Canadian Grand Prix facts for kids
| Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (2002–present) |
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| Race information | |
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| Number of times held | 59 |
| First held | 1961 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Michael Schumacher (7) Lewis Hamilton (7) |
| Most wins (constructors) |  Ferrari (14) |
| Circuit length | 4.361 km (2.709 mi) |
| Race length | 305.270 km (189.694 mi) |
| Laps | 70 |
| Last race (2024) | |
| Pole position | |
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| Podium | |
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| Fastest lap | |
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The Canadian Grand Prix (French: Grand Prix du Canada) is an exciting annual car race. It has been held almost every year since 1961. Since 1967, it has been a part of the Formula One World Championship. This is the highest level of racing for open-wheel cars.
The first races took place at Mosport Park in Ontario. It started as a sports car event. Later, it moved between Mosport and Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec. Because of safety concerns, the race moved permanently to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, in 1978. This is where it is still held today.
In 2005, the Canadian Grand Prix was the most-watched Formula One race globally. It was also the third most-watched sporting event worldwide that year. Only the Super Bowl XXXIX and the UEFA Champions League Final had more viewers. The races in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract to host the race has been extended until 2031.
Contents
Discover the History of the Canadian Grand Prix
The Canadian Grand Prix began in 1961 as a top event for sports cars. It was held at Mosport Park near Toronto. Mosport Park was known for being a challenging track with many ups and downs. Many famous international drivers raced there. For the first five years, drivers who had raced in Formula One or would later join it won the event. In 1966, the Canadian-American Challenge Cup ran the race, and American Mark Donohue won. Formula One took over the event the next year.
Formula One Racing Begins in Canada
Early Tracks: Mosport Park and Mont-Tremblant
The Canadian Grand Prix became part of the Formula One World Championship in 1967. Mosport Park was the first host. The race then switched between Mosport Park in Ontario and Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec. Mont-Tremblant hosted the race in 1968 and 1970. It was a challenging track with big changes in elevation, much like Mosport. The first championship race was won by Jack Brabham. His teammate, Denny Hulme, finished second.
In 1968, the race was moved to late September. This allowed it to be held around the same time as the United States Grand Prix. New Zealander Chris Amon led most of the 1968 race. However, his car's gearbox broke near the end. His teammates, Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren, finished first and second.
There was an idea to move the race to a street circuit in Toronto in 1968. This plan did not happen at the time. However, the idea of racing in a city would come back later.
The 1969 race at Mosport Park was exciting. Briton Jackie Stewart and Jacky Ickx battled for the lead. They crashed while trying to pass a slower driver, Al Pease. Stewart's car stopped, but Ickx managed to continue and win. Pease was later disqualified for being too slow. He is the only F1 driver ever disqualified for this reason.
In 1970, Ickx won again, with his teammate Clay Regazzoni in second place. After 1970, Mont-Tremblant was no longer used for Formula One. This was due to safety worries about the track surface and issues with local racing officials. From 1971 onwards, Mosport Park became the only host for the Canadian Grand Prix.
The 1971 race at Mosport Park was very wet and foggy. The main race was delayed after a serious accident in a support race. When it finally started, it was raining heavily. Jackie Stewart won easily. In 1972, Mosport was improved with new safety features, and Stewart won again. The 1973 race was also very wet and confusing. After a safety car period, the race order became mixed up. American Peter Revson eventually won, thanks to a lucky break.
The 1974 race was won by Emerson Fittipaldi. His rival, Clay Regazzoni, finished second. There was no race in 1975. In 1976, Briton James Hunt won the Canadian Grand Prix.
In 1977, Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve made his debut for Ferrari. However, safety concerns about Mosport Park grew. Driver Ian Ashley had a terrible crash, and rescue efforts were slow. Another driver, Jochen Mass, hit a guardrail that offered little protection. Jody Scheckter won this race. Because of these safety issues, a new plan was made. The race moved permanently to Montreal. A new track was built on Notre Dame Island, which had hosted the famous Expo '67 fair. The Canadian Grand Prix has been held there ever since, except for a few years when it was cancelled.
Montreal: The Current Home of the Grand Prix
The first winner in Montreal in 1978 was Quebec native Gilles Villeneuve, driving for Ferrari. In 1979, the track was changed to make it faster. Australian Alan Jones won in 1979 and 1980. The 1980 race also saw a big crash at the start. French driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille crashed and badly broke his legs, ending his F1 career.
The 1981 race was very wet. Gilles Villeneuve showed amazing car control. His car's front wing was damaged from a crash, but he still managed to finish third. French driver Jacques Laffite won the race.
Sadly, Gilles Villeneuve was killed in a qualifying accident in 1982. A few weeks later, the Montreal race track was renamed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in his honor. He is the only Canadian to win the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix. The 1982 Canadian Grand Prix was a very sad event. Another accident happened when Didier Pironi stalled his car at the start. Driver Riccardo Paletti crashed into the back of Pironi's car and later died from his injuries. Nelson Piquet won that race. Also in 1982, the race moved from October to June, where it has been held ever since.
In 1983, René Arnoux won for Ferrari. The next year, Piquet won again. In 1985, Ferrari drivers Michele Alboreto and Stefan Johansson finished first and second. The 1986 race was very competitive. Briton Nigel Mansell won after other drivers had problems. In 1987, the race was not held due to a disagreement between sponsors. During this break, the track was changed, and the starting line moved to its current spot.
In 1988, Brazilian Ayrton Senna won. He almost won again in 1989, but his engine failed, and Thierry Boutsen took his first F1 victory. The 1990 race was wet and had many crashes, but Senna won again. In 1991, Nigel Mansell's car failed on the very last lap, just before the finish line. Nelson Piquet won his last F1 race. Austrian Gerhard Berger won in 1992.
Alain Prost won in 1993. In 1994, a fast corner called Droit du Casino was changed into a chicane (a slow, S-shaped bend) for safety. German Michael Schumacher won this race. In 1995, Jean Alesi won the race on his 31st birthday. This was his only F1 win. He inherited the lead when other drivers had problems. His victory was very popular, especially because he drove the famous number 27 Ferrari, which had belonged to Gilles Villeneuve. Schumacher even gave Alesi a ride back to the pits after Alesi's car ran out of fuel.
The Canadian Grand Prix became very important around this time. It was the only Formula One race in North America from 1993 to 2000, and again from 2008 to 2011.
In 1996, the Casino corner was removed, and the track layout changed again. Briton Damon Hill won. The 1997 race was stopped early due to a crash involving Olivier Panis. From 1997 to 2004 (except 1999 and 2001), Michael Schumacher won many times for Ferrari. In 1999, Mika Häkkinen won. In 2001, brothers Ralf and Michael Schumacher finished first and second, a first in Formula One history. They did it again in 2003. In 2001, Jean Alesi celebrated his fifth-place finish by doing "donuts" with his car and throwing his helmet into the crowd!
The 2007 race was special because it was rookie Lewis Hamilton's first win. It also featured an exciting drive by Takuma Sato and a big crash involving Robert Kubica. Kubica would go on to win the race the next year, which was his only F1 victory.
A Break in Racing: 2009
The Canadian Grand Prix was not on the Formula One calendar in 2009. This was the first time it was skipped since 1987. This meant no Formula One race was held in North America that year. However, discussions quickly began to bring the race back. On November 27, 2009, officials announced a new five-year contract. The Canadian Grand Prix returned in 2010.
Recent Races: 2010 to Today
The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix became the longest Formula One race ever. Rainstorms delayed it for hours. When it restarted, Briton Jenson Button drove from last place to catch the leader, Sebastian Vettel. Button forced Vettel into a mistake, passed him, and won the race. Button called it "my best ever race."
The 2013 Canadian Grand Prix saw Vettel dominate. Sadly, it also saw the first Formula One-related death in 12 years. A track marshal named Mark Robinson was hit by a recovery vehicle. He died later in the hospital. This was a very sad moment for the sport.
Wildlife on the Track
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is on an island, so it's not uncommon to see wildlife. City officials try to trap groundhogs around the track before the race and move them. However, sometimes they still appear!
- In 1990, Alessandro Nannini hit a gopher, which damaged his tire.
- In 2007, a groundhog caused a practice session to be disrupted. On race day, Anthony Davidson hit a groundhog, which forced him to pit for repairs.
- In 2018, Romain Grosjean hit a groundhog during practice, damaging his front wing.
- In 2022, Nicholas Latifi hit a groundhog during practice.
The Famous Wall of Champions
The very last corner of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is famous for crashes. It's known as the "Wall of Champions." In 1999, three former World Champions – Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve – all crashed into this wall. The wall has the slogan Bienvenue au Québec (Welcome to Quebec) on it. Other champions and top drivers have also crashed there, including Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel.
Who Has Won the Canadian Grand Prix?
Drivers with Multiple Wins
Drivers in bold are currently racing in Formula One.
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Driver | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Michael Schumacher |
1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Lewis Hamilton |
2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 | |
| 3 |  Nelson Piquet |
1982, 1984, 1991 |
 Max Verstappen |
2022, 2023, 2024 | |
| 2 |  Pedro Rodríguez |
1963, 1964 |
 Jacky Ickx |
1969, 1970 | |
| Jackie Stewart |
1971, 1972 | |
 Alan Jones |
1979, 1980 | |
| Ayrton Senna |
1988, 1990 | |
| Sebastian Vettel |
2013, 2018 | |
| Sources: | ||
Teams with Multiple Wins
Teams in bold are currently competing in Formula One.
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Constructor | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Ferrari |
1963, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2018 |
| 13 | McLaren |
1968, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
| 7 | Williams |
1979, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2001 |
| 5 |  Red Bull |
2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| 4 | Brabham |
1967, 1969, 1982, 1984 |
| Mercedes |
2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 | |
| 2 | Lotus |
1961, 1962 |
| Tyrrell |
1971, 1972 | |
| Benetton |
1991, 1994 | |
| Sources: | ||
Engine Manufacturers with Multiple Wins
Manufacturers in bold are currently competing in Formula One.
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years won |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Ferrari |
1963, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2018 |
| 12 |  Ford * |
1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1991, 1994 |
| 10 | Mercedes ** |
1999, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 |
| 6 |  Renault |
1989, 1993, 1996, 2006, 2013, 2014 |
| 4 |  Honda |
1986, 1988, 1990, 1992 |
| BMW |
1982, 1984, 2001, 2008 | |
| 2 | Climax |
1961, 1962 |
| Chevrolet |
1965, 1966 | |
 Honda RBPT |
2023, 2024 | |
| Sources: | ||
* Built by Cosworth, funded by Ford
** Between 1999 and 2005 built by Ilmor, funded by Mercedes
Winners by Year
A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
Images for kids
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Mosport Park (1967, 1969, 1971–1974, 1976–1977)
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Circuit Mont-Tremblant (1968, 1970)
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Circuit Île Notre Dame/Gilles Villeneuve (1978–1986)
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Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (1988–1993)
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Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (1994–1995)
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Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (1996–2001)
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See also
In Spanish: Gran Premio de Canadá para niños
