Formula 1 is stopping off in Canada this weekend, the venue for the 9th round of the world championship. Beaten for the second time in three races in Monaco two weeks ago, Max Verstappen has less margin over his rivals.
The first third of the Formula 1 season was completed in Monaco two weeks ago. Eight races out of twenty-four have been contested, and, surprise, this 2024 world championship reserves a little more suspense than expected. Of course, Max Verstappen, winner five times (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, Emilia-Romagna), remains the big favorite to win a fourth world crown but his domination is no longer as strong as he a year ago. It must be said that by winning 19 Grands Prix out of 22 in 2023 – a new record – the Dutchman had set the bar very high.
This season, the three-time world champion’s Red Bull is less dominant. This is all the more true since three races which saw three different drivers triumph. If he had crossed the finish line first in Emilia-Romagna on May 19, Verstappen was dominated by Lando Norris in Miami (May 5) and by Charles Leclerc in Monaco (May 26) where he had to be content with ‘a very unusual sixth place. As a result, his lead in the world championship over the Monegasque was reduced to 31 points (169 against 138). She was 69 points at the same time on her runner-up – her teammate Sergio Perez (195 to 126) – last year. If the Dutchman’s supremacy is in decline, it is also because the performance gap between his car and those of his competitors has been greatly reduced.
Last season, Red Bull won the first eight Grands Prix (and even all 14!). This year, Ferrari, twice, and McLaren have already undermined the hegemony of the Austrian team. Does this mean that Verstappen has something to worry about in his quest for a new title? Probably not, but the redistribution of the cards in recent weeks should alert him. At Canada this weekend, on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montreal (where showers are expected), the Batavian will once again be the man to beat. But its rivals, first and foremost Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, now know that the RB-20 is no longer untouchable. And that changes everything.
What time to follow the Canadian Grand Prix?
After two races in Europe, in Imola and Monaco, the Formula 1 world championship will make a stopover in Canada this weekend before returning to the old continent. The times will therefore change for French viewers since Paris is six hours ahead of Montreal, location of the ninth Grand Prix of the season. The drivers will take the stage on Friday evening for the first free practice session, it is also in the evening that qualifying and the race will take place, respectively on Saturday and Sunday.
- Free practice 1 at 7:30 p.m. on Friday June 7 (duration: 1 hour)
- Free practice 2 at 11 p.m. on Friday June 7 (duration: 1 hour)
- Free practice 3 at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday June 8 (duration: 1 hour)
- Qualifying at 10 p.m. on Saturday June 8 (duration: 1 hour)
- Grand Prix at 8 p.m. on Sunday June 9 (duration: 2 hours maximum)
On which TV channel is the Canadian GP broadcast?
The Canadian Grand Prix will be broadcast exclusively on the channels of the Canal group, holder of the rights to the Formula 1 world championship. The three free practice sessions, Friday and Saturday, will be broadcast on Canal+ Sport while qualifying and the Grand Prix Prices will move to the Premium channel.
- Friday: Free 1 at 7:15 p.m. + Free 2 at 10:45 p.m. on Canal+ Sport
- Saturday: Free 3 at 6:15 p.m. + Qualifications at 9:40 p.m. on Canal+ Sport
- Sunday: “La Grille” show at 6:55 p.m. then Grand Prix at 8 p.m. on Canal+
Drivers’ world championship ranking (after 8 Grand Prix)
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 169 points
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 138 points
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) 113 points
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 108 points
5. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 107 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 71 points
7. George Russell (Mercedes) 54 points
8. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 42 points
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 33 points
10. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) 19 points
11. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 11 points
12. Oliver Bearman (Ferrari) 6 points
12. Niko Hülkenberg (Haas) 6 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo (Racing Bulls) 5 points
15. Alex Albon Williams) 2 points
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1 point
16. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 1 point
16. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)1 point
What are the dates for the F1 Grands Prix in 2024?
The 2024 Formula 1 season will have 24 Grands Prix. It began at the end of February in Bahrain and will end at the beginning of December in Abu Dhabi. Here is the complete F1 2024 calendar with times given in French time:
1. Bahrain GP (Sakhir): Saturday March 2 (Winner: Verstappen)
2. Saudi Arabian GP (Jeddah): Saturday March 9 (Winner: Verstappen)
3. Australian GP (Melbourne): Sunday March 24 (Winner: Sainz)
4. Japanese GP (Suzuka): Sunday April 7 (Winner: Verstappen)
5. Chinese GP (Shanghai): Sunday April 21 (Winner: Verstappen)
6. Miami GP (Miami): Sunday May 5 at 10 p.m. (Winner: Norris)
7. Emilia-Romagna GP (Imola) : Sunday May 19 (Winner: Verstappen)
8. Monaco GP: Sunday May 26 (Winner: Leclerc)
9. Canadian GP (Montreal): Sunday June 9 at 8 p.m.
10. Spanish GP (Barcelona): Sunday June 23 at 3 p.m.
11. Austrian GP (Spielberg): Sunday June 30 at 3 p.m.
12. British GP (Silverstone): Sunday July 7 at 4 p.m.
13. Hungarian GP (Budapest): Sunday July 21 at 3 p.m.
14. Belgian GP (Spa-Francorchamps) : Sunday July 28 at 3 p.m.
15. Dutch GP (Zandvoort): Sunday August 25 at 3 p.m.
16. Italian GP (Monza): Sunday September 1st at 3 p.m.
17. Azerbaijan GP (Baku): Sunday September 15 at 1 p.m.
18. Singapore GP (Marina Bay): Sunday September 22 at 2 p.m.
19. United States GP (Austin): Sunday October 20 at 9 p.m.
20. Mexican GP (Mexico): Sunday October 27 at 8 p.m.
21. Brazilian GP (Interlagos): Sunday November 3 at 7 p.m.
22. Las Vegas GP (Las Vegas): Sunday November 24 at 6 a.m.
23. Qatar GP (Losail): Sunday October 1st at 3 p.m.
24. Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina): Sunday December 8 at 2 p.m.