Gasly wary of rain threat in Canada after revealing wet test findings

The Alpine driver took part in a wet-tyre test at France’s Magny-Cours circuit, where he assessed how the current generation of cars behave in low-grip conditions. Gasly suggested the experience underlined just how unpredictable the machinery can be in the wet, hinting that the 2026-spec cars could prove even more surprising once they hit similar conditions.

Speaking during the Canadian Grand Prix press conference, Gasly was asked about his wet-weather running and whether it had provided useful insights ahead of a weekend where rain could play a significant role, particularly on Sunday.

In his response, Gasly stated: “You guys are going to be shocked. I’m glad I’ve done these two days. Yeah, it’s going to be interesting for you guys. I mean, I’ve had Silverstone, 20th of January, which was memorable and I think will stay with me forever. But Magny-Cours was also something.”

When pressed further about whether the challenges he experienced were related to the torque of the 2026 car, the 30-year-old opted against providing further response, stating: “You don’t want me to answer that question.”

Racing in the wet with the 2026 cars has proven to be one experience not many drivers on the grid have so far encountered. Last time out at the Miami Grand Prix, the FIA, in conjunction with all relevant stakeholders, were forced to bring forward the timing of the Florida race after the risk of rainfall and possible lightning was forecast to occur around the scheduled race time.

While Gasly was largely temperate with his expectations and his words about racing in the wet in Canada, the former Red Bull Racing driver was however, upbeat about the progress the Alpine team has made and the dry conditions favouring the Enstone outfit.

Quizzed about how confident he was with the learnings made in the dry running last time out in Miami, and whether those learnings would translate to improvements this weekend, Gasly responded:

The weather forecast for the Canadian Grand Prix is expected to feature intervals of clouds and sunshine, with temperatures reaching around 21°C and WSW winds between 8 and 16 km/h, while the chance of rain is close to zero.

The risk of rain increases slightly on Saturday, the day dedicated to the Sprint race and qualifying, with cloudy conditions expected, temperatures peaking at around 22°C and ESE winds between 8 and 16 km/h, while the current chance of rain stands at 15%.

On race day Sunday, however, the scenario could become more threatening, with showers expected in the morning before cloudy conditions arrive in the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to reach around 23°C, with SE winds between 8 and 16 km/h and a current chance of rain standing at 30%.