Round 10 of the 2025 F1 season takes us to Montreal, Canada. The iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is located on the Notre Dame Island, in Canada’s second largest city. Commentators often refer to the track as a street circuit, even though it sits on a somewhat secluded island. This has consistently confused many fans about the circuit’s true nature. So is the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve a street circuit or a permanent track?
The Canadian GP has featured sporadically on the F1 calendar since 1967. But it was only in 1978 that the race was first held at the Montreal-based track that we know today. So, since it was a purpose built track, what is the exact nature of the circuit?
Is the F1 Canadian GP circuit a street circuit or a permanent track?
The answer to this question is a complicated one. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is technically a semi-permanent street track. As previously mentioned, the track was built on the Notre Dame Island, and within a public park. So, the track is partially composed of regular roads that existed already within the park.
Hence, it is also open to cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians, throughout the year. Temporary grandstands, pit buildings and the paddock are needed to be constructed and put in place each year before the race.
The characteristics of the circuit also mirror those of a street track, in some areas. Close walls are a feature of the circuit, like the famous Wall of Champions. The track is also narrow in many areas, with close grandstands.
But even with all these characteristics, the 4.361 km-long track cannot be considered a full street circuit. This is because it is not present within a city’s regular traffic routes, like Monaco or Las Vegas. The track also features many smooth roads, to go along with the pre-existing ones, built for the sole purpose of the F1 race.
So, it can be said that the Canadian GP circuit offers the best of both worlds. It combines the design of a purpose-built F1 track with the unique features of a street circuit, all set within a public park.
A brief History of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
In 1967, the Canadian GP was originally held at the Mosport Park in Clarington, Ontario, sporadically. In 1968 and 1970, it was held at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec. Finally, the race was moved to Montreal in 1978.
Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve became the first from his country to win an F1 race, at the inaugural race at Montreal. The track was originally named the Ile Notre-Dame Circuit back then. It was renamed after Villeneuve in 1982, after his tragic death during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian GP.
Ferrari’s Villeneuve became the instant hometown hero. His son, Jacques, became Canada’s one and only world champion in 1997, surpassing his dad’s legacy. But Gilles still remains the only Canadian to have won the Canadian GP.
