F1: History of the Canadian Grand Prix

Early Years: Mosport Park and Mont-Tremblant

The first Canadian Grand Prix to be included in the F1 World Championship was held at Mosport Park in Ontario in 1967. Jack Brabham took victory, leading a Brabham 1–2 alongside teammate Denny Hulme.

The following year, the race headed to the Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec. Much like Mosport, it featured dramatic elevation changes and a demanding layout. In 1968, Chris Amon led comfortably until a gearbox failure handed victory to fellow New Zealanders Hulme and Bruce McLaren in a McLaren 1-2.

After 1970, safety concerns regarding Mont-Tremblant’s deteriorating surface during Quebec’s harsh winters ended its run.

From 1971, Mosport hosted the Grand Prix exclusively. The venue was also not without issues. In 1969, a collision between Jackie Stewart and Jacky Ickx, which occurred while lapping Al Pease, led to Pease becoming the only driver in F1 history disqualified for being too slow.

Rain frequently played a part in the Mosport Grands Prix. The 1971 race was marred by fog and downpours, but Stewart still triumphed. Safety upgrades were introduced in 1972, with Stewart winning again. The 1973 event descended into chaos due to a botched pace car deployment, eventually allowing Peter Revson to secure victory. The mid-1970s saw further mixed weather, intense racing, and controversy. In 1976, James Hunt won while embroiled in the dispute over his disqualification from the British Grand Prix.

By 1977, concerns over Mosport’s safety were heightened after a crash involving Ian Ashley, whose Hesketh flipped into a TV tower. Rescue efforts were alarmingly inadequate, and further incidents, such as Jochen Mass’s collision with a guardrail, highlighted the track’s danger.

With mounting pressure, sponsor Labatt revived the idea of relocating the race to a street circuit in Toronto. Although the city council rejected the proposal, Montreal stepped in.

Montreal and the Circuit Île Notre-Dame

A temporary track was constructed on Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the St. Lawrence River, which had hosted Expo 67. The inaugural 1978 race witnessed a win for local hero Gilles Villeneuve, who remains the only Canadian to win the Canadian Grand Prix.

Circuit layout changes in 1979 increased speed, and Alan Jones won the next two events, taking the 1980 championship in the process. The same year saw a crash for Jean-Pierre Jabouille, effectively ending his F1 career.

Rain returned in 1981, and Villeneuve demonstrated incredible car control by finishing third with a damaged front wing. After he passed away the following year during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, Montreal’s circuit was renamed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in his honour.

Tragedy struck again during the 1982 race. When Didier Pironi stalled on the grid, Riccardo Paletti slammed into the back of his Ferrari, later dying from his injuries. Despite the danger, the race continued, with Nelson Piquet emerging victorious.

From the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, the Canadian Grand Prix became the sole North American stop on the calendar following the end of other continental races. Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Mika Häkkinen were among those to win during this era. Schumacher dominated, earning multiple victories between 1997 and 2004.

In 2007, Lewis Hamilton arrived and took his maiden win. The following year, Robert Kubica won his only Grand Prix in F1.

A Modern Staple

The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix became the longest F1 race in history, halted for hours by torrential rain before Jenson Button charged from last place to take victory on the final lap.

However, the 2013 event, dominated by Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull, was marked by tragedy when marshal Mark Robinson was fatally struck by a recovery vehicle, marking the sport’s first trackside death in over a decade.

Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve