In the pecking order of the North American Formula 1 calendar, it’s fair to say that Canada has become the oft-forgotten little brother to the glitzy American races.
In this era of American ownership, the focus has been on the newcomers – the celebrities of Miami and the madness of Las Vegas under the lights, coupled with the more traditional racing of Austin, Texas and its return – in 2015. – to Mexico City.
In Montreal, however, Formula 1 has long had a home on the island of Notre Dame: the 4.3 kilometer long Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. And Formula 1 is so brilliant that it would be a mistake to rank Formula 1 lower than its rivals south of the border. In fact, a strong argument could be made that this is the best racing the sport has to offer on this side of the Atlantic.
While it’s true that all North American races have their unique selling points, Montreal has a little bit of everything… an ancient heritage, wheel-to-wheel racing and a touch of glamor that every F1 host harbors. needs of the city. Oh, and groundhogs – don’t forget the groundhogs.
The Formula 1 roadshow has been rolling into 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 1 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 his first
The 2005 edition of the race, won by McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen, was the most watched edition 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 ever race in 2007, and it was here that Jenson Button won the longest race in the sport’s storied history – a four-hour, rain-affected spectacle in 2011 that saw him rise from seventh place rose to seventh place. grid to the top step of the podium.
And so, while Miami, Vegas and the rest have a lot to offer, this weekend Canada will host the most exciting race of the North American calendar. And this year, that feeling rings truer than ever.
In 2023, Max Verstappen recorded his sixth win in eight races in Montreal, continuing Red Bull’s dominance and continuing his streak of wins in every race of the season. After Canada, the world champion even won 13 of the last 14, only missing Singapore for the Red Bull clean sweep (thanks, Carlos Sainz).
Mexico is a popular destination, but one could argue that Montreal is even better
In recent years the emphasis has been on the bright lights of Vegas (photo) and Miami
Twelve months later, that is far from the case. The F1 Championship arrives here after three drivers from three different teams won the last three races – the first time that has happened since Sochi 2021.
Although Verstappen is still the favorite to win the championship, McLaren and Ferrari are on 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 season of 24 races that is nothing, especially considering the way the tide has turned in recent weeks.
The battle between the constructors is even closer, with only 24 points separating reigning champions Red Bull and the Prancing Horse of Ferrari behind them.
This weekend McLaren is looking fast, and the red cars will be there with them. Perhaps the biggest question mark lies with Red Bull, as we wait to see how they fare in the midst of some form of chaos.
And so, as rain and wind batter the glass of the media center in Montreal’s F1 paddock, it could hardly be better set up for one of the most action-packed weekends of the season.
It’s anyone’s guess who will win – especially if the rain continues to fall – but in a sport that has so often been predictable in recent seasons, this weekend’s race is a must-watch. Long may the excitement of Montreal continue.
