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Canadian Grand Prix
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
(2002–present)
Île Notre-Dame (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve).svg
Race information
Number of times held 59
First held 1961
Most wins (drivers) Germany Michael Schumacher (7)
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton (7)
Most wins (constructors) Italy 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
Podium
Fastest lap

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.

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.

Peter Revson M19C
Peter Revson's crashed McLaren M19C. This happened after he set the fastest qualifying lap for the 1972 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.

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve MAM2
Salut Gilles (Hello Gilles) on the track of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The Quebec-born Gilles Villeneuve won the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix.

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.

Senna Prost and Boutsen Montreal 1988
Ayrton Senna celebrates his victory at the 1988 Canadian Grand Prix with Alain Prost and Thierry Boutsen.

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.

Jean Alesi Ferrari 1995-mod
Jean Alesi at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix

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!

Hamilton + Alonso 2007 Canada
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso during the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.

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
2011 Canadian GP - Start
Start of the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix. This race was the longest ever F1 race due to rainstorms.

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

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Famous Wall
Bienvenue au Québec (Welcome to Quebec) slogan on the "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.

Hamilton Canada 2015
Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the 2015 Canadian Grand Prix.
Wins Driver Years won
7 Germany Michael Schumacher 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004
United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2007, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
3 Brazil Nelson Piquet 1982, 1984, 1991
Netherlands Max Verstappen 2022, 2023, 2024
2 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez 1963, 1964
Belgium Jacky Ickx 1969, 1970
United Kingdom Jackie Stewart 1971, 1972
Australia Alan Jones 1979, 1980
Brazil Ayrton Senna 1988, 1990
Germany 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 Italy Ferrari 1963, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2018
13 United Kingdom McLaren 1968, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012
7 United Kingdom Williams 1979, 1980, 1986, 1989, 1993, 1996, 2001
5 Austria Red Bull 2013, 2014, 2022, 2023, 2024
4 United Kingdom Brabham 1967, 1969, 1982, 1984
Germany Mercedes 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
2 United Kingdom Lotus 1961, 1962
United Kingdom Tyrrell 1971, 1972
United Kingdom 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 Italy Ferrari 1963, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1983, 1985, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2018
12 United States Ford * 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1991, 1994
10 Germany Mercedes ** 1999, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
6 France Renault 1989, 1993, 1996, 2006, 2013, 2014
4 Japan Honda 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992
Germany BMW 1982, 1984, 2001, 2008
2 United Kingdom Climax 1961, 1962
United States Chevrolet 1965, 1966
Japan 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.

Canadian GP map
A map showing all the locations where the Canadian Grand Prix has been held.
Year Driver Constructor Location Report
1961 Canada Peter Ryan Lotus-Climax Mosport Park Report
1962 United States Masten Gregory Lotus-Climax Report
1963 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez Ferrari Report
1964 Mexico Pedro Rodríguez Ferrari Report
1965 United States Jim Hall Chaparral-Chevrolet Report
1966 United States Mark Donohue Lola-Chevrolet Report
1967 Australia Jack Brabham Brabham-Repco Mosport Park Report
1968 New Zealand Denny Hulme McLaren-Ford Mont-Tremblant Report
1969 Belgium Jacky Ickx Brabham-Ford Mosport Park Report
1970 Belgium Jacky Ickx Ferrari Mont-Tremblant Report
1971 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Mosport Park Report
1972 United Kingdom Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Report
1973 United States Peter Revson McLaren-Ford Report
1974 Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi McLaren-Ford Report
1975 Not held
1976 United Kingdom James Hunt McLaren-Ford Mosport Park Report
1977 South Africa Jody Scheckter Wolf-Ford Report
1978 Canada Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari Circuit Île Notre-Dame Report
1979 Australia Alan Jones Williams-Ford Report
1980 Australia Alan Jones Williams-Ford Report
1981 France Jacques Laffite Ligier-Matra Report
1982 Brazil Nelson Piquet Brabham-BMW Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Report
1983 France René Arnoux Ferrari Report
1984 Brazil Nelson Piquet Brabham-BMW Report
1985 Italy Michele Alboreto Ferrari Report
1986 United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda Report
1987 Not held due to a sponsorship dispute between Labatt and Molson
1988 Brazil Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Report
1989 Belgium Thierry Boutsen Williams-Renault Report
1990 Brazil Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1991 Brazil Nelson Piquet Benetton-Ford Report
1992 Austria Gerhard Berger McLaren-Honda Report
1993 France Alain Prost Williams-Renault Report
1994 Germany Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford Report
1995 France Jean Alesi Ferrari Report
1996 United Kingdom Damon Hill Williams-Renault Report
1997 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
1998 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
1999 Finland Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes Report
2000 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2001 Germany Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW Report
2002 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2003 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2004 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2005 Finland Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes Report
2006 Spain Fernando Alonso Renault Report
2007 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Report
2008 Poland Robert Kubica BMW Sauber Report
2009 Not held
2010 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Report
2011 United Kingdom Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes Report
2012 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Report
2013 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault Report
2014 Australia Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault Report
2015 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2016 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2017 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2018 Germany Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Report
2019 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2020

2021
Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull-RBPT Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Report
2023 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda RBPT Report
2024 Netherlands Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda RBPT Report
Sources:

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Gran Premio de Canadá para niños

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