The Canadian Grand Prix joined the F1 calendar in 1967. Following short stints at Mosport Park and the Circuit Mont-Tremblant, the race eventually found its permanent home in Montreal in 1978.
It is one of the most popular events on the schedule and has produced some incredible moments. Here are just a few:
A long day
The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix is undoubtedly one of the most dramatic and memorable races in recent Formula 1 history. It was won by Jenson Button, who incredibly pitted six times (one of which was for a drive-through penalty), collided with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, picked up a puncture and was at one stage in last place.
A storming drive through the field saw the Brit rise to second by the start of the last lap, just behind the race leader Sebastian Vettel. He had rapidly closed in on the Red Bull Racing driver in the closing stages. Unbelievably, Vettel made a mistake at turn six, allowing Button to move into the lead and take the victory.
It also broke the record for the longest ever F1 race, following a two-hour rain delay. It was officially recorded at four hours, four minutes and 39.537 seconds.
The first of many
Lewis Hamilton has a strong track record at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He has fond memories from racing there after taking his maiden F1 win at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Driving in the sixth race of his career in the sport, the Brit qualified on pole position (also his first) and led into turn one.
Despite being in a league of his own, Hamilton’s winning margin by the chequered was only four seconds thanks to four safety car periods. It was a faultless drive from the rookie, finishing ahead of Nick Heidfeld and Alexander Wurz.
Takuma Sato finished in a fine sixth place for Super Aguri after overtaking Fernando Alonso (who had a scruffy race and made several mistakes at the first corner) in the closing stages.
Of course, one of the safety car periods was for Robert Kubica’s huge crash at turn 10 on lap 26. It was definitely one of the worst I have seen live. The Polish driver’s BMW Sauber hit the back of Jarno Trulli’s Toyota and went straight on at the left-hand kink before the hairpin.
His car was launched into the air before it made heavy contact with the inside wall twice. It then rolled before coming to rest on its side. Fortunately he only suffered concussion and a sprained ankle, but he was forced to sit out of the next race in the United States, which saw the arrival of a certain German driver who would later go on to dominate the sport.
Another maiden victory
Robert Kubica scored his first F1 win at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, one year after his violent crash at the track. He had qualified second behind Lewis Hamilton and stayed with the Brit in the early stages, before the safety car was deployed on lap 16 to clear Adrian Sutil’s Force India, which was on fire.
The majority of the field dived into the pit lane, with a quick stop from Ferrari helping Kimi Raikkonen move ahead of both Kubica and Hamilton. As the leaders headed towards the pit exit, the Finn was forced to stop as the red light was on. Hamilton was late to notice the signal and couldn’t slow his McLaren down in time.
His car hit the back of Raikkonen’s Ferrari, with Nico Rosberg then running into the back of the Brit. Hamilton and the Williams driver - who was able to continue - were both given 10-place grid penalties for the next race.
Kubica missed all of the chaos and continued in second place, behind his team-mate Nick Heidfeld. He swiftly displaced the German driver and built up a comfortable lead to secure his first F1 victory. It was also BMW Sauber’s first 1-2, with Heidfeld in second and David Coulthard in third.
A popular triumph
The 1995 Canadian Grand Prix saw Jean Alesi score his first and only F1 victory. He passed Michael Schumacher, who had been dominating the race, with 11 laps to go after the German driver’s car developed an electrical problem. Alesi took the chequered flag 31 seconds clear of Rubens Barrichello, with Eddie Irvine making it two Jordan drivers in the top three.
It was a popular win, as it had taken five years for Alesi to stand on the top step of the podium. It was also his 31st birthday and he was at the wheel of the number 27 Ferrari, as famously driven by Gilles Villeneuve. It was the final victory for the V12 engine. His car famously ran out of fuel on the victory lap and he was picked up by Schumacher, who took him back to the pits.
A spectacular start
The 1998 Canadian Grand Prix is best remembered for not one but two accidents at the first corner. The first involved Alexander Wurz, after the Benetton driver was squeezed onto the grass and struggled to slow down his car.
A collision with Jean Alesi caused his car to roll three times before it eventually landed the right way up. Several other drivers were involved and the race had to be red flagged and restarted. On the second start, Ralf Schumacher bunched up the field after going off and spinning at turn one.
Following contact with another car, Jarno Trulli’s Prost managed to climb on top of Alesi’s Sauber. The race resumed but the safety car was deployed. It re-appeared several times, but Michael Schumacher still managed to win the race by 16 seconds. This was despite being handed a 10-second stop/go penalty for pushing Heinz-Harald Frenzten off the track,
The final lap
The 1991 Canadian Grand Prix concluded in dramatic fashion after Nigel Mansell – who had looked set to take the race win by some margin – slowed on the final lap of the race at the hairpin. He was eventually classified sixth and handed the victory to Nelson Piquet.
The driver and team insisted at the time that it was a transmission failure. However, some say he stalled the car as he prematurely waved to the crowd, because the revs dropped too low, while others believe he accidentally hit the engine kill switch. Only Mansell and Williams know the true answer.
 |
| © Williams Martini Racing/ LAT |
A long day
The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix is undoubtedly one of the most dramatic and memorable races in recent Formula 1 history. It was won by Jenson Button, who incredibly pitted six times (one of which was for a drive-through penalty), collided with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, picked up a puncture and was at one stage in last place.
A storming drive through the field saw the Brit rise to second by the start of the last lap, just behind the race leader Sebastian Vettel. He had rapidly closed in on the Red Bull Racing driver in the closing stages. Unbelievably, Vettel made a mistake at turn six, allowing Button to move into the lead and take the victory.
It also broke the record for the longest ever F1 race, following a two-hour rain delay. It was officially recorded at four hours, four minutes and 39.537 seconds.
The first of many
Lewis Hamilton has a strong track record at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He has fond memories from racing there after taking his maiden F1 win at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Driving in the sixth race of his career in the sport, the Brit qualified on pole position (also his first) and led into turn one.
 |
| © Getty Images |
Despite being in a league of his own, Hamilton’s winning margin by the chequered was only four seconds thanks to four safety car periods. It was a faultless drive from the rookie, finishing ahead of Nick Heidfeld and Alexander Wurz.
Takuma Sato finished in a fine sixth place for Super Aguri after overtaking Fernando Alonso (who had a scruffy race and made several mistakes at the first corner) in the closing stages.
Of course, one of the safety car periods was for Robert Kubica’s huge crash at turn 10 on lap 26. It was definitely one of the worst I have seen live. The Polish driver’s BMW Sauber hit the back of Jarno Trulli’s Toyota and went straight on at the left-hand kink before the hairpin.
His car was launched into the air before it made heavy contact with the inside wall twice. It then rolled before coming to rest on its side. Fortunately he only suffered concussion and a sprained ankle, but he was forced to sit out of the next race in the United States, which saw the arrival of a certain German driver who would later go on to dominate the sport.
Another maiden victory
Robert Kubica scored his first F1 win at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, one year after his violent crash at the track. He had qualified second behind Lewis Hamilton and stayed with the Brit in the early stages, before the safety car was deployed on lap 16 to clear Adrian Sutil’s Force India, which was on fire.
The majority of the field dived into the pit lane, with a quick stop from Ferrari helping Kimi Raikkonen move ahead of both Kubica and Hamilton. As the leaders headed towards the pit exit, the Finn was forced to stop as the red light was on. Hamilton was late to notice the signal and couldn’t slow his McLaren down in time.
His car hit the back of Raikkonen’s Ferrari, with Nico Rosberg then running into the back of the Brit. Hamilton and the Williams driver - who was able to continue - were both given 10-place grid penalties for the next race.
Kubica missed all of the chaos and continued in second place, behind his team-mate Nick Heidfeld. He swiftly displaced the German driver and built up a comfortable lead to secure his first F1 victory. It was also BMW Sauber’s first 1-2, with Heidfeld in second and David Coulthard in third.
A popular triumph
The 1995 Canadian Grand Prix saw Jean Alesi score his first and only F1 victory. He passed Michael Schumacher, who had been dominating the race, with 11 laps to go after the German driver’s car developed an electrical problem. Alesi took the chequered flag 31 seconds clear of Rubens Barrichello, with Eddie Irvine making it two Jordan drivers in the top three.
It was a popular win, as it had taken five years for Alesi to stand on the top step of the podium. It was also his 31st birthday and he was at the wheel of the number 27 Ferrari, as famously driven by Gilles Villeneuve. It was the final victory for the V12 engine. His car famously ran out of fuel on the victory lap and he was picked up by Schumacher, who took him back to the pits.
A spectacular start
The 1998 Canadian Grand Prix is best remembered for not one but two accidents at the first corner. The first involved Alexander Wurz, after the Benetton driver was squeezed onto the grass and struggled to slow down his car.
A collision with Jean Alesi caused his car to roll three times before it eventually landed the right way up. Several other drivers were involved and the race had to be red flagged and restarted. On the second start, Ralf Schumacher bunched up the field after going off and spinning at turn one.
Following contact with another car, Jarno Trulli’s Prost managed to climb on top of Alesi’s Sauber. The race resumed but the safety car was deployed. It re-appeared several times, but Michael Schumacher still managed to win the race by 16 seconds. This was despite being handed a 10-second stop/go penalty for pushing Heinz-Harald Frenzten off the track,
The final lap
The 1991 Canadian Grand Prix concluded in dramatic fashion after Nigel Mansell – who had looked set to take the race win by some margin – slowed on the final lap of the race at the hairpin. He was eventually classified sixth and handed the victory to Nelson Piquet.
The driver and team insisted at the time that it was a transmission failure. However, some say he stalled the car as he prematurely waved to the crowd, because the revs dropped too low, while others believe he accidentally hit the engine kill switch. Only Mansell and Williams know the true answer.
No comments:
Post a Comment