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Article sponsored by American Express Canada. The opinions and anecdotes shared in this story are my own.
Three days, 350,000 fans, a Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit packed from morning to night. The FORMULA 1 LENOVO GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2026 took place on Friday, May 22, Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24 in Montreal, and I was there. I spent the weekend with my American Express Platinum Card in my pocket, and I am going to tell you why it makes a tangible difference in how you experience a Grand Prix.
I have attended several Formula 1 races in my life in Monaco and Miami, but this one had something extra. Amex enhances its offering year after year, and 2026 marked a new milestone. Before diving into the day-by-day story, subscribe to our newsletter so you do not miss any of our upcoming event recaps.
The first benefit of the American Express Platinum Card for an F1® fan is not seen at the track. In fact, it happens months before the race, at ticket sales time. Eligible Amex Cardmembers get early access to ticket sales for F1® races worldwide, including the Canadian Grand Prix. It made all the difference for me: I was able to choose my seats before sales opened to the general public.
For details on Amex F1® benefits worldwide, go here: Amex benefits on Formula1.com. If you are new to the card, take a look at our tutorial American Express: Getting started with the American Express Platinum Card to understand how to activate your privileges as soon as you receive it.
On race day, the difference is obvious. While the general lines stretched as far as the eye could see, I went through the Amex priority entrance reserved for Cardmembers. A few minutes, and I was inside. Over three days, that small privilege changes how tired you feel.
On the transportation side, the STM managed the crowds well. The metro ride in was fairly smooth each morning. However, let us be honest: leaving the circuit each evening was another story. Allow about 1 hour 30 minutes between the moment you leave your grandstand and the moment you board a train. So, jokingly, I suggest Amex add a “priority exit” to its list of benefits. That would be the next level.
Friday and Saturday: blue skies, warm—clearly the two best days of the weekend. Perfect for enjoying outdoor activities, hanging out in the Fan Zone, and spending time on the terraces of the Amex spaces. The weather clearly contributed to the overall atmosphere at the circuit.
The Amex Racing Club was my weekend HQ.
The official slogan sets the tone:
Specifically, the club is spread over two floors. On the first floor, you can find a phone strap customization station, interactive challenges, and the distribution of goodies.
The contents of the kit vary depending on the level of Amex card you present.
I received a power bank, a scarf, and hand sanitizer, but other cardholders left with different kits.
The second floor is the Relaxation Room (Recovery Room).
That is where it becomes truly comfortable: massage chairs, mirrors to touch up makeup or freshen up, sunscreen available, and a Gatorade stand to replenish electrolytes after a day in the sun.
You will also find collections of F1 ACADEMY™ helmets and outfits on display, and meet-and-greet moments with drivers depending on the time slots.
Another very tangible benefit: Amex Race Radios.
You stop by an Amex kiosk, pick up a radio, turn it on, and listen to live commentary all day long.
As Amex puts it:
The audio quality was excellent, and the commentary was very strong.
A fun anecdote: one of the presenters is none other than Meeker Guerrier, a former colleague. All weekend long, I heard his voice breaking down the sessions, strategies, and pit stops. It also added a familiar touch to the experience, which I found very amusing.
The Fan Zone is the other major highlight for Amex cardholders. Several activities offer priority access: photos on the official podium, pit-stop tire-change trials, simulators, and interactive installations.
With blue skies on Friday and Saturday, I was able to go from one activation to the next without having to rush.
On the shopping side, Amex offered a statement credit throughout the weekend for purchases made in the circuit shops.
In my case, it was $20 credited for a minimum of $100 spent. Enough to treat myself to a nice team cap.
The Trackside Lounge requires reserving a time slot, but it is easy: I was able to get one per day over the three days without any difficulty.
In practical terms, you get a trackside grandstand seat, screens to follow other sections of the circuit, and an on-site expert to comment on race strategy.
Bonus touch: Amex’s Shop Small team, which champions small Canadian businesses, was handing out artisanal cookies on site. A thoughtful gesture.
Sunday brought a change of scenery. Cold, rainy, grey skies. And yet, ideal weather for an exciting Grand Prix: it is often when the asphalt is wet that the best races happen.
The track delivered on its promise, with tire strategies flipping in just a few laps.
Since the weather did not invite lingering outside, I spent more time in the covered Amex spaces: the Recovery Room, the Trackside Lounge, and I made heavy use of the Race Radio so I would not miss anything between two sheltered moments. It is in these situations that the benefits really come into their own.
Outside the circuit, Amex set up its lounge club right downtown: Maison Amex.
My impression: Maison Amex improves year after year. The atmosphere truly feels like a private club in the heart of the city. It is the perfect place at the end of the day to unwind before heading back to the metro or your hotel.
Beyond the spaces and privileges, it is the encounters that make a Grand Prix stay etched in your memory.
I was lucky enough to run into Ava Dobson, an F1 ACADEMY™ driver and a figure in the Amex program. She was signing souvenir cards and taking the time to chat with fans. Amex’s commitment to the next generation of women in motorsport is tangible and visible on site, not just in a brochure.
The highlight of the weekend for me was meeting Jean Alesi. The French driver from my childhood.
We talked about his victory lap of honour at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix, when he went around the circuit sitting on the hood of Michael Schumacher’s car because his had broken down. It was an image that stuck with me at the time on my TV at home. He told me all the details of that funny situation—the improvised side of it, the atmosphere in parc fermé. Thirty-one years later, hearing the story directly from him was a great memory.
Over the weekend, I also caught sight of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Lance Stroll in the paddock.
It is always impressive to see these drivers in the flesh, just a few metres away, coming out of a qualifying session or climbing into their single-seater.
Over the years, Amex has added layers to its Grand Prix offering: first priority entrances, then the Racing Club, then Race Radios, the Trackside Lounge, and now Maison Amex downtown. In 2026, the experience became cohesive from one end of the weekend to the other, from the moment you buy your ticket to the last cocktail in the city.
If you want to experience the CANADIAN GRAND PRIX under these conditions next year, the American Express Platinum Card is the key.
For entrepreneurs, the American Express Business Platinum Card also gives access to these F1® privileges. Also remember to activate the benefits linked to the American Express Platinum Card as soon as you receive it so you do not miss anything.
To compare all options, see our selection of the best credit cards in Canada and the best American Express cards category.
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