2026 Canadian GP Same Time & Date as Indy 500

[cosworth151]

Who thought this was a good idea?

Next year's Canadian GP will be May 24th at 2:00 pm EDT. This will put it in direct competition with the Indy 500. Monaco, which has always been hours before Indy on the same day, will move to June.

Montreal is one of the few F1 races usually broadcast live on broadcast network TV hear in The States. Now, Indy will blow it out of the water.

[John S]

You'll have to look for change down back & sides of sofa Cossie & pay for coverage like us poor mortals in Britain. 

[Dare]

Why not have Indy on a day when there's no F1 race.  Then a few brave F1
drivers might compete in both

[Jericoke]

I'm really disappointed by the whole thing.

I don't know whose idea it was, but I can't see Liberty, trying to grow the US market, wanting to see the very fans they're trying to entice having to make a tough choice.

And if the teams have input, McLaren, Aston Martin (Honda) and Cadillac (GM) certainly can't be happy that their fans have a choice to make too.

I always loved that there was a day where F1, IndyCar and NASCAR could create an epic day of racing, rising tide lifting all boats.  (Though I do like the idea of F1 ditching that weekend entirely, letting their drivers try Indy)

[Andy B]

Surely this is an American problem as I never have anyone say to me "Did you see the Indy 500?" which is in the main watched by Canadians and Americans whereas F1 is global and watched all over the world in big numbers.
I'm not trying to rock boats here its just the way I see it and F1 is not as popular as the Indy series in the Americas.

[John S]

Surely this is an American problem as I never have anyone say to me "Did you see the Indy 500?" which is in the main watched by Canadians and Americans whereas F1 is global and watched all over the world in big numbers.
I'm not trying to rock boats here its just the way I see it and F1 is not as popular as the Indy series in the Americas.

Think you'll find F1 is now catching up fast on Indy series in the US, Andy.
No surprise then that Liberty wants to take liberties & put the 2 head to head.

[Jericoke]

Surely this is an American problem as I never have anyone say to me "Did you see the Indy 500?" which is in the main watched by Canadians and Americans whereas F1 is global and watched all over the world in big numbers.
I'm not trying to rock boats here its just the way I see it and F1 is not as popular as the Indy series in the Americas.

It is very much a Canadian problem.  While most of the people attending the Canadian Grand Prix are Canadians, there are a large number of American race fans who come to the race.  Montreal is much closer to Detroit and New York than any of the 'American' races.  Not all of these fans attend both the 500 and the Canadian GP, but I'm sure there's a good crossover, especially among the people with disposable income that the F1 paddock club relies on.  People who would normally spend (lots of) money at both venues now have to pick.  Sure, some will pick Canada, but not all.

The F1 events in most cities are about tourism.  Losing 5% of tourists, especially the deepest pocketed ones, puts a huge ding in the event's over all finances.  Not just the venue, but restaurants, hotels etc.

The Canadian Grand Prix continues to draw American celebrities to preen for the cameras.  Whichever race they want to go to, it's a bad look to ditch an American event to attend an 'international' event in the current political climate.

I doubt this will have any effect on the 500 at all.

It's the Canadian Grand Prix that will suffer.  I think even having any of the American Grands Prix the same weekend as the 500 would suffer less.  Vegas and Miami are events for party fans, not race fans.

Actually, thinking about it now, putting Vegas and the 500 (and the NASCAR 600) on the same weekend could create the sort of synergy to elevate racing in the USA to another level.  (Not sure if it makes sense to run Vegas in late May, but I think having a Saturday night race, then Sunday afternoon race lets anyone who wants to see both see both)

[Dare]

Vegas and Indy would hurt each other. Monaco was a good
choice because the race was over before Indy started. Personally
I'll watch Canada over Indy any day