One of the well-known corners on the F1 calendar is Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s Wall of Champions.
House of the Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal has thrown up some epic races over time.
Jenson Button’s outstanding win in 2011 – which continues to be the longest race in F1 historical past – nonetheless stands out.
Its distinctive monitor format makes it a favorite of the drivers, combining lengthy straights with advanced chicanes.
However one nook has developed extra of a status than others.
Flip 14 – or the Wall of Champions – is one which has caught out many drivers over time.
Why is it referred to as the Wall of Champions?
Whereas the Canadian Grand Prix has been a part of the F1 calendar since 1978, Flip 14 didn’t earn the identify ‘Wall of Champions’ till 1999.
On the 1999 Canadian GP, 4 drivers crashed on the soon-to-be named Wall of Champions.
Three F1 champions – Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve – all crashed on the nook.
Ricardo Zonta additionally crashed within the 1999 grand prix, however he wasn’t a world champion.
With the aforementioned trio crashing, it earned the identify Wall of Champions.
Talking of his uncommon mistake, Schumacher mentioned in 1999: “It was very clearly a mistake on my own. I appear to make one a 12 months, and I hope that’s the final one I make this 12 months.”
Which different F1 champions have crashed on the Wall of Champions?
Jenson Button crashed out of the 2005 Canadian Grand Prix, hitting the Wall of Champions.
The British driver wasn’t a world champion on the time, driving for BAR-Honda.
Button would win an F1 world championship in 2009 with Brawn GP.
Sebastian Vettel crashed his Pink Bull in first observe on the 2011 Canadian GP.
On the time, Vettel was a one-time world champion, having overwhelmed Fernando Alonso to the 2010 title.
In latest seasons, Carlos Sainz, Kevin Magnussen and Zhou Guanyu have all crashed on the well-known nook.
In fact, none of them have gained an F1 title.
Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have all averted crashing on the Wall of Champions.
A superb omen for Piastri?
2025 F1 title contender Oscar Piastri hit the Wall of Champions in remaining observe.
Piastri, who heading into the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix led the F1 championship standings, clattered the wall.
Happily for the Australian, he was capable of proceed — albeit with a puncture.
Piastri will probably be hopeful that it’s an excellent omen for the remainder of the 12 months.
