Guide to 2023 Canadian Grand Prix as F1 heads back across to North America for the second time this season.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen enters this round with a 53-point lead in the title race ahead of teammate, Sergio Perez who needs a strong result here if he is to rescue his title challenge which seems to be fading to his Dutch teammate.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso meanwhile continues to head the chasing pack as he looks for another front-row start in Canada since his return to the sport, having achieved the feat for Alpine last season.
Now, here is a full guide to everything that you need to know ahead of 2023 Canadian Grand Prix.
Track Guide
Circuit: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Laps: 70
Race Distance: 305.270km
Tyre Selection: C3, 4, 5
Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (BST) |
| Friday 16 June | FP1 | 6:30pm |
| Friday 16 June | FP2 | 10:00pm |
| Saturday 17 June | FP3 | 5:30pm |
| Saturday 17 June | Qualifying | 9:00pm |
| Sunday 18 June | Race | 7:00pm |
Five Key Pointers
- Having made a step forward in Spain, Mercedes now face a tough test of where their upgrades lie on a much lower downforce circuit.
- Traction out of corners and maximum speed will be key to nailing a flying lap, yet will be key to defending on the straights within the race..
- Although top speed is more favourable around here, teams will also need to find a low-medium downforce setup which protects the tyres due to low grip levels within corners.
- Known for its challenging braking zones, Canada could create difficult challenges for teams like AlphaTauri and McLaren who have struggled with brakes at times this season.
- Track evolution across the weekend is set to be high with the circuit only used for this race weekend every year.
Last Time Out
Verstappen dominated from lights to flag in 2022 to take hiss then 26th F1 victory although he did have to survive a late challenge from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, following a Safety Car restart on Lap 54 after AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda spun out.