When the world comes to Montreal for Formula 1, the spotlight may be on the track, but the real work starts long before the engines start revving. Behind the scenes, the PepsiCo Canada teams show up early, execute with precision, and manage thousands of everyday moments that make race weekend possible.
Speed, Measured in Seconds: on the Track and the Production Line
In Formula 1, every fraction of a second counts. Top teams routinely complete tire‑only pit stops in just two seconds, a blink‑and‑you‑miss‑it moment that can make or break a race.
In fact, in the two seconds it takes an F1 pit crew to complete a stop, PepsiCo Canada produces 27 bottles of Gatorade® sports drink at its Montreal facility.
That same focus on speed and execution extends far beyond the pit lane. In the 2 hours it takes for the race to be completed, PepsiCo Canada teams move over 17,000 chip bags through its Lévis manufacturing facility.
Like a pit crew, that level of performance is powered by precision, coordination and repetition. But the work off the track continues long after the cars are back up to speed!
A Race‑Week Operation, Built Weeks in Advance
For PepsiCo Canada, race weekend is the finish line of a much longer sprint.
Across the race grounds, nearly 188,500 kilograms of product and racking are installed ahead of F1 week. That's close to the weight of about 236 Formula 1 cars. Everything is staged early, from product to equipment, so teams can stay agile and focus on staying in stock once the weekend gets underway.
Keeping Snacks Stocked from the First Lap to the Last
There’s a lot fans don’t see when they reach for a bag of chips between sessions.
Nearly 1,000 cases of chips, nearly 14,700 individual bags, are delivered to the track alone the week prior to the race.
“For us, success looks like fans never having to think about whether their favourite snack is available—it just is,” said Steve Crook, Away From Home Sales Associate Manager, PepsiCo Canada. “That level of precision comes from planning weeks in advance, setting up early, and having teams on the ground ready to respond as race weekend unfolds.”
Beyond the track, sales teams also support downtown Montreal hotels, which operate near full capacity as over 350,000 visitors arrive for Grand Prix weekend, helping ensure guests have access to familiar snacks during one of the city’s busiest tourism moments.
One Weekend, Powered by One Team
Pulling off a global event like Formula 1 in Montreal takes more than trucks and timelines; it takes people.
F1 fans will remember the speed, the atmosphere and the energy of race weekend. Behind every one of those moments, our food and drinks teams were already there, ready before the world arrived.
Because when the world comes to Montreal, PepsiCo Canada is ready to make them smile.