Montreal

With Quebec’s Gilles Villeneuve becoming a major star and increasing safety concerns over Mosport Park, a new circuit on Montreal’s man-made Ile de Notre Dame was prepared in record time for the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix.

Country

Canada

Location

Montreal, Quebec

Co-ordinates

45.500107, -73.522718

Latest Race

2019 Canadian Grand Prix

First Race

1978 Canadian Grand Prix

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With Quebec’s Gilles Villeneuve becoming a major star and increasing safety concerns over Mosport Park, a new circuit on Montreal’s man-made Ile de Notre Dame was prepared in record time for the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix. Villeneuve provided the perfect start by winning his first Grand Prix in that inaugural race and the circuit was later renamed in his honour after he was killed at Zolder in 1982. Sadly, that year’s Canadian GP was also marred by tragedy, when newcomer Ricardo Paletti was killed in a horrific startline accident. Jean Alesi scored his only win here in 1995 when driving the number 27 Ferrari made famous by Villeneuve. In recent years the exit to the final corner has seen Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve, Damon Hill, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel all crash into the so-called “Wall of Champions.” As well as Formula 1, the circuit has also hosted the World Sportscar Championship, Champ Cars and NASCAR’s second tier series.

Circuit

Select a year

Type

Temporary road course

Length

2.709 (Miles)

Change

Increased run-off areas created at first corner and final hairpin by re-profiling corners

Fastest Race Lap

Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-Benz F1 W10 EQ Power+), 1m13.078, 133.452 mph, F1, 2019

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari SF90), 1m10.240, 138.844 mph, F1, 2019

Type

Temporary road course

Length

2.747 (Miles)

Change

Chicane on old pitlane and Casino Esses bypassed to form Casino Straight

Fastest Race Lap

Ralf Schumacher (Williams FW23-BMW), 1m17.205, 128.090 mph, F1, 2001

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Michael Schumacher (Ferrari F2001), 1m15.782, 130.496 mph, F1, 2001

Type

Temporary road course

Length

2.765 (Miles)

Change

Chicane built on old pitlane before Esses

Fastest Race Lap

Michael Schumacher (Benetton B194-Ford), 1m28.927, 111.935 mph, F1, 1994

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Michael Schumacher (Benetton B194-Ford), 1m26.178, 115.505 mph, F1, 1994

Type

Temporary road course

Length

2.753 (Miles)

Change

Pitlane entrance modified

Fastest Race Lap

Michael Schumacher (Benetton B193B-Ford), 1m21.500, 121.605 mph, F1, 1993

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Alain Prost (Williams FW15C-Renault), 1m18.987, 125.474 mph, F1, 1993

Type

Temporary road course

Length

2.728 (Miles)

Change

New pits built and startline moved

Fastest Race Lap

Gerhard Berger (McLaren MP4/5B-Honda), 1m22.077, 119.654 mph, F1, 1990

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/5B-Honda), 1m20.399, 122.151 mph, F1, 1990

Type

Temporary road course

Length

2.74 (Miles)

Change

Chicane before Island Hairpin and pitlane modified

Fastest Race Lap

Nelson Piquet (Williams FW11-Honda), 1m25.443, 115.446 mph, F1, 1986

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Nigel Mansell (Williams FW11-Honda), 1m24.118, 117.264 mph, F1, 1986

Type

Temporary road course

Length

2.796 (Miles)

Change

Original circuit

Fastest Race Lap

Alan Jones (Williams FW06-Ford), 1m38.072, 102.625 mph, F1, 1978

Fastest Qualifying Lap

Jean-Pierre Jarier (Lotus 79-Ford), 1m38.015, 102.695 mph, F1, 1978

Latest Races

3,216

Championships

17,724

Results

16,381

Drivers

9,634

Teams

875

Circuits