Last Update: December 4, 2023
The Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix - Montreal takes place this year from 16 to 18 June. Before that, the F1 teams were at the Grand Prix of Barcelona - Spain at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. After the Canadian race, it's on to the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg-Austria.
The roots of the Canadian Grand Prix go back to 1967, when the first race was held at Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec. The race was won by the legendary Jack Brabham, who had already won two Formula One world titles at the time. In the following years, the race was held at various tracks before finally finding its permanent home at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in 1978.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, named after Canadian racing driver Gilles Villeneuve who tragically died in an accident during the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, has been the home of the Canadian Grand Prix ever since. The circuit features fast straights, tight corners and challenging sections that demand everything from drivers.
Michael Schumacher, who later became the record world champion, celebrated his first victory in Formula 1 here in 1994. It was the start of an impressive career that made him one of the most successful drivers of all time. Schumacher won the Canadian Grand Prix a total of seven times, illustrating his special connection to this circuit.
In 2020 and 2021, the Canadian Grand Prix was cancelled due to the Corona pandemic.
The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is a temporary racetrack for motorsport events and is located on Île Notre-Dame in the Canadian city of Montréal. It was named on 12 June 1982 in honour of the Canadian racing driver Gilles Villeneuve.
The track runs across Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the St Lawrence River. When there are no races, parts of the track are opened to public traffic.
Due to its location on this elongated island, the course offers fast sections with long straights. The course is 4.361 km long and is run in a clockwise direction.
A total of 305.270 km will be covered in 70 laps.
Few changes have been made to the circuit since its inception in 1978. The most significant modifications were the relocation of the start-finish line and pit lane in 1987, which are now located at the end of the Droit du Casino straight rather than behind the hairpin Épingle des Stands. In addition, the pit exit was changed for the 2002 season. It now no longer leads into the first corner, but into the following hairpin Virage de Senna (formerly known as Épingle de l'île).
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Max Verstappen |
| 2021 | No race |
| 2020 | No race |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) |
| 2018 | Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) |
| 2017 | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) |
| 2016 | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) |
| 2015 | Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) |
| 2014 | Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull-Renault) |
| 2013 | Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) |
| 2012 | Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) |
| 2011 | Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes) |
| 2010 | Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) |
| 2009 | No race |
| 2008 | Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) |
| 2007 | Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) |
| 2006 | Fernando Alonso (Renault) |
| 2005 | Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren-Mercedes) |
| 2004 | Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) |
| 2003 | Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) |
| 2002 | Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) |
| 2001 | Ralf Schumacher (Williams-BMW) |
| 2000 | Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) |
| 1999 | Mika Häkkinen (McLaren-Mercedes) |
| 1998 | Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) |
| 1997 | Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) |
| 1996 | Damon Hill (Williams-Renault) |
| 1995 | Jean Alesi (Ferrari) |
| 1994 | Michael Schumacher (Benetton-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1993 | Alain Prost (Williams-Renault) |
| 1992 | Gerhard Berger (McLaren-Honda) |
| 1991 | Nelson Piquet (Benetton-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1990 | Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda) |
| 1989 | Thierry Boutsen (Williams-Renault) |
| 1988 | Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda) |
| 1987 | No race |
| 1986 | Nigel Mansell (Williams-Honda) |
| 1985 | Michele Alboreto (Ferrari) |
| 1984 | Nelson Piquet (Brabham-BMW) |
| 1983 | René Arnoux (Ferrari) |
| 1982 | Nelson Piquet (Brabham-BMW) |
| 1981 | Jacques Laffite (Ligier-Matra) |
| 1980 | Alan Jones (Williams-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1979 | Alan Jones (Williams-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1978 | Gilles Villeneuve (Ferrari) |
| 1977 | Jody Scheckter (McLaren-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1976 | James Hunt (McLaren-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1975 | No race |
| 1974 | Emerson Fittipaldi (McLaren-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1973 | Peter Revson (McLaren-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1972 | Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1971 | Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1970 | Jacky Ickx (Ferrari) |
| 1969 | Jacky Ickx (Brabham-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1968 | Denis Hulme (McLaren-Ford Cosworth) |
| 1967 | Jack Brabham (Brabham-Repco) |
The pole position in the Canadian Grand Prix was achieved 6 times each by Michael Schumacher of Germany and Lewis Hamilton of the United Kingdom.
In terms of number of wins at the Montreal GP, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton also lead the way. Both have won the title 7 times, sharing the record for the most wins in Canada.
The current lap record is held by Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas. In 2019, he clocked an impressive lap time of 1:13.078 in his Mercedes.
The absolute fastest lap so far at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit was set by Germany's Sebastian Vettel. In 2019 qualifying, he managed to set a record time of 1:10.240 in his Ferrari.
Canadian Grand Prix - Discover a new way to watch all the Formula 1 races from the comfort of your own home. It's amazing how easy it is to use the live stream of Formula 1 without a pay-TV subscription. I have been using this great option myself for years. The quality of the broadcast is excellent and I can only recommend it to you.
