I went to F1 in Montreal for the first time — here's an inside look at race weekend

I arrived in Montreal last weekend, courtesy of Audi Canada, with little to no knowledge of Formula 1. I left a full-on fan.

The Canadian Grand Prix is known for its high-energy atmosphere, but nothing prepares you for what it actually feels like on the ground. Fans in the streets, the distant sounds of engines revving, parties galore, and maybe even a celebrity sighting or two — it’s a whole lot of fun.

As Formula 1 legend Jacques Villeneuve tells Daily Hive, “You can feel the energy in the whole town. It’s the end of winter, and everybody is just going for it. That kind of energy is palpable.”

Whether you’re a diehard motorsports fan or a first-timer like me, here’s an inside look at what to do in Montreal during F1 weekend.

Old Montreal, but make it F1

It’s hard not to love Old Montreal, with its cobblestone streets, chic patios, and picturesque buildings. And with temperatures reaching the late 20s this weekend, the Euro-summer vibes were real.

Staying here puts you in the heart of the action, and I recommend the Hôtel William Gray at 421 Rue Saint-Vincent.

A stylish, upscale spot that blends historic 18th-century architecture with sleek, modern design. It has one of the best rooftop terrace bars in the area, along with a high-end spa and an in-house steakhouse at Maggie Oakes. It’s not hard to see why it was named the fifth-best hotel in Canada.

Embrace your inner foodie

Montreal has a big reputation for incredible restaurants, so enjoying some of the city’s cuisine during the F1 weekend is a must.

One of my favourites was Dorsia, an elegant Michelin Guide restaurant in the heart of Old Montreal. The menu revolves around French and Italian cuisine, and is full of bold and delicious sharing plates.

I was lucky enough to attend Audi’s Sustainability Dinner Series at Dorsia, where Executive Chef Miles Pundsack-Poe and Chef Bernardo Paladini put together an unforgettable six-course feast centred around responsibly sourced ingredients and low-waste cooking.

The dishes used ingredients that would have otherwise gone to waste — parmesan rinds became sauces, stale bread turned into breadcrumbs. Yes, sustainability can still feel luxurious!

And of course, you can’t leave Quebec without eating poutine. A stop at La Banquise is almost mandatory. Tucked away in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, this famous spot often has a pretty big queue, but it’s definitely worth it.

Then there’s St-Viateur Bagel, another iconic Montreal experience that actually lives up to the hype. It might be one of the best fresh bagels you’ll ever try.

Beyond the track

The city is full of F1 activations, so there’s no shortage of things to do in your downtime. Throughout the streets, you’ll be able to snap pictures with race-themed décor and luxe cars.

Check out the Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival, an event that has long been the site of driver appearances and autograph sessions, or try out the race simulators at the Eaton Centre.

And, naturally, you’ll want to hit up some bars, too. Montreal’s nightlife scene is buzzing year-round, but especially during F1. I stumbled into The Coldroom in Old Montreal, a speakeasy with creative cocktails and a low-lit, moody ambience. To enter, you’ll need to find an unmarked black door, press the buzzer, and wait for someone to escort you inside. It’s the perfect place to get chatting with friendly locals.

The F1 Montreal race experience

I made my way to beautiful Circuit Gilles Villeneuve throughout the weekend, attending a practice session, the Sprint Qualifying, and eventually the Main race itself.

Between the roaring engines and edge-of-your-seat moments, I started to understand the obsession with F1.

The energy around the circuit was impossible not to get caught up in. Fans erupted as Kimi Antonelli secured the win, and I watched as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battled it out on track for P2.

I also got a behind-the-scenes look at the Audi garage and stepped inside the F1 Paddock Club, where drivers and teams prepared for race day. Seeing racers casually walking around moments before hitting the track was very cool and a little surreal, especially for someone still relatively new to the world of F1.

Many changes are taking place in the sport right now. Formula 1 is currently pushing toward its goal of becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030, which has led to redesigned active aerodynamics, a 50-50 electric/combustion power split, smaller and lighter cars, and more.

No matter how much Formula 1 changes, though, the heart of the sport seems to stay the same.

Speaking about his own experience and how racing has evolved over the years, Jacques Villeneuve summed it up best:

“The adrenaline is a constant — finding a way to be quicker and become better is the goal. There’s always someone who’s going to be faster than you, and that’s the fun.”

All in all, as a first-timer, I had an incredible weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix. You don’t need to be a superfan to enjoy it; Montreal has a way of pulling you into the excitement anyway.

‘Til next year!

The writer of this piece was hosted by Audi Canada.

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