Through the years, the Canadian Grand Prix has created many memorable events on the racecourse. From Sebastian Vettel’s blunder in 2011 that gave Jenson Button an unlikely victory, to Gilles Villeneuve thrilling home crowds back in 1978, it’s a track that regularly churns out highlights.
As one of the most famous races on the F1 calendar, sites that offer sports betting in Canada always treat bettors with exciting deals for the Canadian GP too. This combination of betting attention, plus historic moments, makes for a memorable event every year.
Let's travel down memory lane and look back at some of the finest times we have witnessed in this legendary race.
Sebastian Vettel's Blunder Hands Jenson Button the Win
Jenson Button’s 2011 Canadian Grand Prix was a disaster by most standards—he got a drive-through penalty, collided with both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, and had to pit six times. Yet, in the end, he still came out on top.
This race wasn’t about having the fastest car or being the cleanest driver. It was about being in the right place at the right time. With the rain falling, Button was always going to be the one to shine.
Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber, other top favorites across sportsbooks, kept an eye on him. However, they were helpless as Button’s blue-helmeted McLaren sailed past them, setting up a late charge towards Sebastian Vettel at the front. For fans and punters alike, it was a reminder of how unpredictable F1 betting can be - where even a chaotic, penalty-riddled race can turn into a legendary win
A split-second lapse proved costly for Sebastian Vettel. With just Turn 6 standing between him and victory on the final lap, the reigning world champion—having won five of the opening six races—caught a damp patch, sending his RB7 into a costly half-spin. That was all the opening Button needed, gliding past to seize a victory that not even the sharpest bettor would have seen coming.
Villeneuve Claims Historic Victory on Home Soil in 1978 Canadian GP
We don’t see a lot of Canadian names at the top of pre-race F1 odds list these days, but in the late ‘70s The Great White North had one of the best F1 drivers in the world.
The Canadian Grand Prix found a new home in Montreal in 1978, where local hero Gilles Villeneuve delivered a fairy-tale victory. Racing for Ferrari, he conquered the circuit on Île Notre-Dame, with snowflakes drifting down on the artificial island. To make the moment even sweeter, it marked Villeneuve’s maiden triumph in Formula 1.
Villeneuve delivered a brilliant performance to become the first Canadian to win his home Grand Prix. Despite battling a broken gear linkage, he still managed to pull away from Jody Scheckter and Carlos Reutemann. The Quebec native also defied the advice of Michelin’s technicians, proving his instincts right on the day.
The 1978 Canadian GP, held on October 8, saw Villeneuve make a daring call by choosing a softer tyre compound than Michelin advised after qualifying third. He worked his way into second place by Lap 25 and seized the lead on Lap 50 when Jean-Pierre Jarier’s brakes overheated, forcing him to retire.
Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen Clash in Costly Collision
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s pit lane is notorious for its tricky layout. With an entry placed right in the braking zone for the final corner and an exit that blends dangerously near the Turn 2 racing line, the margin for error here is almost non-existent.
During safety-car periods, a red light sometimes appears at the pit exit, requiring drivers to stop before returning to the track. Many have fallen victim to this unusual feature over the years, with some even receiving race-ending disqualifications for failing to notice the signal.
The 2008 Canadian Grand Prix produced one of the strangest incidents in F1 history, courtesy of a red light at the end of the pit lane. Lewis Hamilton, who had controlled the race from pole, pitted under a Lap 17 safety car along with six others.
Seemingly unaware, Hamilton neglected to stop and drove directly into the back of Raikkonen's Ferrari when Raikkonen and Kubica followed the pit-exit signal and waited for the light to turn green. It ended the race for both Hamilton and Raikkonen.
Nico Rosberg drove into the rear of the stalled McLaren, adding to the drama as if the mayhem wasn't enough. Though the front wing was broken, the Williams driver kept going; Hamilton and Raikkonen had no option except to suffer a humiliating, brief trip back to their garages.
Nigel Mansell Celebrates Too Soon
Nigel Mansell’s only victory at the Canadian GP came in 1986, when he raced for Williams. Even though the odds were not in his favor, he should have won again in 1991, but a controversial incident derailed his chances. Celebrating too soon, the British racer finished one lap too early, losing the triumph he had justly earned.
Leading for 68 laps, Mansell dominated the 1991 Canadian GP but slowed down towards the finish as his Renault engine went into neutral. Some thought he celebrated too soon, which made him miss the victory. Stefano Modena and Riccardo Patrese both drove past Mansell in the final seconds to secure higher podium positions.