race with qualifying for Sunday's main event. Sunday's Grand Prix itself was run as usual: a standard full-length championship race, just like any non-Sprint round.
What Channel Is F1 On In Canada?
How To Find The Current Channel to Watch F1 in Canada
There's no single fixed "F1 channel" in Canada. As mentioned, coverage spans TSN's five linear channels (TSN1 through TSN5), and the channel carrying a given session can change week to week. A quick way to confirm before race day:
- Check TSN.ca or Formula1.com for that week's channel and start time
- Search your provider's guide a day or two ahead since listings sometimes update late.
- Convert the listed time to your time zone (Montreal sessions run in Eastern Time, but races hosted abroad may air at very unusual hours).
- Check whether your package includes the pre-race build-up and post-race analysis or just the live session itself, as some platforms offer only the bare minimum.
Channel assignments shift mainly because TSN is running several live sports at once. F1 sessions get slotted around whatever else is happening, whether that's the NHL, NBA, or golf, and broadcast rights or regional packaging can further affect things. Practice sessions are most likely to end up streaming online-only rather than getting a linear channel slot.
Formula 1 Montreal Schedule And Dates
When Is Formula 1 In Montreal?
With the date varying over the years between the end of May and June, the main F1 Race in Canada was held in 2026 from the 22nd - 24th of May. Formula 1 moved the race from its traditional mid-June slot to the end of May, as part of a wider calendar rationalization that also shifted the Monaco Grand Prix to the first weekend of June.
Fans must always check the official F1 calendar on Formula1.com for the confirmed date closest to the start of the season, since scheduling can still be adjusted year to year.
The history of the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal
The F1 Canadian Grand Prix has been held in the country since 1967. Though its inaugural race took place at Mosport Park in Ontario, and it was also held at Mont-Tremblant, since 1978 the race has been held in Montreal at the current Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
The Gilles Villeneuve circuit is built on the artificial Île Notre-Dame in the St. Lawrence River; originally named Circuit Île Notre-Dame, it was renamed four years later, in 1982, in honour of Quebec-born driver Gilles Villeneuve, who won the inaugural race and died that year during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.
His son, Jacques Villeneuve, went on to become Canada's only Formula 1 World Champion in 1997, and Montreal-born Lance Stroll, racing for the Aston Martin team owned by his father, remains the country's current driver on the grid.
What is the Wall of Champions in the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve?
The Wall of Champions is the outside concrete wall at the exit of Turn 13/14, the final chicane before the start/finish straight at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. It earned its nickname during the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix, when three title-winning drivers, Schumacher, Damon Hill, and Jacques Villeneuve, all crashed into it at that exact spot within the same race weekend, alongside non-champions Ralf Schumacher and Ricardo Zonta.
The corner is treacherous because drivers brake hard from over 300 km/h into a tight chicane with almost no run-off, so even a small misjudgment sends the car straight into the barrier. Its reputation has held up since: Jenson Button crashed there in 2005, and reigning champion Sebastian Vettel (who would go on to win four world titles), hit the wall during practice for the 2011 race. Max Verstappen has called it one of the most important corners to get right on the entire lap.
Montreal F1 Dates By Season
| Year | Canadian Grand Prix | Dates | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Formula 1 AWS Grand Prix du Canada | June 17-19, 2022 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC | Attendance of roughly 338,000 across the weekend |
| 2023 | Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada | June 16-18, 2023 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC | Race weekend proceeded despite nearby wildfire smoke concerns |
| 2024 | Formula 1 AWS Grand Prix du Canada | June 7-9, 2024 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC | Rain at the start of the race, drying later |
| 2025 | Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada | June 13-15, 2025 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC | 54th running of the Canadian GP as an F1 World Championship round |
| 2026 | Formula 1 Lenovo Grand Prix du Canada | May 22-24, 2026 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC | First Canadian GP held in May and first held as a Sprint weekend; attendance of roughly 360,000 |
| 2027 | Canadian Grand Prix (exact dates TBC) | Expected late May 2027 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, QC |
Montreal Grand Prix Weekend Sessions
In 2026, the Canadian Grand Prix held a Sprint weekend, which restructured the usual schedule: Friday the 22nd, a single free practice session (FP1) was followed by Sprint Qualifying, which set the grid for Saturday's Sprint race. On Saturday, the Sprint race was followed by qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix later in the day; not every season keeps the Sprint format, as F1 rotates which events get Sprint weekends each year, so it's worth confirming the format for the next Montreal race on the official calendar.
Time Zone of F1 For Canadian Viewers
With more than 20 race weekends during the year to see some of the greatest masterpieces of motorsports, fans must take into account that F1 races rotate across continents. In Canada, start times can range from early morning to late night depending on where you live; fans should always convert the listed time to their local time zone since not every round runs at the same local hour.
How Much Are F1 Tickets In Montreal?
Ticket Price Ranges
Official 2026 pricing for three-day grandstand tickets at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, sold through the race's official promoter, ranged from around $630 CAD for lower-tier grandstands up to roughly $1,580 CAD for the top Platine grandstand, with premium hospitality and suite packages running well above $2,000 CAD.
- 🎟️ General admission tickets, which offer standing-room access rather than reserved seating, are typically the most affordable entry point.
- 🏁 According to independent trip-cost estimates, Canada actually ranked as the twelfth-cheapest Grand Prix to attend in 2026 among all races on the calendar. It was more affordable than many European rounds, though still a significant weekend expense once travel and accommodation are factored in.
- 💻 The best way to buy F1 tickets safely in Canada is directly through the official Grand Prix ticketing site or through Formula1.com's listed authorized partners.
- 📺 If tickets for next year's race sell out before you get to them, or the price doesn't fit your budget, there are still plenty of ways to be part of the weekend. Sports bars across Montreal (and across Canada) show the race live on race day, and the event has historically included fan zones and public activations around Parc Jean-Drapeau.
A few factors drive the price swings between the cheapest and most expensive tickets for Montreal's Grand Prix; you might want to check on them to be sure you're not overpaying a resale markup:
Grandstand location: Seats directly across from the pit straight (like Grandstand 1) or in the premium Platine section cost considerably more than grandstands further around the circuit.
Weekend package vs single-day access: Most official tickets are sold as full three-day passes covering practice, qualifying, and the race, rather than single-day entry.
Hospitality upgrades: Suite and club packages add covered seating, catering, and lounge access, at a significant premium over standard grandstand seats.
Timing of purchase: Prices tend to climb, and popular grandstands sell out, the closer you get to race weekend.
Best Way To Watch F1 In Canada: Which Option Should You Choose?
Between F1 TV Pro, F1 TV Access, TSN Standard, and TSN Premium, it's easy to end up paying for the wrong tier. Take a minute before race weekend to confirm exactly what your current package includes, especially live race access versus replay-only access:
Streaming And Channel Costs for F1 in Canada
In Canada, the prices below reflect standard monthly rates for the plan tier required to access live F1 coverage. F1 TV Pro is sold as an annual plan rather than monthly, so its figure is shown as an approximate monthly equivalent for comparison.
| Channel / Platform / Streaming Service | Approx. Monthly Price (CAD) With F1 Included |
|---|---|
| F1 TV Pro (billed annually | ~$85 CAD/year) Approx. $7-8/month equivalent |
| TSN Standard (cable or direct streaming) | $24.99/month |
| TSN Premium (cable or direct streaming; expanded F1 coverage) | $29.99/month |
| TSN + Crave bundle | $37.99/month |
References
- TSN+ Prices Are Jumping: Here's How Much More You'll Pay for Sports — iPhone in Canada (2026). Available at: https://www.iphoneincanada.ca/2026/04/09/tsn-prices-are-jumping-heres-how-much-more-youll-pay-for-sports/ (Accessed: August 2026).
- Canadian Grand Prix to support F1 calendar rationalisation with scheduling change from 2026 — Formula1.com (2024). Available at: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/canadian-grand-prix-to-support-f1-calendar-rationalisation-with-scheduling.642IODSLs6mDj8Rs9DCRHD (Accessed: August 2026).
- FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2026 — Official Montreal Grand Prix ticketing site (2026). Available at: https://2026.gpcanada.ca/en/vitrine/2026/ (Accessed: August 2026).
- What is the Wall of Champions – and which drivers have crashed there? — Formula1.com (2026). Available at: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/what-is-the-wall-of-champions-and-which-drivers-have-crashed-there.QcBubomZFL79vkmooy8n3 (Accessed: August 2026).
- Jacques Villeneuve | Formula 1® — Formula1.com, Drivers' Hall of Fame (2024). Available at: https://www.formula1.com/en/information/drivers-hall-of-fame-jacques-villeneuve.7gsINZWlAMv5jdtvUJKL8e (Accessed: August 2026).
- TSN Channel Numbers: Your Guide to TSN1, TSN2 & More — CableTV.com (2026). Available at: https://www.cabletv.com/sports/what-channel-is-tsn (Accessed: August 2026).
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