Montreal During Formula1: The Gold, The Glam, The Grand Prix
where the city runs fast, sparkles hard, and doesn’t sleep.
If you’ve ever wondered… “What happens when an artsy, already-charismatic Canadian city shifts into high gear and throws on a leather jacket?”: Welcome to Montreal during the Formula 1 weekend.
Every June, the Grand Prix du Canada rolls into town, bringing with it a wave of adrenaline, roaring speed, and heels that somehow handle cobblestones. Whether you're here for the race, the rooftop atmosphere, or you just happened to plan your trip without realizing what weekend it was… buckle up, you’re in for a ride.
And yes, while the track is the heart of it all, it’s what happens around the race that makes the weekend unforgettable.
Let’s unpack what that actually looks like.
So… What Happens During F1 Weekend?
Short answer? Controlled chaos.
Longer answer? Montreal doesn’t just host the Grand Prix, it becomes it.
People fly in from everywhere. Hotels book out. Rooftops get lineups. Streets shut down. DJs take over entire blocks. And champagne practically replaces water for the weekend. But somehow, it never feels exclusive in that velvet-rope, need-a-wristband kind of way. Montreal makes the spectacle feel like something you’re invited to, even if you’re just passing by.
That open-armed energy turns into a citywide takeover, where you’ll find pedestrian-only zones across a few downtown strips like Crescent, Peel, and de la Montagne that are filled with:
F1 streaming live on big screens
Pop-up brand activations
Ferraris and McLarens on display like art pieces
Street food, local vendors, concerts, spontaneous dance circles
And street style worthy of its own podium
It’s one of those weekends where the city is in on the fun, not just watching it happen.
The Race Itself: Fast, Loud, Iconic
The real Grand Prix action takes place on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, set on the scenic Île Notre-Dame just outside the core of the city. The track is famous for its tight turns, fast straights, and the kind of mid-race drama that can flip the leaderboard faster than you can say “pit stop”.
But the weekend isn’t just one race. It plays out in three parts. Let me break down what that looks like:
Friday – The Warm-Up
Welcome to Free Practice Day, aka “the soft launch.”
Cars hit the track for test laps, teams fine-tune setups, and fans get an easy entry into the weekend buzz. It’s relaxed and a great way to explore and get your bearings of the venue without the Sunday rush.
Saturday – The Build-Up
Qualifying Day. This is when things start to get serious. Drivers compete for pole position (the best starting spot on Sunday). It’s more strategy than speed; you feel the tension rise as milliseconds decide the lineup.
Sunday – The Main Event
Race Day. This is what everything’s been building toward. The vibe is intense, think like game day, but international. You can feel the adrenaline before the engines even start.
If you’re heading to the circuit, here are some of my local tips to keep in mind:
Get your tickets early (or gamble smart).
Tickets range from affordable general admission to full-blown VIP paddock passes, and they go fast. Prices usually skyrocket as race week approaches, so booking early is key. That said, I’ve noticed you can sometimes score cheaper, last-minute tickets on the first day of the race weekend if you’re flexible and just want to experience the vibe. But don’t count on that same luck if you’re planning to attend all three days. You’ll probably end up paying way, WAY more or missing out altogether.Don’t even think about driving. Seriously. Unless you’re in the race, your best bet is to use the metro to get to the circuit. The track’s on Parc Jean-Drapeau, an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, and parking is basically nonexistent. Every year, people try and regret it. Your best bet is the metro: take the yellow line, hop off at Jean-Drapeau station, and join the crowd for the 15–20 minute walk it takes to get to the track. It’s part of the whole experience, trust me.
Pack smart. Sunscreen, water, and earplugs are essentials. Also, Montreal in June can bring its infamous “June Gloom” weather, so I always throw a lightweight poncho in my bag. You’ll thank me if it starts to pour.
You don’t need to speak fluent F1. Even if DRS, tire compounds, or pit strategies sound like a different language, you can still go purely for the spectacle. If curiosity strikes, it’s actually the perfect place to pick up a few things along the way, but you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy it.
And finally, say yes (with boundaries). Plans will shift. Go with it, but don’t burn out trying to do everything. Pace yourself. The race might be a sprint, but the weekend is a marathon.
Stay One More Day
The big race happens Sunday, but Montreal doesn’t flip the switch the minute the checkered flag waves.
If you can, stick around for Monday. Monday is like the city’s collective exhale where the morning after carries a slower kind of magic: people swapping stories over brunch, quieter streets still buzzing with afterglow, and the city settling back into itself, gently. After three days of sensory overload, it’s the perfect soft landing.
Personally, I love sticking around just to soak in that calm after the storm. It’s also a secret bonus if you want to skip the rush-hour traffic everyone else is scrambling through to go back home.
Can’t Make It? Save This Local Secret for Later.
Here’s something most visitors don’t know: when it’s not race weekend, the actual F1 track is open to the public.
Yes, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. You can walk, bike, run, or rollerblade through the same turns the pros take at 300 km/h. No fanfare, no ticket required. Just you and a piece of racing history you can move through at your own pace.
If you are looking for an unexpected, low-key highlight to add to your Montreal list, this is definitely worth it.
Final Lap
Yes, it’s about the race, the speed, the rivalry, the sheer noise of it all. But it’s also about how the city takes it all in stride. Montreal doesn’t try to reinvent itself for F1; it just turns up the dial on what it already is: creative, a little chaotic, and effortlessly fun.
And when the weekend fades, the city exhales. Streets clear, the buzz softens, and Montreal slides back into its rhythm, but that pulse never really disappears. The Grand Prix just kicks off the season. Give it a week, and that same energy resurfaces as music festivals, open-air picnics, and late nights that stretch longer with the sunset. The engines might stop, but summer in Montreal is only getting started.
