Pirelli: Granulation in Canada will be less than a year ago.

      The Canadian stage program has included a sprint for the first time, and the race weekend in Montreal takes place two to three weeks earlier than usual, which increases the likelihood of weather surprises. Pirelli has prepared three of the softest tire compounds for the fifth stage of the season – C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft). In 2024, the asphalt surface at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was updated, making it smoother and less abrasive. However, since the track hosts races only once a year, the condition of the surface changes rapidly throughout the weekend with each session. Last year, clear signs of graining were observed on Sunday, but since Pirelli is producing a new type of racing tire in 2026, this phenomenon should have less impact on the condition and performance of the tires. It is possible that it may even disappear entirely by Saturday. The features of the racing circuit's configuration mean that the race consists of a constant series of intense accelerations and decelerations, which requires stable behavior of the car during braking, as well as maximum effective grip of the driving wheels on the track. Regarding the weather conditions, teams may face challenges not only from rain but also from cooler conditions, and as always, it is important to find the right approach to warming up the tires to working temperatures, especially in qualifying. Undoubtedly, it is easiest to warm up the softest tires, and the C5 provides optimal grip on a single fast lap. Accordingly, these tires may become the preferred choice for the Saturday sprint, while on Sunday, teams will likely act more conservatively and race on the harder C4 and C3 tires. As in Miami, the most likely strategy will be a single pit stop option. However, in 2025, the Canadian race showed that under those conditions and with last year's tires, the fastest way to complete the distance was with two stops in the pits, while the single pit stop strategy was only used by those teams whose drivers started from the second half of the grid.