Canada has been hosting
Formula One championships since 1967. After multiple changes in the venues for the event in the early years, it finally moved permanently to its current home in
Montreal in 1978. Following the death of Quebec's F1 star Gilles Villeneuve in the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982, the Montreal track is now called the
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The 4.36 km. long Circuit Gilles Villenueve involving 70 laps forming a total race length of 305.27 km. is considered to be one of the toughest and the most competitive circuits in the world of motor-sports. Accidents have plagued the Canadian Grand Prix from the early days of its inception. In 1982, a few months after Villenueve's death, the Montreal circuit witnessed another major accident involving the death of Riccardo Paletti. Again in 1997, the huge accident that Olivier Panis faced, forced the authorities to halt the race for the year.
Michael Schumacher remains the most successful driver of the Canadian Grand Prix with seven wins, and Ferrari remains to be the most successful constructor. F1 championship in Canada faced a problem in 2004, when it was removed from the F1 schedule following the tobacco legislation. However, the authorities showed immense grit and enterprise and successfully won the championship back. 2007 saw Lewis Hamilton win the race with Mclaren Mercedes.
