Round nine at the Canadian GP 2024 may signal a pivotal shift for Red Bull, post-Miami.
As the ninth round of the season, the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix could mark a turning point observed since Miami, with only one victory for Max Verstappen in the last three races.
The Gilles Villeneuve circuit is unique, so no definitive conclusions can be drawn from this race, but another intense battle and a weekend full of twists seem to await us.
The Circuit:
Fast and slow simultaneously, the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit is one of the highlights of the F1 calendar. Although there are few turns, the layout poses a real challenge between the walls. With just five meters of elevation change, the track is relatively flat but also one of the shortest of the season at 4,361 meters.
The main challenge of this layout is to find settings that allow an aggressive single-seater on the curbs. This task is particularly tricky with the very stiff suspension of the 2022 F1 cars. The resurfacing of the asphalt should also play a role.
As in other years, there will be three DRS zones. The first will be at the beginning of the second sector, the second on the long straight back towards the pits, and the third on the start/finish straight.
Turn 1: Approached at over 320 km/h, this braking zone leads to the slow sequence of the first two turns, a challenge, especially to hold the perfect line out, where the pit lane emerges.
Turn 3: A quick right-left chicane where drivers must bite the curbs to be on the best line. The track dips at the apex, and the wall is very close on exit.
Turn 5: A high-speed right hook. While it is taken at full throttle in qualifying, it is more challenging in the race as rubber marbles accumulate off the line.
Turn 6: Another chicane, this time left-right and much slower than the previous, although drivers must attack the curbs again to lose the least speed.
Turn 8: Negotiated at over 300 km/h, this straight leads to a third chicane, right-left, where the car must handle rapid direction changes and manage the curbs.
Turn 10: Famous for its brave overtakes—sometimes too much—this circuit’s slowest corner features another significant braking zone where single-seaters go from over 300 to 60 km/h. Several trajectories are possible on a wet track. A good exit is crucial in view of the DRS activation zone.
Turn 14: The fastest part of the circuit. Speeds approach 340 km/h before a heavy braking and the need to climb the chicane’s curbs. On the exit, the exterior is formed by the famous “Wall of Champions,” which has trapped more than one crowned driver over the years.
Forces Present
Three different teams have won the last three races, making it difficult to establish a hierarchy before this Grand Prix. Red Bull is likely to face less difficulty than in Monaco.
Indeed, the curbs are flatter, and the asphalt has been resurfaced, which should limit suspension issues on the RB20. On the other hand, McLaren F1 might feel comfortable on this track, as might Ferrari, whose SF-24 is starting to show great versatility.
Based on this, one might envision a six-way battle for the pole, although Sergio Pérez will undoubtedly be the most pressured among the top three teams’ drivers. The Mexican has been eliminated in Q1 in Monaco and Q2 in Imola, and he has not made it past Q2 in Canada in the last two editions.
In the pack, expect another intense struggle between Aston Martin, RB F1, and Haas, while Williams and Alpine will want to join this battle for the final points. Only Stake F1 seems now clearly off the pace.
Grand Prix Schedule
Note that the Canadian Grand Prix schedule will obviously be shifted in France, with late starts for the sessions and early mornings—particularly on Friday—taking place in the evening there.
| Day | Date | Event | British Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | June 7 | Free Practice 1 | 19:30 – 20:30 |
| Free Practice 2 | 23:00 – 00:00 | ||
| Saturday | June 8 | Free Practice 3 | 18:30 – 19:30 |
| Qualifications | 22:00 – 23:00 | ||
| Sunday | June 9 | Race | 20:00 – 22:00 |
Canadian Grand Prix Winners
| Year | Circuit | Winner | Team | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Honda |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Honda | |
| 2019 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes | |
| 2018 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 2017 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes | |
| 2016 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes | |
| 2015 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Mercedes | |
| 2014 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | Renault | |
| 2013 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | Renault | |
| 2012 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren | Mercedes | |
| 2011 | Jenson Button | McLaren | Mercedes | |
| 2010 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren | Mercedes | |
| 2008 | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | BMW | |
| 2007 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren | Mercedes | |
| 2006 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | Renault | |
| 2005 | Kimi Räikkönen | McLaren | Mercedes | |
| 2004 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 2003 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 2002 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 2001 | Ralf Schumacher | Williams | BMW | |
| 2000 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 1999 | Mika Häkkinen | McLaren | Mercedes | |
| 1998 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 1997 | Michael Schumacher | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 1996 | Damon Hill | Williams | Renault | |
| 1995 | Jean Alesi | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 1994 | Michael Schumacher | Benetton | Ford | |
| 1993 | Alain Prost | Williams | Renault | |
| 1992 | Gerhard Berger | McLaren | Honda | |
| 1991 | Nelson Piquet | Benetton | Ford | |
| 1990 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | Honda | |
| 1989 | Thierry Boutsen | Williams | Renault | |
| 1988 | Ayrton Senna | McLaren | Honda | |
| 1986 | Nigel Mansell | Williams | Honda | |
| 1985 | Michele Alboreto | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 1984 | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | BMW | |
| 1983 | René Arnoux | Ferrari | Ferrari | |
| 1982 | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | Nelson Piquet | Brabham | BMW |
| 1981 | Circuit Île Notre-Dame | Jacques Laffite | Ligier | Matra |
| 1980 | Alan Jones | Williams | Ford | |
| 1979 | Alan Jones | Williams | Ford | |
| 1978 | Circuit Île Notre-Dame | Gilles Villeneuve | Ferrari | Ferrari |
| 1977 | Mosport Park | Jody Scheckter | Wolf | Ford |
| 1976 | James Hunt | McLaren | Ford | |
| 1974 | Emerson Fittipaldi | McLaren | Ford | |
| 1973 | Peter Revson | McLaren | Ford | |
| 1972 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell | Ford | |
| 1971 | Mosport Park | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell | Ford |
| 1970 | Mont-Tremblant | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | Ferrari |
| 1969 | Mosport Park | Jacky Ickx | Brabham | Ford |
| 1968 | Mont-Tremblant | Denny Hulme | McLaren | Ford |
| 1967 | Mosport Park | Jack Brabham | Brabham | Repco |
2024 Canadian GP: A Crucial Test for Red Bull?. 2024 Canadian GP: A Crucial Test for Red Bull?
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