Welcome to the Canadian Grand Prix – 2025
WMSC approves controversial changes to governance
Controversial changes to the statutes of the FIA have been passed by members despite a warning the organisation is in a “dark period of democratic backsliding”.
Austria’s national motoring club, the OAMTC, criticised the statute changes in a letter to the FIA World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT) sent on Wednesday before Thursday’s vote at the FIA’s General Assembly in Macau. The letter published in May criticised President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and called on members to vote against the measures.
A letter from some ASNs seen by BBC News, added the changes, “risked further contributing to the erosion of the FIA’s reputation for competent and transparent governance”.
The letter says of the proposed changes:
- Extending the deadline for potential candidates to declare “is intended to discourage opposition”.
- Removing the rule requiring 21 of the 28 members of the World Motorsport Council to be different nationalities “is intended to stack the WMSC with supporters rather than encourage diversity of opinion”
- Aligning the terms of office of the audit, ethics and nominations committees with that of the president “would blatantly reduce the independence of oversight bodies”
- Removing the right to approve or dismiss up to four senate members from the senate and giving it to the president “self-evidently weakens the ability of the senate to perform its oversight functions, including and especially oversight of the president himself.
However, members voted for the amendments by 83.35% to 16.65%. Amendments to the ethics code were voted through even more comprehensively, with an 88.83% majority.
The result came despite support from the UK, Belgian, Portuguese and Swiss representatives for Austria’s suggestion of a postponement so the FIA could conduct a “proper review and analysis” before making a decision on whether the changes were appropriate.
An FIA spokesperson described the result as a “resounding majority” however it has not yet responded to a request for comment on the OAMTC letter. The OAMTC letter adds that recent actions of Ben Sulayem “are inviting comparisons with the excesses of political leaders intent on deconstructing the checks and balances that come with responsible governance”.
The letter also opened the possibility of legal challenges after “intentionally excluded elected members from participating and voting”. David Richards, the MotorsportUK representative on the world council, was among those members barred from a meeting in March in a dispute with Ben Sulayem over refusing to sign a revised confidentially agreement.
The letter accuses Ben Sulayem of reneging on his promises during his election campaign in 2021 to ensure “governance structures are compliant with best practices”.
Mercedes ‘stung’ by troubles
Mercedes technical director James Allison says the team were “stung” by their meagre points haul and reliability problems during F1’s triple header. The German manufacturer scored just eighteen points in the last three points while the rest of the top four McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari have all scored more points.
This meant they lost second place in the Constructors’ Championship, to Ferrari, for the first time this season. Unusually, the team were also hit by car unreliability.
Kimi Antonelli retired at Imola due to an issue with his car’s throttle damper assembly, while a power unit failure stopped him in Spain. George Russell’s Monaco weekend, meanwhile, was undone when a wiring loom issue in qualifying left him fourteenth on the year’s most critical grid.
Ahead of Montreal, Allison said the mood at the team had been “a little reflective” in the brief gap between races. in Mercedes’ latest race debrief video, he said “I guess from Barcelona, there were aspects of the way we approached the weekend, of the performance of the car in very hot track conditions that give us some optimism for the future.”
“But we’re all pretty stung by the DNFs and having been through a triple header where we didn’t score at anything like the rate we did in the opening races of the year. So, hopefully, good looking forward, but I wouldn’t want to do those three races again like that.”
Allison described it as ‘pre-disaster’ and therefore nothing bad would happen to it in the future. Mercedes says this was because they had surprise retirement on ‘mature components’ which they didn’t expect to fail.
Adding, “Asked too much of the rear axle, suffered badly as a consequence, and we approached Barcelona with something of a different mindset. And in a track which would have murdered our tyres if we’d gone at it like we did in Imola and Monaco, we actually were a bit more ourselves.”
Binotto on Hamilton at Ferrari
Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has delivered his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s difficult start to the season. After moving from Mercedes to the Scuderia for this year, the seven-time world champion has struggled to adapt to his Italian machinery.
Binotto now chief technical officer at Sauber/Audi has highlighted his age as a contributing factor. Highlighting former team’s performance as they currently sit second in the constructors’ standings. Despite only McLaren being ahead of the team, things don’t look so positive on track.
Binotto told Automoto.it, “It’s clear that the performance on the track and the results are not good at the moment. However, I know every single member of that team very well and I know that they are good, strong and capable. They will be able to improve the car and do well in the future. And I believe that Ferrari can get some satisfaction this year.”
There has been a sense of disappointment this season as Hamilton who is currently sixth in the drivers as he looked to be struggling to adapt to the car. While he secured a win at the Chinese sprint race, he’s yet to see a similar level of success. Leclerc sits fifth in the standings, twenty-three points ahead of his team-mate, but has still faced similar challenges despite consistently outperforming the Briton, especially in qualifying pace.
Binotto said on the subject, “Hamilton is of a certain age. Ferrari took him when he was already at the end of his career. The ideal would have been to have him a few years earlier.”
Hamilton meets Starmer to discuss STEM education
Lewis Hamilton has teamed up with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss education reform as part of his own charitable initiative. Hamilton set up Mission 44 in 2021 with the mission of creating a more inclusive future for young people around the world, especially in school and particularly with regards to STEM subjects.
The seven-time champion met Starmer and the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson in Downing Street to discuss ways Mission 44’s vision could be implemented into government policy. As part of the discussion, the Prime Minister confirmed the UK government will develop a framework to help increase pupil engagement.
Hamilton said, “I struggled in school and never felt like my voice was heard, that’s why I know first-hand that ensuring every student feels they belong in school is vital. I’m grateful that off the back of this meeting, the government has committed to working with Mission 44 to enact change focused on making the education system more inclusive.”
“I’m so proud of how far Mission 44 has come in such a short space of time and the opportunity we have to transform the lives of vulnerable students across the country This is a time where we have to convert words into action.”
“I’ve come through a normal working-class family, I’ve gone through a normal school education and ultimately it failed me. I was expelled and cast aside. I see, 25 years later, it’s still happening. There’s a lot of work to do but this is just the beginning.”
The government is rolling out free breakfast clubs, better access to mental health support for students and getting more teachers into classrooms, while looking at ways to increase school budgets across the board.
Speaking after the meeting, the Prime Minister said: “I want to thank Lewis — this was his idea, this is his legacy. He’s inspired generations and is now using that influence on this project and is designed to make a real difference in the lives of young people across the country.”
Talking Points Montreal
Round ten of the season brings F1 to Notre Dame Island in Montreal, one of the driver’s favourite circuits given it is effectively a hybrid between a street and permanent circuit. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has been a near ever-present on the F1 calendar since 1978 and is therefore the sport’s most-established North American venue, with plenty of exciting races and dramatic moments too.
The circuit is one of the favourites for drivers and fans because of its high speed and overtaking-friendly nature. The 2.71-mile track is one of the toughest of the year for a car’s brakes, with big stopping zones at the first chicane, L’Epingle hairpin and final ‘Wall of Champions’ chicane at the end of the long back straight among the absolutely key points of the lap. Walls and barriers are also in close proximity all around the circuit, adding to the challenge.
Rain is often a factor of the Montreal race weekend but, at the moment, this year’s event looks set to be accompanied by pleasant weather and sunny intervals.
McLaren heads into this weekend following a one-two a fortnight ago which has given them a just under two-hundred point lead in the constructors, while there are ten points between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris while Max Verstappen is just under two race wins or forty-nine points off Norris.
Montreal is therefore a crucial weekend for Verstappen, the winner of the last three Canadian GPs, if the Red Bull driver is to stay in realistic title touch, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton will hope a return to the venue where he is the joint-record holder with seven wins will help serve to kick-start his season.
Hamilton won his first race in Montreal with McLaren and his first victory for Mercedes came in round ten, so there could be an omen in that after he looked to be more comfortable in the car. Though he did win the sprint in Shanghai, despite the difficulties he has had it looked to me to be finding his feet in the Ferrari, an eighth win would equal his record in Budapest
Stroll fit to race in Montreal
Lance Stroll will return for Aston Martin for his home Grand Prix this weekend in Montreal after withdrawing from the last race in Barcelona. Following qualifying a fortnight ago where he was due to start fourteenth.
The team said his pain was related to a procedure he underwent ahead of the 2023 season after a fall from his bike, which injured his wrist. On Wednesday, Aston Martin confirmed Stroll was fit to return to action in Montreal this weekend.
Stroll said, “I am excited to get back behind the wheel with the team for my home Grand Prix this weekend. I was always going to fight hard to be ready to race in front of the Montreal crowd. I’m feeling good after my procedure and put some laps in at Paul Ricard this week to prepare.”
Statement by Aston Martin read, “Lance had a successful medical procedure to resolve the symptoms he has been experiencing and completed some laps in an old F1 car at Paul Ricard earlier this week. Lance is feeling fit and healthy, and is excited to compete in front of his home crowd.”
2026 Calendar announced
Madrid will make its debut as the final round of the uninterrupted European section of the season next year. Madrid, to be held on 11-13 September, will be a second race in Spain and replaces the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola with the calendar that remains at twenty-four races.
The Spanish capital’s return is one of several changes building on 2024’s changes in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions. The biggest change is a date swap between Monaco and Montreal, with Canada moving to 22 – 24 May and Monaco into Canada’s old slot of the first weekend in June.
The switch ensures that Canada follows the Miami race on 01 – 03 May, creating what F1 describes as “significant freight efficiencies as some equipment can move directly from one to the other”.
Once again Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been pushed back to mid-April due to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, but unlike last year there will be no Grand Prix on Easter Sunday. Melbourne will step in to host the season opener but has been moved forwards to the first weekend in March
Every race from Monaco on the first weekend in June to Madrid is then in Europe before the Azerbaijan event on 25-27 September kicks off the final intercontinental part of the season.
Canada’s date swap moves forward most of the European season by a week, allowing Madrid to slot in after Monza. The season will mark the final appearance of the Dutch Grand Prix, will be held at Zandvoort on 21-23 August.
The season ends with two groups of three races on consecutive weekends – the US Grand Prix in Austin on 23-25 October followed by Mexico and Brazil, and then the Las Vegas Grand Prix on 19-21 November followed by Qatar and Abu Dhabi, which brings the season to a close on 04-06 December.
Although under the terms of the Concorde Agreement, their can be a maximum of twenty-five, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said that he believes twenty-four is the ideal number as a compromise that satisfies the desire for expansion but does not put too many demands on those who work on the sport.
Imola returned to the schedule in 2020 after a fourteen year absence as F1 looked for venues that could fill the calendar in the middle of the pandemic, when travel was heavily restricted. Its contract was extended by a year after the 2023 race was cancelled at short notice due to flooding.
Imola and Barcelona remain in talks to remain on the calendar on a rotational basis, though Barcelona has lost the rights after 2026.
the pressure on European races can be seen from the fact that Zandvoort is hosting its last race next year, having returned to the calendar in 2021. Meanwhile, Spa in Belgium, regarded as one of the greatest race tracks in the world, starts a six-year contract from 2026 in which it will host only four races
“No set limit” on how many races for Colapinto
Alpine advisor and acting team principal Flavio Briatore had said there was “no set limit” on how many races Franco Colapinto would contest for the team. But after three disappointing grands prix for the French side, he is now less definitive on the Argentine’s future.
Over the last five years the only certainty at Alpine has been uncertainly, with serval management changes, and last month that extended to drivers when they decided to replace jack Doohan with the Argentine for five races. However, the clarity soon evaporated once ‘executive adviser’ Briatore – now the de facto team principal – claimed that figure must have been invented by someone else and said there was “no set limit” for how many races Colapinto would contest.
But that became more confusing when Briatore said in Barcelona, “I never tell five races, three races, four races, one race. If Colapinto is performing, he’s driving the car. If not, we will see.”
There is no mistaking the tone of threat, and with good reason: in his first three races for Alpine, Colapinto demonstrated all of the bad habits he displayed at Williams last season and little of the sheer pace. When he got in the FW46 at Monza last year he was an instant performance upgrade over Sargeant, but that has not been the case in Alpine’s A325.