Everything to know before the Canadian Grand Prix

• Photo from F1

The Canadian Grand Prix has long been regarded as one of Formula One’s most unpredictable and dramatic races, combining high-speed straights, unforgiving walls, changing weather, and a passionate crowd that transforms Montreal into a motorsport festival every race weekend.

This year’s Canadian Grand Prix weekend, including all Formula One activities and race day events, will run from May 23 to May 25 at the legendary Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

The circuit itself was renamed in honor of Canadian racing icon Gilles Villeneuve after his death in 1982. Fittingly, Villeneuve delivered a fairy-tale ending during the venue’s first Formula One race in 1978 after securing his maiden F1 victory in front of his home crowd.

Montreal’s reputation for drama only grew stronger over the decades.

In 1995, Jean Alesi stormed through the field from fifth on the grid to claim the only victory of his Formula One career driving Ferrari’s iconic No. 27 car — the same number associated with Villeneuve.

The track’s infamous “Wall of Champions” was born in 1999 after multiple world champions crashed into the same final-corner barrier, including Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve.

Montreal also became the site of several career-defining victories.

In 2007, rookie Lewis Hamilton captured his first-ever Grand Prix win during a chaotic race that featured multiple retirements and a massive crash involving Robert Kubica.

Just one year later, Kubica returned to the same track to secure an emotional victory for BMW Sauber after surviving that terrifying accident the previous season.

The Canadian Grand Prix also produced one of Formula One’s wildest races in 2011 when Jenson Button climbed from last place to victory in a rain-soaked race that lasted more than four hours — still the longest race in Formula One history. Button sealed the victory with a dramatic final-lap overtake against Sebastian Vettel.

Another controversial chapter came in 2019 when Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel battled intensely for victory before Vettel received a five-second penalty for rejoining the track unsafely after running onto the grass, handing the win to Hamilton and sparking heated debate across the paddock.

Most recently, the 2025 edition saw George Russell deliver Mercedes’ first win of the season after starting from pole position. The race ended behind the Safety Car following a collision between Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri.

Beyond the racing itself, one of the most iconic traditions in Montreal is the post-race track invasion, where thousands of fans rush toward the podium area to celebrate with the drivers after the checkered flag — a scene that has become synonymous with the Canadian Grand Prix atmosphere.