Five Things to Know About the Canadian GP

Williams Racing is back in Montreal for Round 9 of the 2024 Formula 1 season at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Canadian GP.

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track that never fails to thrill, is one of the most popular on the calendar, known for its high-speed racing on the unique setting of the man-made Île Notre-Dame.

As we get set for lights out, here are five points for Williams Racing fans to focus on during our race weekend:

The Canadian Grand Prix was first held in 1961 and joined the Formula One World Championships in 1967, though it has not always been hosted in Montreal.

Mosport Park, Ontario, was the original home of F1 in Canada, where Jack Brabham took victory in 1967.

The track alternated with Circuit Mont-Tremblant each year before Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was eventually made the permanent host of the Canadian GP in 1978.

Last year, the Canadian GP proved an important springboard for our season as Alex Albon secured a remarkable P7 result - our joint-best points finish of the year.

In Saturday’s knockout session, he topped the timesheet in Q2 after a shrewd move to slicks as the track began to dry out, which saw him set a 1:18.75.

Through the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve speed trap, Albono registered a top speed of 343.0km/h (213.1mph), with the next quickest car 3km/h slower.

He pushed our FW45 to the limit last year, so we can’t wait to see him in action this weekend.

Our Williams Racing Fan Zone is in Montreal for its fourth stop on our 2024 World Tour.

We are hosting three Q&As where you will get the opportunity to catch Alex Albon, Logan Sargeant and Team Principal James Vowles at Les Cours Mont-Royal.

Click here for all the details and Q&A times so you can say hi to your favourite Grove personnel.

Montreal has proven a place of fond memories for Williams Racing.

Our first-ever Drivers Championship and Constructors Championship was clinched at this venue in 1980 with Alan Jones and Carlos Reutemann.

Despite missing out on pole position, Alan took the chequered flag for the second consecutive time in Canada to become the second Australian driver to win the World Championship.

After the opening eight rounds of the Formula 1 calendar, we have yet to see rain on race day. Important as a wet track is often seen as the great leveller in motorsports.

However, Montreal’s variable weather could be about to change the dry record this weekend. The last three quali sessions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve have seen two downpours.

While Sunday at the Canadian Grand Prix has often escaped the clutches of wet weather, that will be an external race factor to watch.