The organisers of the Canadian GP have ensured that the 2025 edition of the race will be free from the many issues that marred last year’s event at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
From flooding hospitality suites to communication breakdowns and access delays due to a lack of coordination with local police, last year’s race weekend drew heavy criticism for its logistical and infrastructure failures.
The team behind the Montreal-based race says they have made sweeping changes to ensure a smoother experience for fans, teams, and media alike.
In the aftermath of last year’s debacle, Sky Sports F1 pundit Martin Brundle was particularly candid in his assessment of the weekend’s shortcomings.
"I’ve been visiting the Canadian GP in Montreal since 1984, and this year was undoubtedly the least enjoyable in terms of the venue,” the former F1 driver wrote at the time in his post-race column for Sky.
“The popularity and scale of today’s F1 has outgrown the facilities, and the rain turning accesses into mud didn’t help. The police and security appeared increasingly aggressive and unhelpful to boot, it was a logistical mess."
The issues weren't limited to hospitality guests and media. Fans and even team personnel experienced delays and confusion when entering the circuit.
There were also reports of flooding in commentary boxes, complicating the broadcast operations throughout the weekend.
In response to the widespread criticism, Canadian Grand Prix organizers have worked diligently to address the issues that plagued the 2024 event.
Speaking to CTV News, a spokesperson for the event expressed confidence in the improvements.
"I think it's safe to say that we've done a total 180 compared to last year,” they said.
This optimistic outlook reflects a comprehensive effort to overhaul the event’s operations and infrastructure.
A key focus has been resolving the communication breakdowns that contributed to access delays. Organizers have implemented new protocols to ensure seamless coordination with local authorities.
"Communication now will be under control, so there's no orders or communication that would be given during the weekend that is not synchronised with all the communication that is official. So that won't happen anymore," another representative of the organizers assured CTV News.
“This commitment to streamlined communication aims to prevent the confusion and delays that frustrated attendees in 2024.”
To address the flooding issues, significant investments have been made to upgrade the circuit’s facilities. During a recent tour of the track, officials highlighted the addition of new hospitality suites and extensive waterproofing measures for the buildings constructed in 2019.
"The park has invested a tremendous amount of time and resources into making sure that the building that was built in 2019 is now completely waterproof. A lot of tests have gone on in recent weeks," the organizer noted.
Efforts have also been made to address the serious communication issues that contributed to last year’s delays and frustrations. Organisers claim there will now be full alignment between the circuit and local authorities to ensure consistent and clear instructions are followed by all parties.
"Communication now will be under control, so there's no orders or communication that would be given during the weekend that is not synchronised with all the communication that is official. So that won't happen anymore," another organiser confirmed.
Fans can also expect enhanced signage around the circuit, intended to make navigating to seats and facilities easier and faster than in previous years.
In the lead-up to this week’s race, new concerns emerged when images circulated on social media showing the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve shrouded in smoke from nearby wildfires.
However, local officials and Formula 1 have moved to calm fears, stating that current air quality levels are “moderate” and not expected to impact the race weekend.
Formula 1 continues to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with local authorities to ensure safety standards are met and contingency plans are in place should conditions change.
With the event just days away, the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix stands as a major test for the race’s long-term reputation.
Organisers are confident the measures taken will restore Montreal’s round to its former glory – and erase memories of what Martin Brundle called “the least enjoyable” Canadian GP in four decades.
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