The Canadian Grand Prix traditionally sits in the middle of the Formula 1 championship calendar the race at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is unique with some unforgettable moments over time.
This round is rarely without incident, and the classic track configuration makes the race scenario unpredictable.
Even Aussie pokies online pay attention to the stage in Canada. Players will find themed slots and can try their hand at sports betting. While the results of recent years are easy to predict, the middlers and outsiders often find themselves in the prize positions in this Grand Prix.
1997 Canadian Grand Prix: Olivier Panis' crash
The 1997 F1 season could have turned out incredibly well for Olivier Panis. The Frenchman started the championship strongly with a 5th place in Australia, and already at the next round in Brazil he arrived on the last step of the podium. To this trophy was added the award for the second place in Monaco.
The race weekend was initially unsuccessful for the Frenchman. Only the 10th place in qualifying turned into the last after the starting collisions.
Everything ended on lap 51. Panis went straight into the wall. The impact was quite hard, which was confirmed later. The Prost racer was unable to leave the car because of a fracture in both legs.
Although Olivier returned to action by the end of the season, the consequences of the accident were fatal for his career. Panis never again achieved the results he had achieved in 1996 and 1997.
1998 Canadian Grand Prix: A poor start
The 1998 race in Montreal ended in a near triumph for Ferrari. Michael Schumacher finished in first place, while his teammate Eddie Irvine reached the finish line in third position. Benetton's Giancarlo Fisichella wedged himself between them and proved his speed once again.
Then it seemed that the Italian was waiting for victories and championship titles in the future. However, the Canadian round was remembered by other circumstances.
The first corner on the track named after Gilles Villeneuve requires maximum concentration. The start of the race here is rarely without consequences. The statistics worked in 1998. The first attempt at the start was unsuccessful and ended in a massive wreck.
In those days, the drivers could get out of the crashes and continue to fight for the prizes without consequences. Teams prepared spare cars to do just that.
But in Canada, even this joker did not help. The restart also ended in a wreck, although the judges decided not to stop the race, apparently fearing the fact that the third attempt would also be a failure.
Interestingly, Jean Alesi from Sauber took part in both debris and broke for a few minutes at once two race cars. After the second incident, there were no spare cars, and therefore the Frenchman had to finish the Grand Prix already in the boxes.
Canadian Grand Prix 1999: Wall of Champions
The next race in Canada in 1999 also made history. It was on this weekend that the circuit had its iconic last corner before the start straight. Fans and later motorsport observers dubbed this section of the track the Wall of Champions.
Ricardo Zonta was the first to test the concrete wall, and then it was the turn of the champions. Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher overdid it and crashed their cars a few metres from the finish line.
By the way, Mika Hakkinen won the race. The reigning world champion managed to cope with the stroppy nature of Canadian corners. Giancarlo Fisichella finished second.
Canadian Grand Prix 2001: Schumacher's first double
Ralf Schumacher debuted in Formula 1 in 1997 and immediately started to show high results. Already the third race in the career of the German brought him a trophy for 3rd place at the Grand Prix of Argentina. Experts were sure that sooner or later the two siblings would fight each other for victories, and maybe even for the championship title.
Wait for the battle of the Schumachers did not have to wait long. Already 4 years after his debut, Ralf wins his first victory. It happened at the Grand Prix of San Marino 2001, and a few stages later the German repeated his success on a winding track in Montreal.
The two brothers dominated qualifying. However, the pole position went to Michael. Ralf managed to beat Schumacher Sr. due to a later pit stop and confidently brought the case to victory.
Although, who knows, maybe Michael deliberately didn't press his brother to celebrate this stage with a family-unique double. Indeed, never before had Formula 1 seen such a thing. Two of the same family names were at the top of the race result sheet.
This year Canada hosts the Grand Prix for a 53rd season, in Montreal for a 43rd time.
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