In the round-up: Formula 1’s hopes of moving the Canadian Grand Prix on its schedule face challenges due to the region’s weather.
In brief
Canadian GP unlikely to change date in future
F1 is keen to change the dates of some races on future calendars in order to cut travel between rounds and therefore reduce emissions. Moving the Canadian Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend, closer to the the Miami Grand Prix in May would allow F1 to make fewer transatlantic crossings.
However the Canadian GP’s CEO Francois Dumontier has said the options to move their round of the world championship are limited by the Montreal climate.
“One can hardly imagine a presentation [of the race] before the beginning of June,” he told La Presse. He also ruled out an autumn date in the future as “we’d risk disrupting the activities of Parc Jean-Drapeau; in addition, in the fall, we could also find ourselves in conflict with congresses.”
Dumontier admitted “it is mainly the weather [that is] the major sticking point in our talks” with F1 about moving the race to a different time of the year.
Merhi keeps Formula E seat for Portland
Recent Formula E debutant Roberto Merhi will remain with Mahindra for the Portland EPrix later this month.
The former F1 driver was called up to replace Oliver Rowland for the Jakarta EPrix round at the start of June, and finished 18th and 17th in the weekend’s two races. No reason was given for Rowland’s sudden split. Merhi was chosen as a last-minute replacement over Mahindra’s reserve driver Jehan Daruvala having driven in FE’s rookie test in Berlin for the team.
“I am very happy to be back in Portland with Mahindra,” said Merhi. “After Jakarta, I now have more experience in the car, which will help me a lot and I will be able to keep improving from where we left off.
“I think the fact that is a new circuit to everyone will be beneficial as everyone will start with the same experience level on the track. I have been working hard with my engineers and the team to learn to adjust my driving style to the unique FE car.”
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