Located in Montreal, Canada, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is the home to the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix. The circuit is a 2.71 mile course. The man-made Notre Dame Island in the middle of the St Lawrence River was created for the 1967 Expo 67 World’s Fair. Once the expo and the ensuing 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics had left town, the locals decided to make a race track out of the island’s roads. The Circuit Ile Notre-Dame(1978–1982), or Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve (Present) was born. The track features multiple stop go sections where heavy braking and high acceleration extremes creating multiple over take situations. There are 3 Drag reduction system zones at the circuit between turns 7 and 8, turns 11 and 13 and turns 13 and 2.
In 2022 the race saw heavy rain conditions which threw a curve ball in the plans for the weekend for many racers. Verstappen won the race last year Max Verstappen and enters the weekend at the top of the drivers’ championship with 170 points – 53 points ahead of teammate Sergio Perez.
2023 Canadian Grand Prix weekend weather forecast
Friday, June 16 – FP1 and FP2
Conditions: Expected to be a dry morning but expect an unsettled afternoon with rain highly likely to fall in FP2. FP1: 71.6°F // FP2: 68°F
Maximum temperature expected: 72 Fahrenheit
Minimum temperature expected: 57 Fahrenheit
Chance of rain: 60%
Saturday, June 17 – FP3 and Qualifying
Conditions: A cloudy and rainy day expected with a chance of intense showers along with light winds at various times. FP3: 63°F // Q: 66°F
Maximum temperature expected: 68 Fahrenheit
Minimum temperature expected: 57 Fahrenheit
Chance of rain: 80%
Sunday, June 18 – Race Weather
Conditions: Sunday is expected to be much improved but expect a mix of showers and some sunny spells throughout the day. Race: 73°F
Maximum temperature expected: 73 Fahrenheit
Minimum temperature expected: 57 Fahrenheit
Chance of rain: 40%
More Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve Race Information
The race will run for 70 laps. The current lap record holder is Valtteri Bottas who set a 1:13.078 in 2019 during his stent with Mercedes. Coverage for the race weekend begins at 1:30pm EST in the USA for Free Practice 1 on ESPN.
Full event schedule can be found here: Formula 1 German Grand Prix Weekend Schedule
For more information on the circuit visit : Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Drivers arrive on site ahead of Free Practice 1 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. Photo by Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images