From the upbeat fashionable streets of the famous principality of Monte Carlo, Formula 1 has hit the cool and pleasant vibe of Canada, home to a titan of racing called the late Gilles Villeneuve, after whom its Montreal-bound track is named.
With plenty of long straights, an incredibly high number of laps, 70, to be precise, which cover an overall distance of 189.6 miles, and plenty of low-speed corners, Canada might be a touch easy on the tires but is in the end, an exhaustive, if also interesting, Formula 1 race.
Taking a look back at its checkered history, the maiden edition of the Canadian Grand Prix was held back in 1967, and the 2024th event, which is about to undergo shortly, shall be the fifty ninth instalment of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Known for being a high speed racing venue that sees plenty of racing action during the course of its two hour duration, Canada has come a long way since seeing Jack Brabham triumphing for the first time ever back in 1967 to seeing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen racing his way to a thumping victory last year.
Even last year’s Grand Prix provided an action packed relief for dollops of Formula 1’s globetrotters who saw no fewer than 46 overtakes during the course of the contest, which was round eight of the FIA 2023 F1 world championship. If there’s one Grand Prix that’s been a recurring feature on the calendar, then it’s the race at Canada that’s been on the world championship calendar every single year except missing out on 1975, 1987, 2009 and the two events during the time of the covid pandemic years. Canada shall continue to host an F1 Grand Prix well until the year 2031, which means after the soon-to-begin race, there shall be seven more installations of the Motor Sport event.
With plenty of slow speed corners and a tricky hairpin bend that has already seen plenty of drivers sliding away into the run off area during the two wet free practice sessions, you just never know when you’re a spin away from seeing some high octane drama.
But speaking of drama, one also cannot discount the aspect of danger that has so often punctuated the Canadian Grand Prix in the past.
To this day, one cannot let go off the horrific sight of Robert Kubica involved in a high speed accident in the past. Seventeen years back in the day, Kubica, then with BMW, underwent sheer horror, as they say on a race track.
At the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, it could be said, Robert Kubica suffered a near-death experience when on lap 26 the Polish racing driver hit the back of Jarno Trulli’s Toyota, which happened during the approach to the hairpin. Resultantly, Kubica’s car was forced onto the grass at the edge of the track. It was there where a bump launched him suspended into free air and upon hitting the surface, the BMW went onto lose three wheels and most of its front wing; a terrifying sight that reminded the fan about the mortal dangers of the sport besides its obvious thrill.
However, while that Grand Prix was disastrous for Kubica and BMW, it was also the very race that fetched glory for a young Lewis Hamilton who happened to cross the checkered flag for the first time as a race winner. The great Briton has since then won 102 more races.
Having said that, a few years later, there was more drama in a proper race in the 2011 edition of the Canadian Grand Prix that thanks to several rain interruptions and driving conditions that eventually went from being difficult to tricky, saw another McLaren man emerge as the great winner. Another Briton on this occasion: the great Jenson Button.
Source- F1.com
A race that actually went on for four hours, four minutes and no fewer than 39.537 seconds, hence earning the tag of the longest-ever Grand Prix, saw Jenson Button prevailing at the end as several drivers began to lose control of their cars amid wet and wild driving conditions while the man considered a much loved gentleman held his nerve to mark a deserved triumph.
The drivers who have won at Canada on two different occasions happen to be- Jacky Ickx, Sir Jackie Stewart, Alan Jones, Ayrton Senna, Sebastian Vettel and current defending world champion Max Verstappen. While the great Piquet has won here on three occasions, there are two drivers who have aced the Canadian Grand Prix, would you believe it, on seven separate occasions: Michael Schumacher and Sir Lewis Hamilton. The latter’s last victory was in 2019 and since then, he’s managed to grab a solitary podium at this venue. But where it comes to the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, little could be said for certain as to who might end up as race winner.
Who knows, it might not be a Red Bull driver in the end as neither among Verstappen or Perez have looked particularly strong so far. Where it stands at the moment, then Fernando Alonso, who topped the time charts for the most recent rain session, looked strong. He would remember his P2 here last year. But maybe Ferrari and McLaren are also, once again, in the fight for the top honours here at the beating heart of Canada.
Source- F1 Chronicle
It’s all to play for and it could well be that we see another long and dramatic race weekend, where in addition to the drivers, even the weather gets to play its part.