Canadian GP: Schedule Modified to Avoid Clash with Indy 500

Canadian Grand Prix Adjusts Schedule to Avoid Clash with Indianapolis 500

The Canadian Grand Prix has modified its start time for the 2026 season, seeking to avoid an overlap with the Indianapolis 500, an event held on the same day. The Canadian race will start at 4 p.m. local time, which is equivalent to 9 p.m. (BST). This change aims primarily to minimize the overlap with the iconic Indianapolis race. Furthermore, the Canadian Grand Prix has been moved to May 24th of next season. This decision was made to optimize the logistics of transporting goods used in the Miami Grand Prix, allowing them to remain in North America instead of having to travel to Europe and back, as happened this year. Initially, the date change generated some criticism, as it seemed to imply an overlap with the Indianapolis 500, which is held in the same time zone. To mitigate this situation, Formula 1 has delayed the start of the Canadian Grand Prix by two hours compared to the 2 p.m. start time this year. This will create a window of 3 hours and 15 minutes after the traditional start time of the Indianapolis 500, which is at 12:45 p.m.

The last five editions of the Indianapolis 500 have been completed in under three hours, although there is a possibility that the race could be extended or delayed due to weather conditions. It was previously confirmed that the Canadian Grand Prix will only coincide with the Indianapolis 500 once every five years, meaning there will be no overlap between 2027 and 2030.