MONTREAL — Pierre Gasly predicted that the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix could become an "elimination game" if rain falls during Sunday's race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Rain is forecast for the race, with temperatures expected to drop as low as 11°C.

"I think just the track on itself in the dry, it's difficult to warm up the tyres. So, I think in the rain, it will be extremely difficult," Gasly said. "I would not be surprised that we end up having a bit of an elimination game."

Most corners at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are of a stop-start nature, and track temperatures at the venue are lower, increasing the importance of tyre preparation. Formula 1 drivers have required a second warm-up lap in dry conditions to bring their tyres into the optimal temperature window.

Gasly tried Pirelli's new wet tyres during a test conducted by Alpine at the Magny-Cours circuit in France. The intermediate and wet tyres were reported to not be reaching the optimal temperature range and were aquaplaning.

The 2026 Pirelli wet tyres were initially designed to be used without tyre blankets. Lewis Hamilton has been critical of the 2026 Pirelli wet and intermediate tyres after testing them at Ferrari's Fiorano circuit, and he said he pushed Pirelli and the FIA to reinstate the use of tyre blankets.

"Ultimately they've had to build a tyre that works with those low blankets and the tyres don't work. So we're constantly battling the tyres that don't work," Hamilton said.

Isack Hadjar crashed after switching to the intermediate tyre compound in damp conditions during the Barcelona shakedown. Hadjar said that the wet tyres were not made for a race with 21 other drivers.