Two weeks. Two long, race-free, deeply uncomfortable weeks. And now, finally, we are back. All four of us. In the same room. Back at Radio Central. And this isn't just any race we're previewing — it's the start of something. Canada, Monaco, Barcelona, Austria, Silverstone, Spa, Hungary. Seven circuits across eight frantic weeks. Between them, they've produced more chaos, more monsoons, more safety cars, and more world champions losing their minds than anywhere else on the calendar. We are entering something magnificent.
The Île Notre-Dame. A man-made island in the St. Lawrence River. Four kilometres of low-downforce, high-braking, stop-start layout named after Gilles Villeneuve — who, for the record, won the very first race held here in 1978 and remains one of the most beloved figures in the sport's history. His son Jacques later became world champion in 1997. The name above the gate carries all of that weight. Hamilton and Schumacher hold the all-time record here with seven wins each — between them, they've won this race fourteen times. That is not a normal statistic.
The circuit also has a wall. You know the one. In 1999, during a single race weekend, three F1 world champions hit the same piece of concrete — Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve. The name stuck. It has claimed more since. Button in 2005. Vettel in practice in 2011. And it will almost certainly claim someone again this weekend. Oli immediately said Lando. The symmetry of last year's wall appearance was too poetic to ignore. Digby went George. Ev went Lance. Ev is probably right for different reasons entirely.
This weekend also marks the first-ever sprint format at the Canadian Grand Prix — and Digby, predictably, hated the idea on principle. "It's not a good sprint track. Hard to overtake, walls everywhere. If you want Mario Kart, play Mario Kart." Tay countered that the short circuit at least makes it punchy. Ev was, for reasons he couldn't fully explain, quietly optimistic about life in general. The sprint is happening. Make of that what you will.
What to watch
The development story going into Canada is genuinely fascinating. Mercedes are bringing their first proper upgrade package of the season — held back deliberately from Miami because the circuit wasn't right for it. The target, specifically, is the turbo lag and wheel spin at race starts that has cost both Antonelli and Russell places every single weekend. The car that is already winning races is about to get meaningfully better. Whether that's a gift or a threat to the championship depends entirely on which driver it actually helps.
McLaren, meanwhile, are bringing the second phase of their Miami upgrade package. Two podiums in a row for Oscar, a race Lando arguably should have won — and now Canada, the circuit where Norris hit the back of Piastri last year and started a slow-burn crisis that nearly handed Max a fifth championship. The Mercedes versus McLaren upgrade battle is the defining development story of 2026, and Canada is where we find out whether Miami was a corner turned or a blip.
Aston Martin are using the word "quantum leap." Honda have overhauled their engine software, electronics, and energy deployment entirely. The team are calling it their first real performance step of the season. Ev's response: "A quantum leap would be going from 22nd to 21st." The rest of the room quietly agreed, then admitted they'd quite like to see Alonso back up near the front. Some things transcend tribalism.
And then there is Lance Stroll. At his home Grand Prix. Carrying the expectations of an entire nation that is, every year, quietly pretending it doesn't actually have any. This is the weekend Digby wanted axe-throwing stations added trackside — two targets, one face per station, Lance Stroll and Ryan Reynolds, your choice of projectile. Tay's contribution was a WWE entrance: four Mounties on all fours, Lance standing on top of the human centipede, Celine Dion live on the PA singing My Heart Will Go On. Ev wanted all drivers forced to use every tyre compound including the wets, even in dry conditions. The Canadian Grand Prix Tourism Board has not been in touch.
Canada, Monaco, Barcelona, Austria, Silverstone, Spa, Hungary. Seven rounds across eight weeks. We haven't had seven rounds in three months. Something is about to happen.
Predictions on the record
Tay has gone Piastri to win, Max in second, Lando third — double papaya podium with a Red Bull threatening. Biggest surprise: Bortoletto in the top eight. Biggest disappointment: George outside the top five. Ev, in a turn of character that stunned the room, has gone for George Russell. "This is a more traditional track and it suits him." Kimi second, Max third. Biggest surprise: Alpine going upwards. Biggest disappointment: if nothing upsets the order at all.
Digby has gone for Antonelli to win again, with Lando or Oscar in second and George third — and his biggest disappointment is specifically that Oscar makes the podium but wasn't the winner. "I want Kimmy to win so much that I made him my pick." Oli has gone Lando for the redemption arc — winner, one year on from the McLaren teammate collision that nearly defined last season. George second, Oscar third. Biggest surprise: Gasly top five. Biggest disappointment: Lewis Hamilton in tenth, barely scraping into points. Oli's words: "It's becoming less of a disappointment and more just standard."
Haas You Been Paying Attention
Eight questions. Four on the Canadian Grand Prix, four on Montreal and Canada. Ev buzzed on Question One before the question finished and answered Max Verstappen. The question was about Hamilton and Schumacher's wins record. Digby, who had been paying attention to the episode itself, got it without hesitation. Seven each. Two-nil to Digby after two questions. Ev's response: "This episode is Haas Digby Been Paying Attention." Fair.
Nobody got the 2011 race winner — Jenson Button, from last place, passing Vettel around the outside on the final lap — which the group agreed was slightly shameful in retrospect. Nobody got Senna's 1991 retirement either. He switched off his own car. On the final lap. Metres from the line. Lifted a hand to the crowd and hit the wrong button. Digby's epitaph: "How embarrassing. Greatest driver in the world. What a loser." He then remembered Senna was dead. Moved on immediately.
Tay correctly identified 33km for Montreal's underground city (Question Six) — the world's largest underground pedestrian network, which Formula 1 parks itself directly above every year and nobody ever mentions. The Danger Zone produced the defining moment. Tay went early on the maple syrup question, picked 89%, and lost two points. Ev waited, correctly identified Conan O'Brien as the non-Canadian comedian on the final question, picked up two points, and won the episode. Final scores: Ev 3, Digby 2, Tay -1. Digby's argument that he is undefeated when present remains technically accurate and entirely unaddressed.
What's Verstappenin
Christian Horner has settled his Red Bull departure for around a hundred million dollars, is reportedly tanned, and was photographed at a BYD event in Cannes alongside the company's VP and CEO. Whether or not this becomes something is unclear. What is clear is that BYD is now in negotiations to enter F1 as a twelfth team. Digby's verdict: "They make electric cars that spontaneously combust." He was then informed they also make combustion cars. He moved on.
Max Verstappen led the Nürburgring 24 Hours for the majority of the race in a Mercedes AMG GT3, then DNF'd with a driveshaft failure three hours from the finish. George Russell, meanwhile, posted an Instagram carousel of life on his boat — which included two screens, one showing MotoGP and the other showing the Nürburgring — captioned "congratulations Mercedes." The internet immediately accused him of hate-watching. Digby's analysis: "Max is the new Niki Lauda and George is basically being James Hunt. If it was James Hunt on the yacht everyone would say he's cool. Because it's George, he can't win." He could not argue with this.
Honda posted a 423 billion yen annual loss — approximately 2.7 billion US dollars — their worst financial year since 1955. The official line is that their F1 program is completely unaffected. Lawrence Stroll is almost certainly looking at his options anyway. And Gucci is in talks to take over Alpine's title sponsorship, which would finally end the BWT pink. Ev looked like a different man entirely when this was mentioned.
Plus: the ADUO regulation framework closes its first window this weekend, handing Honda and others extra development slots — Digby called it "Mario Kart and socialism." Sky Sports have extended their F1 broadcast deal for a billion dollars through to 2034. Brundle and Crofty, hopefully, for another eight years. Montreal strip club workers are on strike in protest at working conditions during race weekend. Ev had thoughts. Oli did not air them.
Canada is here. The best two months of the calendar have officially begun.