Canadian GP race times, weather & BBC coverage

George Russell (centre) will start on pole position in Montreal, with Max Verstappen (left) in second and Lando Norris (right) third

Round nine of the 2024 Formula 1 season heads to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Canadian Grand Prix from 7-9 June.

As there is a five-hour time difference between Montreal and the UK, lights out for Sunday’s race will be at 19:00 BST.

George Russell took Mercedes’ first pole position of the season ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on Saturday.

Russell and Verstappen set identical lap times of one minute 12 seconds dead but because the Briton banked his first he will start the race from P1.

McLaren's Lando Norris will start third on the grid.

Session start times and BBC coverage

There will be live radio commentary of the Canadian Grand Prix via the BBC Sport website and app, with Sunday's race also available on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.

You can also listen and download the Chequered Flag podcast, which previews and reviews every race of the season.

All times BST

Sunday, 9 June

Race - 19:00 (BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds)

What is the weather forecast for the Canadian GP?

In 2023, the Canadian Grand Prix attracted 345,000 fans across the three days

Qualifying on Saturday avoided any rain during the fight for pole position but Sunday could see some wet weather for the 70-lap race, which starts at 2pm local time.

The current forecast for Montreal is for thundery showers and a gentle breeze, with temperatures around 18 degrees.

Will Esteban Ocon drive for Alpine in Canada?

Ocon on track in the Alpine in Monaco

Esteban Ocon confirmed last week that he will take part in the Canadian Grand Prix, after he was deemed at fault for an opening-lap collision with his Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly in Monaco.

The 27-year-old has been given a five-place grid penalty for this weekend's race as a result of the crash.

However, on Monday it was announced Ocon will leave Alpine after five years at the end of the 2024 season.

Both parties represented their split as a mutual decision in a joint statement, saying they had "agreed together".

What is the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve like?

Named after Canadian Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve, who secured his maiden win at the track in 1978, but who died after an accident during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a fast, low-downforce test that remains one of the drivers' favourites.

The 4.361km track has 14 corners, two DRS zones and is quite stop-start in nature, with long straights ending in heavy-braking chicanes. On Sunday, the grand prix will be run over 70 laps.

One section that makes the circuit unique is the 'Wall of Champions', a concrete wall at the end of the lap that has seen many of the sport's most famous names crash into it.

During the 1999 weekend, title winners Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher all fell foul of the infamous Montreal landmark.