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Monaco Grand Prix
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Carlos reflects on his Canadian qualifying efforts
Session Schedule
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Free Practice 1
FRIDAY, 16:40, 22 MAY 2026
Sprint Qualifying
FRIDAY, 20:30, 22 MAY 2026
Sprint
SATURDAY, 16:00, 23 MAY 2026
Qualifying
SATURDAY, 20:00, 23 MAY 2026
Race
SUNDAY, 20:00, 24 MAY 2026
Welcome to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, located on the picturesque island of Île Notre-Dame in Montreal, Quebec, for the Canadian Grand Prix.
With high-speed straights, challenging chicanes, and an iconic hairpin, this circuit is a favourite for drivers and fans alike.
The track seamlessly blends the essence of street circuit racing, with nearby walls threatening to bite, and the grass and gravel run-offs of dedicated circuits, to make this a rare best-of-both track for the drivers to try and master.
Circuit Overview:
Spanning 4.361 km (2.710 miles) with 14 turns, the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve begins with a short run to the first turn, with low-speed cornering and acceleration key to maximising Sector 1. Chicanes and straights are the name of the game in the second sector, while the track ends with Sector 3 and its Turn 10 hairpin and the pinpoint final chicane. Nicknamed the Wall of Champions, the exit of that chicane has caught out many a driver, including three world champions in the 1999 race, who had their Sunday prematurely end in the barriers.
Fast Facts
Circuit Name: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
Location: Montreal, Quebec
First Grand Prix: 1978 (first Canadian GP: 1967, Mosport Park, Ontario)
Circuit Length: 4.361 km (2.710 miles)
Race Distance: 305.270 km (189.686 miles)
Laps: 70
Lap Record: 1:13.078 (Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 2019)
Alex Albon Last Year
Race: DNF
Fastest Lap: 1:16.197 (Lap 31)
Qualifying: P10 (1:11.907)
Tyre Strategy: Medium-Hard
Carlos Sainz Last Year
Race: P10
Fastest Lap: 1:14.389 (Lap 60)
Qualifying: P17 (1:12.398)
Tyre Strategy: Hard-Medium
Williams’ Canadian GP History
Best Finish: P1 (Alan Jones, 1980 / Nigel Mansell, 1986 / Thierry Boutsen, 1989 / Alain Prost, 1993 / Damon Hill, 1996 / Ralf Schumacher, 2001)
Best Qualifying: P1 (Alan Jones, 1980 / Nigel Mansell, 1986 / Riccardo Patrese, 1991 / Alain Prost, 1993 / Damon Hill, 1996 / Juan-Pablo Montoya, 2002 / Ralf Schumacher, 2003 & 2004)
Alex's Best Finish: P7 (2023)
Carlos' Best Finish: P2 (2022)
Williams Highlight: Alain and Damon’s 1993 front row lockout had the Williams pair at another level from the competition, with Michael Schumacher’s P3 1.317 seconds adrift of Damon’s effort. The double-podium finish for Williams alongside Schumacher on Sunday had the trio as the only ones to finish on the lead lap.
Canada at a Glance
State Capital: Ottawa
Population: 41 million
Size: 9,984,670 sq km
Language: English, French
Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
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