F1 To Move Canadian Grand Prix Slot On Calendar In Drive To Cut Travel

Formula 1 will move Canian Grand Prix to a new slot in May from 2026 in an effort to cut down on travel and its environmental impact.

F1 said Monday that race in Montreal will move to “ third or fourth weekend in May each year” from its current June slot, where it's currently in middle of a succession of European races, forcing teams to travel across Atlantic Ocean and back for a single weekend.

decision has been agreed with race's promoter after consultation with Canian authorities, F1 said. But it still needs to be approved by sport's governing body, FIA.

F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali thanked Canian organizers for agreeing to “accelerate temporary build” needed to host race on Notre Dame Island, within city of Montreal.

“ change will make future flow of our calendar not only more sustainable, but logistically more sensible for our teams and personnel,” he said in a statement.

This year's Canian Grand Prix was on June 9, sandwiched between races in Monaco and Spain, and next year it's scheduled for June 15, between races in Spain and Austria.

new date could potentially see Canian Grand Prix follow on from F1's race in Miami, which is held in early May under a 10-year contract which began in 2022 .

An agreement signed in 2021 after two cancelations amid COVID-19 pandemic extended Canian Grand Prix's place on F1 calendar through 2031.

Alongside its expansion to a record 24-race schedule this season, F1 has sought to limit impact of transporting teams, cars and staff around world. Japanese Grand Prix moved to a date in April this season to sit between races in China and Australia.