The beauty of multi-series racing is that you rarely have to endure a weekend without any racing, but when it does happen, you can’t help but feel a little lost.

The team had plenty to keep them busy as they debriefed from Spain, prepared for Canada and continued to tinker with the MCL60. And even though we weren’t able to watch any of the McLaren Racing teams in action whilst we worked, we were able to cheer on René Rast and Will Stevens, who were competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Thankfully, we’re back in action this weekend in Montreal, home to some of the greatest races in our history. In this week’s grand prix guide, we’ll take a brief trip down memory lane, enjoy a deep dive into the track specifics and get the thoughts of Lando, Oscar and Team Principal Andrea Stella.

Critical info

Round	9
Where	Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
When	16 - 18 June
Lights out	14:00 local / 19:00 MTC
Follow	The website and the McLaren App for LIVE commentary and team radio

“I’m looking forward to getting back racing in Canada. Spain was a tough race but there was a lot to take away for both me and the team including the positive of Saturday’s P3 in quali. 

“With a week off from racing following a double-header I’ve been back at the MTC with my engineers in preparation for this weekend. Circuit Gilles-Villenueve can be challenging with its heavy-braking chicanes, but it can also be a lot of fun to race. I’m excited for it, and hopefully we can score some points.”

“We’re back racing after a week of hard work at the factory. I’ve been preparing for the weekend with my engineers, so I feel ready to make my debut at Circuit Gilles-Villenueve. Spain was bittersweet for the team. Sunday proved difficult but we had some positives to take away from Saturday’s qualifying session. 

“There’s a lot more to achieve this season and we’re working really hard to improve our race pace. We’ll give it our all in Canada and look to have a positive race weekend.”  

Keeping it Mont-real

The most iconic section of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is, of course, the Wall of Champions, a punishing barrier that has famously caught out Formula 1’s cream of the crop, from Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, and Michael Schumacher to Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button. You can learn where it got its name from, and why it’s caught out so many big names here.

Outside of that, there’s plenty more to love. Canada is largely fast and free-flowing, with some nice long straights that allow drivers to really put their foot down. It’s not all foot to the floor, either, with some heavy braking zones that test out a driver’s bravery and reaction times, giving those who are latest on the brakes that pinch of extra time.

The combination of high-speed sections and heavy braking zones can make it feel a little stop-start, but it is for good reason as it makes the circuit one of the hardest working on the calendar, with car and drivers being pushed to their limit.

It also makes it great for overtaking. The best example of this is right at the end of the lap, where cars can pick up a tow coming out of the final corner and onto the main straight, making a move possible either down this road or heading at Turn 1.

Last time out

Our last Formula 1 outing had something of a Jekyll and Hyde feel to it. Qualifying was brilliant, with the conditions suiting the characteristics of the MCL60 and allowing Lando to take third place on merit. Oscar would have been right up there, too, were it not for a minor mistake in the final sector. Even after the mistake, Oscar still secured a solid ninth-place starting position.

In contrast, the race was much, much tougher. Lando collided with Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap, which forced him into the pits for repairs, before returning at the back of the field and finishing the race in 17th. It wasn’t much better for Oscar either, as the Australian struggled for pace in less favourable conditions than on the Saturday and dropped out of the points to 13th.

Setting the scene

There are two sides to Montreal: the tranquil café culture of the daytime, and the lively nightlife of the evening time. If you’re there for the former, then you’ll not be disappointed. Pick up a coffee from any of the fantastic local baristas and watch the world go by, or take it for a wander around the city’s stunning cobbled streets, stopping off to check out landmarks such as the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal and Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal.

Then in the evenings, take your pick from any number of excellent restaurants and bars, making sure to try some Poutine, a French-Canadian combination of crispy fries, cheese and rich gravy.

“We came away from Spain with a less than satisfactory result. We were of course very happy to start the race with both cars in the top 10 after a positive qualifying session. The race proved to be more difficult in terms of pace and due to Lando’s incident at Turn 1. We take the learning onboard, and we go again.

“Canada is a track that many drivers enjoy. It’s another challenging circuit, fast flowing but with low-speed corners and loads of braking and traction. We’re on the right trajectory as a team for the long-term foundation and we know results will start to come to us once we improve the car. In the meantime, we’ll try and extract the most from the next GP in Canada.”

Set your alarms 

Free Practice 1	13:30 ET / 18:30 BST / 03:30 AET
Free Practice 2	17:00 ET / 22:00 BST / 07:00 AET
Free Practice 3	12:30 ET / 17:30 BST / 02:30 AET
Qualifying	16:00 ET / 21:00 BST / 06:00 AET
Race	17:00 ET / 19:00 BST / 02:00 AET

Stat pack

• We are the most successful team at the Canadian Grand Prix with 13 wins

• Denny Hulme notched our first win in Canada in 1968

• Nine of our 13 wins have been at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, which has hosted the Canadian GP since 1978

• Our most recent win in Canada was Lewis Hamilton in 2012, our third win in a row at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

• The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix won by McLaren’s Jenson Button, lasted a staggering four hours, four minutes, and 39.537 seconds due to torrential weather conditions

• Peter Revson, Emerson Fittipaldi, James Hunt, Ayrton Senna, Gerhard Berger, Mika Häkkinen and Kimi Räikkönen have also all won for us in Canada

• The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was originally called the Île Notre-Dame Circuit before being renamed in 1982 after the death of Canadian racing driver Gilles Villeneuve

• The circuit hosted rowing and canoeing events at the 1976 Montreal Olympics

The fit: T-shirts weather

Two T-shirts are better than one, and with summer now in full swing, you’ll need plenty of them. Temperatures in Woking reached a scorching 30 degrees across the weekend and with more of the same expected over the next couple of months, this is a great time to up your tee game, with our limited-time-only 'buy one get one half price' offer.

Whether you want to show your support for the entire team or rep one of the Lando and Oscar ranges, there’s a selection of subtle and bold choices to suit every wardrobe type.

Plus one

Do you want to be a part of the most inclusive, rewarding and accessible fan programme anywhere in Formula 1? Join the McLaren Plus family for FREE, and you’ll receive unparalleled access to the team. From factory tours to signed merchandise and everything in between: sign up now, and we promise we’ll spoil you rotten.