The Canadian Grand Prix is one of the best weekends on the Formula 1 calendar.
Held at the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve since 1978, it has seen some brilliant moments and wonderful races.
In recent years, that has included Lewis Hamilton’s controversial win in 2019 and Jenson Button’s magnificent drive in 2011, arguably one of the greatest Formula 1 races ever held.
The Canadian Grand Prix has also seen some iconic drivers take their maiden Formula 1 wins, four of which we will go through now.
Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari (1978)
The track is named after him for a reason.
Gilles Villeneuve may have ‘only’ won six races in Formula 1, but he’s still regarded by many as one of the most talented drivers to have ever lived.
Racing for Ferrari in 1978, just his second season in the sport, the Canadian qualified third behind Jean-Pierre Jarier and Jody Scheckter, the latter of whom would join Villeneuve at the Scuderia in 1979.
After overtaking Scheckter midway through the race, he would capitalise on a mechanical issue for Jarier towards the end of the Grand Prix, sending the home crowd delirious.
To this day, Villeneuve remains the only Canadian to win his home Grand Prix.
Sadly, he wouldn’t get the opportunity to do so again after 1982, Villeneuve losing his life at that year’s Belgian Grand Prix following a crash at speed with Jochen Mass’s car during qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (2007)
It had been coming for Lewis Hamilton in 2007, the Briton’s rookie season in Formula 1.
Podium finishes across the opening five races had set him up perfectly heading to Canada.
After claiming his first-ever pole position in the sport, during which he beat teammate Fernando Alonso in second by four tenths of a second, Hamilton would control the race, showing incredible maturity at 22 years old to deal with multiple safety car restarts.
He ultimately crossed the line four seconds ahead of BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld, with the victory never looking in doubt.
A second win at the US Grand Prix would follow, with Hamilton becoming just the third McLaren driver to finish on the podium in seven consecutive races as a result. This was a streak the Briton would extend to nine Grands Prix after two further third-place finishes.
Robert Kubica, 2008 (BMW Sauber)
In 2008, Robert Kubica was regarded as a supremely talented Formula 1 driver.
In the hands of a more competitive car, he had started the season off well, claiming two second-place finishes, one third-place finish, and two fourth-place finishes across the first six races.
He then went one better in 2008, qualifying second behind Hamilton and then making the most of the Briton’s retirement to take his maiden win.
Sadly, it would be the only Formula 1 race Kubica won, the Pole involved in a major rallying accident prior to the 2011 F1 season that led to 17 operations on his injuries.
These included a partial amputation of Kubica’s forearm, something that would see his F1 career prematurely ended until a brief comeback with backmarker Williams in the 2018 season.
Daniel Ricciardo, 2014 (Red Bull)
Daniel Ricciardo should be regarded as one of Red Bull’s greatest ever drivers.
The Australian won seven races during his time with the Austrian team, including three in his first season with them in 2014.
The first of these came in Canada, Ricciardo taking advantage of mechanical issues affecting the all-conquering Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Fighting his way from sixth on the grid, the Red Bull man would overtake Rosberg with just two laps to go, much to the elation of his pit crew.
The 35-year-old was understandably elated post-race, delivering on the promise he had shown during his years with the sister Toro Rosso team.
With his two other race wins that season in Hungary and Belgium, Ricciardo would also ensure he was the only non-Mercedes driver to stand on the top step of the podium in 2014.