Circuit Gilles Villeneuve: track map, history and cycling guide
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is the 4.361 km track on Île Notre-Dame, in Montréal's Parc Jean-Drapeau, that has hosted the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix since 1978. Between races it turns into one of the city's busiest training loops for cyclists, runners and inline skaters. This guide walks through the track map corner by corner, the Wall of Champions, the history and records, how to ride the circuit by bike, and how to get there.
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at a glance
| Location | Île Notre-Dame, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montréal |
| Length | 4.361 km (current layout, used since 2002) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Opened | October 6, 1978, as the Île Notre-Dame Circuit |
| Renamed | 1982, after Gilles Villeneuve |
| F1 race distance | 70 laps scheduled |
| F1 lap record | 1:13.078, Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 2019 |
| F1 contract | Through the 2035 season |
| 2026 Canadian Grand Prix | May 24, won by Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) |
The track map, corner by corner
The circuit is a semi-permanent track on public park roads. Its layout joins long straights with chicanes and one hairpin. Almost half of it runs alongside the Olympic Basin, the rowing and canoeing course built for the 1976 Summer Olympics.
| Section | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Turns 1 and 2, the Senna S | Two corners that form an S shape after the start | The first overtaking area of the lap |
| Turns 6 and 8 | Chicanes as the track twists through the park | Named overtaking areas |
| Turn 10, L'Épingle | A 180 degree hairpin | One of the best places to pass under braking |
| Back straight | More than 1 km of flat-out running | Makes car setup a balance between top speed and grip |
| Final chicane | The last two turns at the end of the back straight | The other prime overtaking spot, and the last braking zone |
| Wall of Champions | The wall on the outside of the final chicane exit | Leads onto the pit straight; it has ended many races |
The pattern of hard stops after long straights is why the track is known for testing brakes to their limits. Teams usually run enough downforce for stability under braking and traction out of the slow corners, then fight the drag that costs them speed on the back straight.
The Wall of Champions
The wall at the exit of the final chicane got its name in 1999, when three world champions crashed into it in the same race: Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, Gilles's son. Ricardo Zonta hit it in that race too. The wall carries the words "Bienvenue au Québec".
History and records
The circuit opened on October 6, 1978, under the name Île Notre-Dame Circuit, on an island largely built up for Expo 67. The Biosphere, a remnant of the fair, sits beside the track. Gilles Villeneuve won that first Canadian Grand Prix on the island for Ferrari. After he died in 1982, the circuit took his name.
A few numbers worth knowing:
- Most wins: Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher, with seven Canadian Grand Prix wins each.
- Lap record: 1:13.078 by Valtteri Bottas in the 2019 race. Sebastian Vettel's 1:10.240 from qualifying that year does not count as a race lap record.
- 2025: the race drew 352,000 people, according to RACER's report on the contract extension.
- 2026: the race moved to the weekend of May 22 to 24. It was the 45th Grand Prix on Île Notre-Dame and the first Canadian Grand Prix with a sprint. George Russell took pole in 1:12.578. The race was cut from 70 to 68 laps after an extra formation lap, and Kimi Antonelli won for Mercedes ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull). Attendance was listed at 360,000.
On June 17, 2025, Formula 1 and the promoter announced a deal that keeps the race in Montréal through 2035, four years past the previous end date of 2031. The move to late May lets freight travel from Miami to Montréal without going back to Europe in between.
Other series have raced here too: the Champ Car Grand Prix of Montreal from 2002 to 2006, NASCAR's NAPA Auto Parts 200 from 2007 to 2012, and a 480 km World Sportscar Championship round in 1990.
Riding the circuit by bike, running or skating
Outside race weeks, the circuit is a multi-purpose track for cyclists, para-cyclists, inline skaters and runners. Parc Jean-Drapeau lists the official season as April 15 to November 15, with dates that can move if the weather allows a longer season.
What to know before you go:
- Lanes. In summer, traffic is one-way on two lanes. The left lane is for cyclists, runners and skaters, and the right lane is for vehicles.
- Spring grit. Crushed stone is spread instead of abrasives over winter, and the park warns it is a major cause of bike skids. Wait for the cleaning and the official opening before you ride.
- Closures. The circuit closes for the Grand Prix, other events and maintenance, and hours change by month, so check the park's page before heading out.
- Some history. On June 4, 2009, competitive cyclists were barred from the circuit; the ban was lifted after protests.
How to get to the circuit
- Metro: Jean-Drapeau station on the yellow line is in the middle of the park.
- Bus: STM line 777 runs year-round and links Jean-Drapeau metro with the Casino de Montréal, which is also in the park. Line 767 runs in summer.
- Bike: the park is on the Route verte and the Trans Canada Trail, reachable from the Lachine Canal path, the Jacques Cartier Bridge path or the South Shore bike link.
- River shuttle (summer): from the Old Port (Jacques-Cartier pier) and from Longueuil, with room for bikes.
- Car: via the Jacques Cartier Bridge or the Concorde Bridge. Parking is in lots P1, P2, P4 and P5.
If you make a night of it, our Casino de Montréal guide covers hours, ID rules and what you can play a few minutes from the track.
Betting on the Canadian Grand Prix
An F1 race winner bet is a single-race outright, and a bet on the drivers' title is a futures bet. Our guide on whether sports betting is legal in Quebec explains where Quebec residents can bet legally, and Mise-o-jeu is Loto-Québec's own platform. Set a deposit limit before race weekend and only bet what you can afford to lose.
Sources
- Parc Jean-Drapeau, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve (4,361 m, F1 since 1978, season April 15 to November 15, lane use, crushed stone warning, access by metro, STM 767 and 777, BIXI, bike routes, river shuttle, bridges, parking lots).
- Wikipedia, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (opening and renaming, 2002 layout, 14 turns, Olympic Basin, Expo 67 and Biosphere, Senna S, Turn 10 hairpin, Wall of Champions and the 1999 race, lap record, other series, 2009 cyclist ban).
- Wikipedia, 2026 Canadian Grand Prix (date, round, laps, result, pole, sprint format, attendance).
- RACER, Canadian GP signs new agreement through 2035 (June 17, 2025: contract, move to May, 2025 attendance, seven wins for Hamilton and Schumacher).
- Sky Sports, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve circuit guide (70 laps, overtaking spots, back straight over 1 km, brakes and setup).
Key terms
- Futures bet
- A bet on something decided way down the road, like the Stanley Cup champion, that ties up your money until it settles.
- Mise-o-jeu
- Mise-o-jeu is Loto-Québec's sports betting brand: paper slips at lottery retailers and Mise-o-jeu+ online, for players 18+ who are in Quebec.
- Deposit limit
- A cap ("limite de dépôt") you pick for how much money can go into one casino account in a day, a week or a month.