The new 2026 F1 calendar has sparked considerable discontent in Italy—but not only there. Complaints have also come from America regarding decisions made for the upcoming season. According to the 2026 calendar released by F1, the Canadian Grand Prix will clash with a major IndyCar event: the Indianapolis 500, one of the world’s most prestigious races.
This IndyCar event is part of the Triple Crown, which includes the three most important and challenging races in the world: the Monaco GP in F1, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Indianapolis 500.
The American round takes place in May, and until this year it coincided with the Monaco GP. This was never an issue, as the time slots were different, so neither event overshadowed the other.
This year, however, F1 has decided to move the Canadian GP ahead of all the European rounds. Yet the controversy over this decision hasn’t subsided, as a significant scheduling conflict has emerged. The Montreal race will be held over the weekend of May 22–24—precisely when the legendary Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to take place.
Unlike Monaco, the problem now is that the race times will overlap, meaning the final stages of the IndyCar race will coincide with the start of the Canadian GP.
Accusations Surface Over F1’s New Calendar
IndyCar driver Scott McLaughlin did not hide his disappointment with the 2026 decisions. The New Zealander posted on X: “Congrats to F1 for single-handedly ruining Motorsport Christmas.”
He went on to say he’s not afraid of F1 potentially overshadowing the iconic events of the American series, IndyCar and NASCAR: “The Indy 500 will still be a huge event next year. So will the Coca-Cola 600. Good luck.”
“For your information… I’m just sad for the motorsport fan in me who used to love watching the 3 Crown Jewels on the same day.” McLaughlin was referring to the Indy 500, the Coca-Cola 600, and the Monaco GP. He concluded: “But instead we’ve chosen to compete against each other instead of just enjoying pure motorsport.”
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