The Canadian Grand Prix was moved to Montreal in 1978, as Mosport Park was thought to be outdated and too dangerous. It was built around the site of Expo 67, and it is a mixture of street circuit and permanent road course. Downtown Montreal is only a stone's throw away.

One look at the circuit is enough to tell the story. This track breaks many a car. The first chicane catches out even the best of driver. The first race held on this circuit showed a maiden victory for the local hero, Gilles Villeneuve. In 1982, the track was renamed in his memory but saw tragedy when Riccardo Paletti was involved in a first lap accident, running into the back of Didier Pironi's stalled Ferrari, an accident that claimed Paletti's life.

The strangest finish ever remembered at Montreal was when Nigel Mansell was leading, and celebrated a little too soon. He coasted to a halt and stalled the Williams, allowing a very surprised Nelson Piquet to record his last victory for Benetton.

Michael Schumacher raced to victory in 1997 when the race was shortened because Olivier Panis crashed his Prost, breaking his leg. In 1998 Schumacher won the race that was referred to by many as a Formula One demolition derby as there was drama from the opening lap.

The race was red flagged after Ralf Schumacher stalled his Jordan on the grid, causing confusion, then as the cars came into the opening chicane, Alex Wurz's Benetton, cut across the grass, jumping over Jean Alesi, before rolling twice.

1999 saw no less three world champions come unstuck when the all lost control at the final turn - thereafter often referred to as the 'wall of champions'. Damon Hill, in his last Canadian race before retirement, Jacques Villeneuve for BAR and Ferrari driver Schumacher. Mika Hakkinen went on to win the event but Schumacher led home a Ferrari one-two in 2000.

The 2001 event saw rain begin to fall about two-thirds of the way in and Giancarlo Fisichella benefited by making his one and only stop at the perfect time. While the other drivers were forced to make a second stop due to the rain, Fisichella put wets on in his one and only pit to finish the race on the podium and continue his good form in Canada. Ralf Schumacher won the event followed home by brother Michael who took the win the following year with David Coulthard in second place.

In 2003, Michael Schumacher claimed his 68th victory in Montreal after snatching the lead from brother Ralf after his first and faster pit stop. Ralf finished in second place ahead of his Williams team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya.

2004 was another all-Ferrari affair with Schumacher taking the win from team-mate Barrichello by five seconds with Jenson Button third for BAR Honda. BMW Williams suffered a double race disqualification as did the Toyota outfit after it was found that both teams ran illegal brake ducts in the 70-lap event.

Renault's unlucky Montreal streak continued in 2005 when running first and second. Giancarlo Fisichella hit mechanical problems only for Fernando Alonso to brush the wall damaging the Renault's suspension. This handed the race lead to Juan Pablo Montoya who then promptly drove out of the pits under safety car conditions as the red light was being displayed. The black flag was shown to the Colombian and Kimi Raikkonen took the honours in the sister McLaren.

While 2005 was unpredictable, 2006 was a fairly straight-forward affair as Alonso dominated the race from Pole Position, taking the win from Schumacher who pressured Raikkonen into an uncharacteristic error on the penultimate lap.

The 2007 event saw no less than four safety car periods, two black flags, other problems for many in the 70-lap race and Lewis Hamilton had no issues leading away from the Pole Position to secure his first Grand Prix win on what was just his sixth Formula One race start. In a topsy-turvy event Nick Heidfeld finished second for BMW Sauber with Alex Wurz scoring his final podium of his race career in the Williams Toyota… from 19th on the grid.

The race will be remembered for Robert Kubica's massive accident in which the BMW Sauber racer was fortunate to escape largely unscathed. Championship protagonist Felipe Massa was disqualified after leaving the pit lane with the red light clearly illuminated while Fernando Alonso spent much of the race exploring the limit of grip and finished seventh.