In the pecking order of the North American Formula 1 calendar, it’s fair to say that Canada has become the often-forgotten little brother to America’s glitzy racing.
In this era of American ownership of the sport, much of the attention has been focused on the newcomers: the celebrities of Miami and the madness of Las Vegas under the lights, along with the more traditional races of Austin, Texas and the return, in 2015. – to Mexico City.
In Montreal, however, Formula 1 has long had a home on the island of Notre Dame, the 2.7-mile Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and such is its brilliance that it would be a mistake to rank it below its rivals to the south. of the border. In fact, a strong argument could be made that this is the best race the sport has to offer on this side of the Atlantic.
While it’s true that all North American racing has its unique selling point, Montreal has a little bit of everything… a long-standing heritage, wheel-to-wheel racing and a dash of the glamor that every F1 venue in the city needs. Oh, and marmots – Don’t forget the groundhogs.
The Formula 1 roadshow has been coming to Canada’s second largest city since 1978, having previously been held at Mosport Park in Ontario.
Montreal has become one of the most exciting destinations on the Formula One calendar
Max Verstappen won the 2023 edition, but 2024 will be a much more dramatic affair
Jenson Button won the longest race in F1 history in Montreal and Lewis Hamilton won the first
The 2005 edition of the race, won by McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, was the most watched in Formula 1 history. That year, only the Super Bowl and the Champions League final attracted more viewers for a global sporting event. .
It was here that Lewis Hamilton won his first race in 2007, and it was here that Jenson Button won the longest race in the history of the sport: a rain-affected four-hour spectacle in 2011 that saw him rise from seventh place in the grill to the highest step of the podium.
And so, while Miami, Las Vegas and the rest have a lot to offer, it is in Canada where the most exciting race on the North American calendar will take place this weekend. And this year, that sentiment rings truer than ever.
In 2023, Max Verstappen took his sixth victory in eight races in Montreal, continuing Red Bull’s dominance and extending his winning streak across all races of the season. In fact, after Canada, the world champion won 13 of the 14 finals, only missing Singapore to sweep Red Bull (thanks, Carlos Sainz).
Mexico is a popular destination, but you could argue that Montreal is even better.
Much of the attention has been focused on the bright lights of Las Vegas (pictured) and Miami in recent years.
Twelve months later, that is far from the case. The F1 championship arrives here having seen three drivers from three different teams win the last three races, the first time this has happened since Sochi 2021.
While Verstappen remains the favorite to win the championship, McLaren and Ferrari are interested in Red Bull’s rear wing, with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc recently experiencing the top step of the podium so often occupied by the Dutch phenomenon.
In the drivers’ standings, Leclerc is just 31 points off the top, with Norris 25 points behind him. In a 24-race season, that’s nothing, especially given the way he’s been turning the tide in recent weeks.
The constructors’ battle is even closer, with just 24 points separating reigning champions Red Bull and Prancing Horse Ferrari behind them.
This weekend, McLaren looks fast and the red cars will be right up there with them. Perhaps the biggest question mark is Red Bull, as we wait to see how they fare amid a topsy-turvy form.
And so, as rain and wind batter the glass of the press center in the Montreal F1 paddock, you could hardly be better prepared for one of the most action-packed weekends of the season.
No one knows who wins, especially if the rain continues, but in a sport that has been so predictable over the past few seasons, this weekend’s race is a must-see. Long may the excitement of Montreal continue.
