NEED TO KNOW: The most important facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix

Formula 1 is set to ignite North American shores this weekend for Round 10, the highly anticipated Canadian Grand Prix. The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, a unique blend of parkland and street circuit, promises a thrilling challenge with its numerous slow-speed corners and close walls, as former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer highlights. Historically, Canada has hosted F1 since 1967, boasting a lap record of 1m 13.078s set by Valtteri Bottas in 2019. Legends Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton share the record for most poles and wins, with seven victories each. Notably, the 2011 Canadian GP holds the record for F1's longest race. Pirelli is bringing its softest compounds (C4, C5, C6) to Montreal, a step softer than last year, anticipating potential graining on the smooth, rarely-used surface, while also noting the track's unpredictable weather. In the championship, Oscar Piastri leads with 186 points, followed closely by teammate Lando Norris (176 points). Max Verstappen, despite a strong record at Montreal with three consecutive wins, faces a 49-point deficit to Piastri after a recent penalty in Spain and is just one penalty point away from a race suspension. Mercedes and Ferrari are locked in a fierce battle for supremacy, with Mercedes showing promise after George Russell's 2024 pole. The midfield fight, particularly for Williams and Racing Bulls, also adds an intriguing layer to this weekend's action. An iconic moment in Canadian GP history is Robert Kubica's redemption arc: a horrific 2007 crash followed by his sole F1 victory at the same venue in 2008, a win that came amid dramatic pit lane incidents involving Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen.