Canada – Where champions leave their mark

The tenth round of the 2025 Formula One season gets underway with the Formula 1 Pirelli Grand Prix du Canada 2025, this Sunday 15 June at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

It’s a circuit where drivers need maximum confidence in their car, because the best lap time to be found is by running close to the unforgiving walls on the exits of Turns 4, 7, 9 and the final exit onto the start finish line known as the ‘Wall of Champions’.

“All the corners at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve are low speed but are separated by long straights which means the rear wing choice is a particularly important one,” commented Alan Permane, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team Racing Director.

“To be quick here the car needs to be good in braking, ride the kerbs well and have a quick and responsive change of direction, followed by good traction. “

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer and Valtteri Bottas driving the (77) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes WO9 battle for track position at the start during the 2018 Canadian Formula One Grand Prix -Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

The Wall of Champions was etched into Canadian history following the 1999 edition of the Grand Prix which saw four drivers, including three World Champions, retire after making contact.

The first to crash was reigning FIA GT champion Ricardo Zonta (BAR) on just the second lap. On lap 14 1996 World Champion Damon Hill suffered a snap of oversteer and his right-rear wheel of his Jordan caught the edge of the wall.

Then it was pole-sitter Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) on lap 29 before 1997 World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve (BAR) understeered into the wall five laps later.

“I’m super excited for Montréal race week,” said Liam Lawson. “It’s a very special race and a track which has been on the Formula One calendar for a very long time.

“When I was a kid I grew up watching the Canadian GP, with drivers having their debut victories here. I came to Montréal as a reserve driver last year and loved the city, so I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to race for the first time on track this weekend.”

Can our world champions Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso keep away from the Wall of Champions?

With qualifying at 8am on Sunday morning, the Grand Prix is timed to go at 6am Monday morning NZ time.