The 2026 Formula 1 race calendar resolves one problem with the current schedule, but creates an awkward clash which is sure to irritate motorsport fans the world over
The European leg of the 2026 Formula 1 season will be uninterrupted after organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix finally agreed to give up their June slot and bring their race forward. However, for next year, that has created a clash with one of the top motorsport events on the planet.
It has been something of a tradition for the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 to be held on the same day. Both have historic slots on the last weekend of May though, because of time differences, there is rarely a direct clash between those races.
Usually, the action in Monaco has concluded before the Indy 500 gets under way. But that move to make sure the F1 calendar makes more sense from a logistical and environmental perspective has had the unfortunate side-effect of producing a direct clash with the showpiece IndyCar event.
In 2026, the European season will begin with the Monaco race on the first weekend of June. The Canadian Grand Prix has been scheduled for June 24 – the same day as the Indy 500 and, because Montreal and Indianapolis are in the same time zone, they are likely to be running at the same time.
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The start time of the 500 will depend on the weather but it is scheduled for 12.45pm local time. The Canadian Grand Prix is set to start at 2pm and, because the IndyCar race is likely to run for around three hours, both racer are almost certainly going to clash directly.
The situation has frustrated many motorsport fans and people who work in the industry. That includes IndyCar racer Scott McLaughlin who took to social media to lament the fact a glorious day of motorsport, which sees the Monaco F1 race and the Indy 500 then followed by the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina, won’t be the same next year.
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“Congrats to F1 who single-handedly ruined motorsport Christmas,” the Kiwi racer wrote. “Indy 500 will be a scene next year. As well as the Coke 600. Good luck. I’m just sad for the race fan in me that loved watching three Crown Jewels on the same day. But instead we’ve decided to compete with each other instead of just enjoy pure motorsport. Anyway, that is all.”
And Will Buxton, who now leads Fox Sports’ IndyCar coverage in the USA after years working for F1 TV, wrote: “Solid F1 calendar for 26 but a shame the Monaco/500 clash has become a Canada/500 clash. Know a heap of F1 folks who, aware the Monaco clash was being removed, were hoping to back an Indy 500 visit onto attending the Canadian GP next year, but that’ll have to wait.”
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As a result of F1’s calendar change, the Canada race will be round seven of the 2026 World Championship. Round six will be the Miami Grand Prix and bundling those North American races together makes sense.
But what does not is that there are two clear weekends between the Miami race on May 3 and the Montreal event on May 24. Holding the race one week earlier would have avoided a clash which seems likely to have a commercial impact on both F1 and IndyCar in the US market.