Formula 1

• Track features

  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.

• What's it like in Montreal?

  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.

• 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