Canadian GP

• Track features

  The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a unique track in that it’s fast and flowing but with a lot of heavy braking zones and slow corners. The 4.361km long circuit is almost entirely made out of straights and chicanes, and that naturally brings the speed down.

  The last of those chicanes is the infamous Wall of Champions, which has caught out many of F1’s best drivers, including Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button. The Wall of Champions sits at the final corner of the circuit during a tight right-left chicane where cars have slowed down from roughly 300 km/h. Significant time can be gained at the end of a lap by riding the kerbs of this sequence, but a lack of grip means it’s easy to lose the car and end up buried in the wall.

  This chicane is sandwiched between two lengthy straights, which provide the circuit’s best overtaking opportunities. There’s a chance to gain a slipstream at either side of the chicane, giving cars two quickfire shots to make a move. This demands a lot from the cars, as they’re required to accelerate and brake repeatedly, and this works the brakes and the power unit hard.

• 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.

• F1 icebreaker

  Stuck for conversation with your F1-loving friends? Spark up a discussion with our F1 icebreaker…

  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.