Why is the “Wall of Champions” in Canada called that?

When we talk about Canada in F1, we instantly think of the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, on Notre-Dame Island in Montreal. And when we talk about the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit, there is generally one place that comes to mind: the Wall of Champions. In appearance, it is a simple concrete wall, covered by a row of tires, at the exit of the last chicane. But this very special place is formidable and feared by all pilots in Formula 1.

First of all, why this name, the “Wall of Champions”? The answer can be found in 1999, during the then Canadian Grand Prix. In a single race, three world champions were trapped at the exit of the chicane: Damon Hill on the 15th lap then Michael Schumacher on the 30th lap and finally Jacques Villeneuve on the 35th lap. Three champions on the mat, all in the same place and in the space of around twenty laps: it didn't take that much for the turn 14 wall to get a nickname.

World champs – watch out for that wall! 😃#CanadianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/BIMPdByV7j

- Formula 1 (@ F1) June 16, 2022

Since then, this wall has become the iconic place on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit. Very tricky due to its proximity to the trajectory, the barrier punishes any driving error in the last chicane. The height of Quebec irony is that the fence just above the wall was for a long time adorned with a “Welcome to Quebec” sign. Enough to make fans smile and mark a great publicity stunt for local tourism.

The famous “Welcome to Quebec” advertisement on the Wall of Champions © GILLES LEVENT / DPPI

After the 1999 edition, several drivers went to kiss, often a little too hard, the Wall of Champions. In 2005, it was the Briton Jenson Button, then a driver for the BAR-Honda team, who was the victim of the wall. In 2011, the then reigning champion Sebastian Vettel had hit the row of tires with his Red Bull during the tests.

Last example in date: Kevin Magnussen, during the last edition in 2019, during Q2. The Dane had touched the barrier with his Haas and had broken his right rear suspension, sending him into a spin. So, will we see the list of victims of the Wall of Champions grow again this season? With the new 2022 single-seaters, it could well be that a few drivers encounter the most famous wall on the calendar.

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