The Best Canadian Formula One Drivers in History

When it comes to F1 racing, Canada is not a country that immediately springs to mind. However, over the years, there have been several Canadian drivers who have made their mark on the sport. Here are some of the best Canadian Formula One drivers in history.

Jacques Villeneuve

With a total of 10 years in F1 racing, Jacques Villeneuve is the only Canadian to ever win the World Championship title. He started his career with Williams in 1996, and by his first year, he had already racked up four Grand Prix wins. As well as finishing second place in the drivers’ championship fight.

His second year was an even greater triumph. Pitched against the legendary Michael Schumacher, Jacques managed to come out on top with seven wins to Schumacher’s five. The deciding race took place at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Schumacher had to retire due to damage from a collision, giving Villeneuve the title of World Champion.

Although he continued racing in Formula One for a few more years, his podium finishes and points started to dwindle. He then tried his hand at other racing series with moderate success.

Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll started his racing career in Italian and French F4 before moving up to the European Formula 3 Series, where he won the championship in 2016.

The following year, he made the jump to Formula One with Williams. His first home race was the Canadian Grand Prix, and he managed to bring the car home in points, much to the delight of his home crowd.

He has since racked up a number of podium finishes, with his best result coming at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he finished third.

Stroll is still relatively young and has many years of racing ahead of him. There’s no doubt that he has the potential to achieve great things in Formula One. He’s been driving for Aston Martin since 2021, with considerable success and his positive influence is being taken into account by experienced bookmakers offering Formula One betting markets as well as competing F1 racing teams.

Gilles Villeneuve

Gilles Villeneuve was Jacques’ father, and he is widely regarded as one of the best F1 drivers of all time, despite never winning a World Championship title. He started his career in 1977 with Ferrari and quickly became a fan favourite with his aggressive driving style.

In his six years with Ferrari, Gilles managed to rack up six Grand Prix wins. His best year was in 1979 when he won 3 races and placed 2nd four times to came in second place in the Drivers’ Championship.

Tragically, Gilles died in an accident during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix. He was just 32 years old.

Allen Berg

Although he never managed to score a point in Formula One, Allen Berg deserves mention as one of the best Canadian drivers in history.

He started his career in 1983, racing in the German Formula 3 series. He then moved up to Formula One in 1986 with the short-lived Osella team. He spent three years with the team and took part in a total of nine races.

Despite never managing to finish in the points, Berg did have some strong performances. His best finish was 12th place at the 1987 German Grand Prix.

Berg continued racing until 1989 before retiring from the sport. He then became a driving instructor and opened a racing school. He has since mentored many up-and-coming drivers, helping them to hone their skills.

There you have it, some of the best Canadian Formula One drivers in history. These drivers have all made their mark on the sport in one way or another and have helped to put Canada on the map in the world of motorsport.