Round seven of the 2016 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 this year’s two North American rounds.
It is the 47th running of the event and the 37th 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). Originally called the Île Notre-Dame Circuit, 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 margin for error. A low downforce set-up is typically used, but drivers often try out higher downforce levels in practice to find a good balance.
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 straightline speed, traction and stability under braking, as well as being able to ride the kerbs and change direction well. So just a few requirements…
As it is rarely used, the track surface is dirty at the start of the weekend and grip levels will evolve rapidly – like at the last race in Monaco. 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 ultra-soft, super-soft and soft tyre compounds.
A lap of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve starts on the 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 following 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 tiniest of mistakes. Another straight leads into the third sector.
Drivers hit the brakes heavily for the Turn 10 hairpin, the slowest corner on the circuit. It is a strong overtaking spot and 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 undoubtedly the best passing spot on the track 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 straight on at the final corner.
Schumacher remains the Canadian Grand Prix’s most successful driver with seven wins. From the current grid, Lewis Hamilton has taken victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on four occasions, while Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Button, Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo have all taken victory in Montreal once.
Mercedes heads to Montreal as the team to beat once again. However, Ferrari remains close behind and Red Bull will be looking to fight back after disappointment in Monaco. The track should suit the likes of Williams and Force India, while McLaren could have a tougher time on the straights. I recently visited Montreal and the track, see my write-up and pictures here.
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, 1m13.622
Tyre compounds: Ultra-soft, super-soft and soft
2015 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m14.393
2015 fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1m16.987
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (highlights Channel 4)
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
It is the 47th running of the event and the 37th 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). Originally called the Île Notre-Dame Circuit, 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 margin for error. A low downforce set-up is typically used, but drivers often try out higher downforce levels in practice to find a good balance.
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 straightline speed, traction and stability under braking, as well as being able to ride the kerbs and change direction well. So just a few requirements…
As it is rarely used, the track surface is dirty at the start of the weekend and grip levels will evolve rapidly – like at the last race in Monaco. 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 ultra-soft, super-soft and soft tyre compounds.
A lap of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve starts on the 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 following 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 tiniest of mistakes. Another straight leads into the third sector.
Drivers hit the brakes heavily for the Turn 10 hairpin, the slowest corner on the circuit. It is a strong overtaking spot and 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 undoubtedly the best passing spot on the track 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 straight on at the final corner.
Schumacher remains the Canadian Grand Prix’s most successful driver with seven wins. From the current grid, Lewis Hamilton has taken victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on four occasions, while Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Button, Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo have all taken victory in Montreal once.
Mercedes heads to Montreal as the team to beat once again. However, Ferrari remains close behind and Red Bull will be looking to fight back after disappointment in Monaco. The track should suit the likes of Williams and Force India, while McLaren could have a tougher time on the straights. I recently visited Montreal and the track, see my write-up and pictures here.
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, 1m13.622
Tyre compounds: Ultra-soft, super-soft and soft
2015 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m14.393
2015 fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1m16.987
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (highlights Channel 4)
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