Ferrari's tire specialist on the features of the weekend in Montreal...

      The chief tire engineer at Ferrari, Spaniard Carlos Galbally, spoke about the features of the stage at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal...

      Question: The Gilles Villeneuve Circuit is one of the most challenging for brakes. What are the main difficulties in piloting here, and what qualities should the car have to cope with the numerous braking points? Carlos Galbally: Due to frequent braking and many low-speed corners on the Canadian track, stability under braking is crucial. The 2026 regulations have added problems due to energy recovery, which primarily reduces the load on the rear brakes. Proper brake cooling is key to preventing a potentially dangerous brake imbalance that can worsen the car's behavior when entering a corner.

      Question: The Canadian Grand Prix is expected to take place in cool weather this year. How might this affect tire performance throughout the weekend? Carlos Galbally: Cool weather and the characteristics of the track with many low-speed corners make it difficult to bring the tires into their working range, especially during qualifying. In such conditions, as well as on a track whose surface has become smoother after resurfacing, there is a risk of graining, particularly with softer compounds.

      Question: The weekend format with a Saturday sprint includes only one practice session. How important is it to arrive at this stage with clear baseline settings? Carlos Galbally: Weekends with a Saturday sprint always highlight the lack of preparation time, as the gap between the single practice session and qualifying is not enough to address serious issues, allowing only for fine-tuning adjustments. However, between the sprint and qualifying on Saturday, there is an opportunity to use Friday's experience and test results at the base, although having clear baseline settings helps avoid the need to ask the driver to adapt to significant setup changes during critical sessions.