Formula 1 takes its second trip to the Americas, this time to Canada, and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The track, situated on a man-made island in Montreal, first hosted F1 races in 1978, when it was known as the Île Notre-Dame Circuit. Renamed in honour of the late, great Gilles Villeneuve in 1982, shortly after his death, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has become a mainstay of the F1 calendar. 70 laps around this fast circuit provide drivers with a great, enjoyable experience, and it is a track that often provides great entertainment for fans. The venue also played host to the longest race in F1 history, in a rain-soaked 2011 Grand Prix.

Groundhogs can be a disruptive influence here, for they have routinely crossed the track during active sessions, however the race’s organisers have gotten better at removing them from the site down the years.

What of the circuit’s features? One slightly unusual element here is that turn 1 is a left-hander, that swiftly gives way to the sweeping hairpin of turn 2. To have the better run through here, and through the turns 3-4 chicane, you might prefer to take the outside line at turn 1, a somewhat counter-intuitive approach. From there, you sweep through turn 5 and slow right down for turn 6, accelerating through turn 7, and onto the track’s first DRS zone. The track is closely lined by walls through this sequence, that can punish even the slightest error.

Turns 8 and 9 lead drivers down to the Hairpin, one of the circuit’s defining features. Overtaking opportunities can be had here, though it is very easy to carry too much speed into this corner, and run too wide. From here, the Casino Straight forms another DRS zone, and a potentially tricky pit entrance, approached at speed, as you also approach turns 12 and 13. Coming out of turn 13 you have the infamous Wall of Champions, which has seen many a seasoned racer come a cropper down the years. In 1999, Jacques Villeneuve (son of Gilles, and 1997 champion), Damon Hill (1996 champion) and Michael Schumacher (at that stage, 1994 and 1995 champion) all hit the wall on the exit of turn 13, which led to the name ‘Wall of Champions’. Jensen Button (2009 champion) and Sebastian Vettel (2010 champion at the time) have also caught the wall.

Against a backdrop of variable, rainy weather, how would our 2024 grid handle this fast and unforgiving track? Well, perhaps the biggest shocks were to be had in qualifying. Not only did we see Max Verstappen fail to put his Red Bull on pole for the first time in 2024, we saw a maiden pole for Oscar Piastri. He judged a drying track perfectly in Q3, slipping ahead of Charles Leclerc to put his McLaren at the top of the timesheets. Leclerc had to settle for second on the grid in his Ferrari, but the real shock of qualifying lay behind the top two.

Not only had both Meerkats raced Q3, they also managed P3 and P4 for the grid. Theo Pourchaire and Liam Lawson, like Piastri and Leclerc, judged the conditions to perfection, and remarkably got ahead of Verstappen, Sainz, and a host of other faster cars. It was highly debatable as to whether they could remain so high up the field during the race, which was set for dry conditions, but it represented by far and away their best qualifying as a team.

Sadly, the euphoria of qualifying would give way to a disastrous Sunday. The Meerkats did gradually slip down the pecking order, wisely declining tyre-damaging scraps with the likes of Verstappen, Sainz and Norris, but there was a feeling that both Pourchaire and Lawson had the potential to score points, fighting with the likes of Daniel Ricciardo of Racing Bull, and the two Aston Martins. That belief was punctured on lap 20, and in spectacular fashion.

Pourchaire had fallen behind Ricciardo, and was trying to push, on his way into the pits, in the hope of an undercut. He locked his brakes behind Ricciardo as the pair headed towards the Hairpin, and slammed into the back of the veteran Australian. The damage to both cars was terminal, and triggered a safety car to bunch up the field.

By the time the safety car came out, Verstappen had sailed from fifth on the grid, and into the lead, puncturing the hopes that qualifying might have yielded more intrigue in the title fight. He would look imperious throughout the remainder of the race, but behind him, more chaos yet awaited, and more heartbreak for Meerkat Racing.

Heading into turn 2, Liam Lawson, running in 10th, and holding off the two Mercedes, was hit from behind by George Russell. Lawson suffered damage to his rear wing, and after limping on a few more laps, Meerkat Racing took the decision to retire the car. From looking at a possible double points finish to a double retirement was a huge comedown from the peaks of Saturday, and left the team reflecting upon what could have been.

Late in the race, a fourth retirement shrunk the field even further. Zhou’s Sauber gave out on him, leading to a late virtual safety car, which proved of no consequence to Verstappen and Red Bull. The Dutchman took his sixth win of the year, and once again extended his championship lead.

So, where does this leave the standings?

Meerkat Racing were not alone in experiencing disappointment. Piastri lost five places to finish sixth, and Leclerc failed to make the podium. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez drove a magnificent race to move up 11 places to second, and Lewis Hamilton rose 8 places to eighth. The net impact of all this?

Verstappen’s lead at the top is back up to 37 points. Meanwhile, Norris has closed the gap on Sainz in third to just three points, and Lewis Hamilton has moved into the top ten.

Red Bull’s 1-2 in Canada has moved them up to top spot in the constructor’s championship, four points ahead of Ferrari. McLaren continue to consolidate third spot, whilst Meerkat Racing may yet rue a missed opportunity to catch Haas.

Next time, Formula 1 returns to Europe, for the Spanish Grand Prix. Who will shine in Spain?

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