Drivers express 'fear' of rain as F1 encounters uncertainty with wet conditions.

      Pierre Gasly stated that Formula 1 drivers might face a significant surprise if rain occurs in Montreal this weekend. There is a possibility of wet weather throughout the remainder of the Canadian GP weekend, which could be crucial given the drastically different traits of the new 2026 Formula 1 cars. Up until now, teams have had very little meaningful wet running under the heavily electrified regulations. However, Gasly has experienced wet conditions after participating in a recent wet-tyre test for Pirelli at Magny-Cours. When asked about the likelihood of rain in Montreal, Gasly cautioned his competitors, saying, "You guys are going to be shocked." He expressed his relief at having completed the two-day test, adding, "It’s going to be interesting for you guys." Gasly likened the experience to a previous wet-weather test at Silverstone, remarking, "I had Silverstone, 20th of January, which was memorable and I think will stay with me forever. But Magny-Cours was also something." Former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle indicated that many drivers are secretly worried about how the new-generation cars will perform in wet conditions. "The drivers are all a bit afraid of how these cars will behave in the rain," he told Sky. "They have a huge amount of power, but less downforce and less grip, and they simply don’t know it yet." He added, "No one really had the chance to push it fully in a competitive situation. We could just see some drama." Meanwhile, sprint qualifying in Montreal reinforced the impression that Mercedes could remain ahead of the competition in 2026. Mercedes secured the front row, with George Russell bouncing back after previously stating that he had "no need to panic" despite teammate Kimi Antonelli leading the championship. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff cautioned that the margins are still very tight. Conversely, Dr. Helmut Marko expressed a more pessimistic outlook. "They have the best package," the former Red Bull advisor told Osterreich newspaper regarding Mercedes. "If the updates work now, the championship is practically over."