Sebastian Vettel says the appeal of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix comes from its old-school vibe and challenging track that often throws up wild races.

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve started hosting the event in 1978 and has been a mainstay on the Formula One calendar ever since. A self-avowed traditionalist, Vettel relishes the challenge of competing at a venue perhaps just as demanding as Monaco.

“Montreal is a fantastic place,” the four-time world champion said. “I think it is great that we are racing in Canada. I think it’s a race that all the Formula One fans and all the drivers enjoy. It is a great circuit.

“It is incredibly important to get the timing right under braking. It is quite a hard challenge for the driver, but also for the car, for the brakes and the tyres, because you stop the car with a very low speed to accelerate again. So, traction is very important too.”

“Montreal is one of the old style circuits, with the walls being close, hard braking, and quick changes of direction in the chicanes.”

Despite winning the Canadian Grand Prix in 2013, Vettel remains closely associated with the 2011 edition where he ran wide while leading on the final lap of a rain-delayed event, and ultimately lost out to McLaren’s Jenson Button in a nail-biting classic.

FEATURE: Six races in - 2015 v 2016 comparisons

Ziv Knoll's Indy 500 diary

Alex Wurz: Let's get back to extreme track designs

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

‘Difficult to Pass’: Ocon raises early alarm over 2026 F1 cars

Esteban Ocon fears Formula 1’s 2026 cars could make overtaking a tougher art rather than…

35 mins ago

Jenson Button named Aston Martin F1 Team Ambassador for 2026

Jenson Button is heading back into the Formula 1 spotlight – not in a race…

2 hours ago

Wolff calls out Mercedes engine rivals: ‘Get your sh*it together!’

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has fired a blunt warning across the Formula 1 engine landscape,…

3 hours ago

A tribute to a talented fallen F1 hopeful

Roger Williamson - the young British F1 hopeful who was lost to motorsport in a…

4 hours ago

Russell confident in Mercedes W17 – but stops short of title claim

Mercedes’ George Russell is currently the bookmakers’ favorite for the 2026 F1 world title, yet…

5 hours ago

F1 engine dispute heads for boiling point in key FIA meetings

This week, Formula 1’s engine manufacturer’s are heading into two crucial meetings with the FIA,…

6 hours ago