Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Track Layout
Circuit Information
4.361 km
14
1978
semi-permanent
clockwise
Lap Record
1:13.078
Valtteri Bottas (2019)
Historic Photos
Click any photo to enlarge
Circuit Designer
City of Montreal
Expo 67 Infrastructure
Circuit Evolution
Historic Moments
Villeneuve's Fairy Tale
Gilles Villeneuve won the first Canadian GP at the new circuit - in front of his home crowd, in a Ferrari. The stuff of dreams.
Circuit Renamed
Following Gilles Villeneuve's death at Zolder, the circuit was renamed Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in his honor. His son Jacques would later race here.
Alesi's Birthday Present
Jean Alesi won his only F1 race on his 31st birthday, driving for Ferrari. He gave his trophy to teammate Berger who was battling illness.
Wall of Champions Created
Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, and Jacques Villeneuve (all world champions) all crashed at the exit of the final chicane. A legend was born.
Did You Know?
- 1Located on Île Notre-Dame, an artificial island built for Expo 67 World's Fair
- 2Named Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve after the legendary Canadian driver who died in 1982
- 3The "Wall of Champions" at the final chicane exit has caught out Schumacher, Hill, Villeneuve, and many more
- 4Heavy braking demands (longest braking zone into Turn 10) lead to frequent brake failures
- 5Marmots and groundhogs living on the island occasionally wander onto the track
- 6Only North American circuit to have hosted F1 continuously since 1978
First Formula 1 Race
1978
Years of F1 Racing
48
Next Race
Canadian Grand Prix
2026 · Round 10
Historical Weather
Typical Race Weekend Conditions
Temperature
Humidity & Rain Chance
20°C
Avg Air
30°C
Avg Track
60%
Humidity
30%
Rain
Canadian summer - warm but rain possible