Why is the Canadian GP circuit named after Gilles Villeneuve?

Why is the Canadian GP circuit named after Gilles Villeneuve?

Gilles Villeneueve circuit

Canadian Grand Prix held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal has been a part of Formula 1 history for a long 40 years now, starting in 1978 has provided us with some unforgettable races. From Lewis Hamilton’s first win in 2007 to Jenson Button’s unpredictable last-lap win in 2011, we have also witnessed Daniel Ricciardo’s first win in 2014 and the win snatched from the hands of Sebastian Vettel in 2019. 

Candana has come a long way. But the circuit failed to put up a show after 2019 thanks to the Corona pandemic stuffing people into homes. To everyone’s good luck we are back with the Canadian Grand Prix in 2022 after a 2-year halt. 

The circuit was first named Originally called the Île Notre-Dame Circuit earning its name from the island it is located on but got its name shuffled to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, after the tragic death of its first Formula 1 victor Gilles Villeneuve in 1982. 

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Who was Gilles Villeneuve?

Lewis Hamilton after winning the 2019 Canadian GP
Lewis Hamilton after winning the 2019 Canadian GP

So for the modern Formula 1 audience, Gilles Villeneuve is a relatively new term, but the audience back in the day knew who the McLaren-Ferrari driver was. Gilles was a 6 time race winner he was on the podium 13 times, he finished P2 in 1979 marking his highest finish in the Championship table. He served as a driver from 1977 to 1982, taking his first win rounding the circuit of Montreal in a Ferrari, winning the inaugural race. 

Gilles also drove the McLaren but only for a year and was taken up by the regaining world Champion Ferrari in 1978. Gilles died of a crash in a 230 km/hr qualifying session on the Belgian circuit by a collision with the March car driven by Jochen Mass. He was way more popular at the time of his death among the fans and already was considered iconic for the sport but failed to win the championship. His son, although, went on to win the 1997 Formula 1 world champion, being the only Canadian to do so. 

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