Named in honour of the ever-popular Canadian driver following his death in 1982, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is warmly welcomed back on to the Formula One calendar for 2010. Located on the île Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the St. Lawrence River, the circuit is a stop-start combination of short, slow corners and chicanes linked by long straights, making for a challenging circuit for engineers that is hard on engines and brakes.
The circuit invariably claims a number of casualties. You can have a perfect lap all the way round but if you hit the kerbs through the final chicane badly, it will throw you off with only the now infamous 'Wall of Champions' to collect you. To add to the difficulties faced, the extreme Montreal temperature range throughout the year means that the surface is sometimes prone to breaking up.
Grand Prix du Canada
Top speed:
316 km/h (196 mph)
Average speed:
200 km/h (124 mph)
Time at full-throttle:
63%
Time under braking:
18%
Gear changes per lap:
48
Tyre compounds:
soft/medium
Tyre wear:
high
Brake demand:
very high
Downforce level:
medium to low
Grand Prix du Canada
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve places a premium on engine power and durability with the circuit driven at an average of 200 km/h and top speeds peaking at 320 km/h on the start-finish straight where throttles will be fully open for 15 seconds going into Turn 2. There is also an emphasis on high traction and good engine torque in order to launch the cars out of the corners.
The long-straights dictate a focus on reducing drag levels in order to maximise straight-line speeds which approach 320 km/h on the Casino straight. The layout also results in very high braking energies, with four heavy braking zones from over 300 km/h.
The temporary nature of the circuit means that the circuit begins the weekend very 'green' and grip levels improve constantly throughout the weekend.
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Grand Prix du Canada
Key Points:
Turn 3 and 4 - A chicane taken at around 110 mph, and where you can gain a lot of lap time by jumping over the kerbs and running close to the wall.
Turn 11 'L'Epingle' - A very tight hairpin that not only offers the best overtaking opportunity but is also key to maximising speed down the following straight.
Turns 14 and 15 - The final chicane. You can have a perfect lap all the way round but if you hit the kerbs through the chicane badly, it will throw you off with only the infamous 'Wall of Champions' to collect you.
