Round seven of the 2015 Formula 1 season takes place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada.
Following a short stint competing closer to home in Europe, Formula 1 travels across the Atlantic Ocean for the first of two races this year in North America.
It is the 46th running of the event and the 36th time the Canadian Grand Prix has taken place at the temporary street circuit, which uses roads of the Parc Jean-Drapeau. The track is located on a man-made island called Île Notre-Dame in the St. Lawrence River.
The Canadian Grand Prix has been a regular feature on the F1 schedule since its debut at Mosport Park in 1967, only being absent three times (in 1975, 1987 and 2009). The track was originally called the Île Notre-Dame Circuit, but it was re-named in honour of Gilles Villeneuve in 1982 following his tragic death at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Despite its fairly conventional layout, largely consisting of tight hairpins, chicanes and long straights, the circuit is one of the most challenging in the sport for both the drivers and the cars. It has a very stop-start nature and is lined with barriers, leaving no room for error.
A low downforce set-up is typically used in Montreal but drivers often try out higher downforce configurations in practice, in an attempt to find the right balance between top speed, grip and traction for the slow corners.
The engine is put under a large amount of stress during the race thanks to the number of flat-out sections. A fast car around the 2.709 mile track needs to have strong straight-line speed, traction and stability under braking, as well as being able to ride the kerbs and change direction well. The brakes are also worked incredibly hard during the race, with temperature and wear rates being closely monitored.
As it is only used once a year, the surface is dirty at the start of the weekend and grip levels will evolve quickly. The track remains quite bumpy in places despite recent resurfacing. The tarmac is smooth and mechanical grip is vital, hence Pirelli’s decision to bring the super-soft and soft tyre compounds.
A lap of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve starts on the relatively short pit straight, which is where the first DRS zone will be. There is a slight right-hand kink on the run to the first corner, which is a tight left-hander. It is a good overtaking spot and is immediately followed by the slow, right-hand hairpin of Turn 2. The pit lane exit feeds cars back out on track mid-way through the corner.
Following a short straight is the first chicane, with the third and fourth corners making up a medium-speed right-left section. A lot of time can be gained and lost here, with drivers needing to use plenty of kerb and get as close to the wall as possible at the exit. Turn 5 is a quick right-hand corner and is taken flat-out, bringing sector one to a close.
A good line through the sixth and seventh corners – a slow left-right chicane - is very important to carry speed onto the next straight. The Turn 8/9 chicane is next up. It is another tricky right-left complex with a wall on the exit ready to punish even the smallest of mistakes.
Another straight – broken up by a gentle left-hand kink – follows before the heavy braking zone for the Turn 10 hairpin, which is the slowest corner on the circuit. The right-hander leads onto the back straight. This is where the second DRS zone will be positioned. The slow Turn 13/14 chicane completes the lap and is one of the most difficult corners on the track.
It is a strong overtaking spot and is best known for the unforgiving “Wall of Champions” on the exit, which has caught out the likes of Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel. Drivers need to use plenty of kerb and find a good rhythm through the corner. The pit entry is quite tricky, as it requires drivers to go straight on at the final chicane, when rivals will be braking to take the corner.
Schumacher has won the Canadian Grand Prix seven times: the most of anyone in the history of the sport. From the current grid, Lewis Hamilton has taken victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on three occasions (2007, 2010 and 2012), while Kimi Raikkonen (2005), Fernando Alonso (2006), Button (2011), Vettel (2013) and Daniel Ricciardo (2014) have all won the race once.
Last year’s Canadian Grand Prix was a dramatic one, with Ricciardo storming to his first ever F1 victory after the two Mercedes drivers suffered brake problems. Hamilton retired but team-mate Nico Rosberg managed to hold on to second place, while Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa exited the race on the final lap after contact triggered a huge crash at Turn 1.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Mercedes heads to Montreal as the team to beat once again. However, Ferrari remains close behind after a strong start to 2015 for the Italian outfit. Williams will likely bounce back from a disappointing race in Monaco, while Red Bull’s form looks to be on the up. The midfield fight looks set to be close once again and plenty of focus will be on McLaren after scoring its first top 10 finish of the year last time out.
The race is a favourite amongst the drivers, teams and fans. It always throws up drama and the weather usually helps to spice up the action too. Following what was a controversial Monaco Grand Prix – where Hamilton lost the win to Rosberg after a strategy mix-up - and with the battle at the front heating up, it should be another fantastic weekend of racing.
Canadian Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Montreal, Canada
Track length: 2.709 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 14
Laps: 70
First race: 1967
Lap record: Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 2004, 1:13.622
Tyre compounds: Super-soft and soft
2014 race winner: Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing
2014 pole position: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:14.874
2014 fastest lap: Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:18.504
Live on: Sky Sports and BBC
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
It is the 46th running of the event and the 36th time the Canadian Grand Prix has taken place at the temporary street circuit, which uses roads of the Parc Jean-Drapeau. The track is located on a man-made island called Île Notre-Dame in the St. Lawrence River.
The Canadian Grand Prix has been a regular feature on the F1 schedule since its debut at Mosport Park in 1967, only being absent three times (in 1975, 1987 and 2009). The track was originally called the Île Notre-Dame Circuit, but it was re-named in honour of Gilles Villeneuve in 1982 following his tragic death at the Belgian Grand Prix.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Despite its fairly conventional layout, largely consisting of tight hairpins, chicanes and long straights, the circuit is one of the most challenging in the sport for both the drivers and the cars. It has a very stop-start nature and is lined with barriers, leaving no room for error.
A low downforce set-up is typically used in Montreal but drivers often try out higher downforce configurations in practice, in an attempt to find the right balance between top speed, grip and traction for the slow corners.
The engine is put under a large amount of stress during the race thanks to the number of flat-out sections. A fast car around the 2.709 mile track needs to have strong straight-line speed, traction and stability under braking, as well as being able to ride the kerbs and change direction well. The brakes are also worked incredibly hard during the race, with temperature and wear rates being closely monitored.
As it is only used once a year, the surface is dirty at the start of the weekend and grip levels will evolve quickly. The track remains quite bumpy in places despite recent resurfacing. The tarmac is smooth and mechanical grip is vital, hence Pirelli’s decision to bring the super-soft and soft tyre compounds.
A lap of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve starts on the relatively short pit straight, which is where the first DRS zone will be. There is a slight right-hand kink on the run to the first corner, which is a tight left-hander. It is a good overtaking spot and is immediately followed by the slow, right-hand hairpin of Turn 2. The pit lane exit feeds cars back out on track mid-way through the corner.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Following a short straight is the first chicane, with the third and fourth corners making up a medium-speed right-left section. A lot of time can be gained and lost here, with drivers needing to use plenty of kerb and get as close to the wall as possible at the exit. Turn 5 is a quick right-hand corner and is taken flat-out, bringing sector one to a close.
A good line through the sixth and seventh corners – a slow left-right chicane - is very important to carry speed onto the next straight. The Turn 8/9 chicane is next up. It is another tricky right-left complex with a wall on the exit ready to punish even the smallest of mistakes.
Another straight – broken up by a gentle left-hand kink – follows before the heavy braking zone for the Turn 10 hairpin, which is the slowest corner on the circuit. The right-hander leads onto the back straight. This is where the second DRS zone will be positioned. The slow Turn 13/14 chicane completes the lap and is one of the most difficult corners on the track.
It is a strong overtaking spot and is best known for the unforgiving “Wall of Champions” on the exit, which has caught out the likes of Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel. Drivers need to use plenty of kerb and find a good rhythm through the corner. The pit entry is quite tricky, as it requires drivers to go straight on at the final chicane, when rivals will be braking to take the corner.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Schumacher has won the Canadian Grand Prix seven times: the most of anyone in the history of the sport. From the current grid, Lewis Hamilton has taken victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on three occasions (2007, 2010 and 2012), while Kimi Raikkonen (2005), Fernando Alonso (2006), Button (2011), Vettel (2013) and Daniel Ricciardo (2014) have all won the race once.
Last year’s Canadian Grand Prix was a dramatic one, with Ricciardo storming to his first ever F1 victory after the two Mercedes drivers suffered brake problems. Hamilton retired but team-mate Nico Rosberg managed to hold on to second place, while Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa exited the race on the final lap after contact triggered a huge crash at Turn 1.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Mercedes heads to Montreal as the team to beat once again. However, Ferrari remains close behind after a strong start to 2015 for the Italian outfit. Williams will likely bounce back from a disappointing race in Monaco, while Red Bull’s form looks to be on the up. The midfield fight looks set to be close once again and plenty of focus will be on McLaren after scoring its first top 10 finish of the year last time out.
The race is a favourite amongst the drivers, teams and fans. It always throws up drama and the weather usually helps to spice up the action too. Following what was a controversial Monaco Grand Prix – where Hamilton lost the win to Rosberg after a strategy mix-up - and with the battle at the front heating up, it should be another fantastic weekend of racing.
 |
| © Formula1.com |
Canadian Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Montreal, Canada
Track length: 2.709 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 14
Laps: 70
First race: 1967
Lap record: Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 2004, 1:13.622
Tyre compounds: Super-soft and soft
2014 race winner: Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing
2014 pole position: Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:14.874
2014 fastest lap: Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:18.504
Live on: Sky Sports and BBC
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