The six drivers who took their maiden F1 win at the Canadian GP

Six drivers have started the Canadian Grand Prix in the hope of tasting success for the first time and left Montreal as Formula 1 winners.

In fact, some of the brightest talents in F1 history have scored their debut grand prix victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, including the man who would go on to lend his name to the track.

But winning here isn’t necessarily an indicator of future glory, no matter how talented the driver — as the list of Montreal first-time F1 winners shows.

Daniel Ricciardo

2014 Canadian Grand Prix

The most recent first-time winner in Canada is Daniel Ricciardo, who secured his maiden F1 victory with Red Bull in 2014. It hadn’t looked promising initially, as the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton had qualified on the front row, with Ricciardo down in sixth, but as the race reached its midway point it was clear there was trouble brewing for both of the Silver Arrows as they reported engine issues.

Hamilton then retired with brake failure on Lap 47 of 70, and with 10 laps to go the rest of the top four had caught up to race leader Rosberg. Sergio Perez was closing up in his Force India, with Ricciardo and team-mate Sebastian Vettel fighting over the final podium slot.

It was a moment for a driver to make the difference and Ricciardo did just that, with a trademark move that combined bravado with inch-perfect braking into Turn 1, as he launched his Red Bull around the outside to pass Perez with five laps to go, nabbing second place and just holding on as he wrestled the car to the inside of Turn 2.

With a debut victory in his sights and a vulnerable Nico Rosberg ahead, the ‘Honey Badger’ took the lead from Rosberg with two laps until the chequered flag.

Robert Kubica

2008 Canadian Grand Prix

One of the greatest comeback stories in motor sport history has to be Robert Kubica’s. As well as his return to racing after his catastrophic rallying injury, he also managed his only Formula 1 victory a year on from a brutal crash at the same circuit.

During the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, Kubica, in his BMW Sauber, was chasing Jarno Trulli when he clipped the back of his Toyota and was sent catapulting into the concrete wall on the approach to the hairpin. Travelling at over 140mph, the force of the impact sent him barrel rolling across the circuit before he came to a dramatic stop. He was ruled out of the next race – allowing a young rookie named Sebastian Vettel to make his debut – before returning for the French Grand Prix and just missing out on a podium.

One year on, Kubica returned to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and immediately looked quick. He qualified second on the starting grid, with only Hamilton ahead of him. But a misunderstanding took Hamilton out of contention for the victory, after he crashed into the back of championship rival Kimi Räikkönen in the pitlane after not stopping for a red light, eliminating both of them.

Kubica was almost caught up in the controversy, but avoided being tangled in the mess on his way to his first and only win in Formula 1.

Lewis Hamilton

2007 Canadian Grand Prix

The first of over 100 record-breaking wins started on the June 10, 2007, when McLaren rookie Lewis Hamilton won his first Formula 1 grand prix after just six races in the sport.

Having led the pack from pole position, Hamilton kept cool, calm and composed as safety cars disrupted proceedings, including a lengthy delay for Robert Kubica’s mammoth crash on approach to the hairpin, as described above.

Hamilton maintained first place for 67 of the 70 laps, to take what was clear would be the first of many, many victories.

Jean Alesi

1995 Canadian Grand Prix

Jean Alesi ended his career as one of the best drivers to have only won a single grand prix, and he did that in Canada during the 1995 F1 season. His victory came with Ferrari on his 31st birthday, proudly sporting the number 27 – the same as the late Gilles Villeneuve.

Starting in sixth, Alesi was aggressive in the opening laps and made it up to second with just the Benetton of Michael Schumacher ahead. Things looked like they would end this way, another addition to the ‘close but not quite’ results during his time in Formula 1 until Schumacher’s car got stuck in third gear with 11 laps remaining.

Schumacher had to stop and reset his electrics in the pitlane, and meant Alesi inherited the lead which he maintained until the finish line. As the crowds cheered for their race winner, Alesi and his Ferrari came to a halt on the cool-down lap after running out of fuel, but Schumacher was on hand to give him a lift back to the pitlane.

Thierry Boutsen

1989 Canadian Grand Prix

Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen joined the list of first-time winners at Canada in 1989, going from sixth (as did Ricciardo and Alesi) to first in a very wet race for Williams.

Alain Prost led from pole, but soon retired due to a failure with his McLaren-Honda’s suspension. Positions switched around during pitstops as drivers and teams decided whether it was time to switch to dry compounds, with Boutsen making the call for the slick just as the rain started to come down again.

Ayrton Senna did what he did best in these conditions and made his way to the front of the pack and looked set for a comfortable win, until his engine died with just a handful of laps to go. Boutsen was now leading the race, after passing his Williams team-mate Riccardo Patrese who had problems with the undertray of his car and had to settle for second.

Both drivers held onto their respective places to finish first and second for Williams, and gave Boutsen his first of three grand prix wins.

Gilles Villeneuve

1978 Canadian Grand Prix

Now named after Gilles Villeneuve, this circuit is also where the Canadian motor sport hero achieved his first Formula 1 victory in 1978.

Born in Quebec, this really was a home race for him. Villeneuve qualified third for Ferrari, and moved up to second once racing got underway, but leader Jean-Pierre Jarier was still 30 seconds ahead in for Lotus and seemed in control. Yet, problems started to arise for Jarier – also on-track for a maiden victory – and by lap 49 he retired after an oil cooler split, sending liquid over the brakes and rear tyres.

The fans were ecstatic, cheering and on their feet as Villeneuve steered his Ferrari to the finish line to become the first Canadian to win a grand prix. He would go on to win another five races, before his tragic death at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix.