What is the Wall of Champions – and which drivers have crashed there?

Formula 1 returns to action this weekend with the Canadian Grand Prix, held at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. A unique blend of track characteristics, it features one of the biggest challenges on the F1 calendar – the so-called ‘Wall of Champions’.

What is the Wall of Champions?

F1 has raced in Montreal since 1978, when the Circuit Île Notre-Dame – looping around the man-made island situated in the middle of the St Lawrence River – replaced previous Canadian events at Mosport Park and Mont-Tremblant.

Renamed as the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve following the local hero’s tragic passing, the track features a tricky combination of chicanes, heavy braking zones and flat-out blasts, meaning the drivers have plenty to think about.

It is a venue that arguably saves the best challenge until last though, when cars thread the needle of the heavily kerbed Turn 13/14 chicane and face a daunting block of concrete on the exit – providing the ultimate test of risk versus reward.

In 1999, no fewer than three title-winning drivers were caught out at that very spot across the same weekend, leading to the corner’s nickname of the ‘Wall of Champions’, which has stuck to this day.

What do the drivers make of it?

“Across all of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, I think the last chicane is really important to get right,” said Max Verstappen a few years ago, when talking about the challenge posed by the Wall of Champions.

“You arrive at such high speed, so when you hit the braking point the brakes can be a bit cold, which means you have to be careful and get it right every time.

“This will also set you up for the exit where you come very close to the wall. It is important not to brush it as you can damage the rim.

“A millimetre or centimetre doesn’t make too much difference, just don’t touch the wall.”

Esteban Ocon added: “I always say I like chicanes and that’s almost all you have in Montreal. It’s a challenging and very technical track and I really enjoy driving on it.

“My favourite corner is the final chicane, with the Wall of Champions so close to you. It’s a very tricky corner and it’s very easy to get it wrong.”

Which drivers have crashed there?

Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve were the three champions who hit the wall in 1999, as well as non-champions Ralf Schumacher and Ricardo Zonta.

Before the wall earned its name, there was a nasty shunt for Derek Warwick back in 1988, which briefly knocked him unconscious, as well as a crash for Alex Wurz in 1997.

A host of well-known drivers have since experienced accidents of their own, including Rubens Barrichello and Nick Heidfeld in 2001, future champion Jenson Button in 2005, Juan Pablo Montoya in 2006 and then reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in 2011.

Later examples include Williams team mates Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado in 2012, Carlos Sainz in 2016, Kevin Magnussen in 2019, and Lance Stroll, Alex Albon and the aforementioned Verstappen across the 2024 race weekend.

The current crop of 22 drivers will be doing their best to avoid the infamous wall when Free Practice 1 for the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix begins at 1230 local time on Friday.