Canadian Formula One Drivers - Former Drivers

Former Drivers

Gilles Villeneuve started his Formula One career with a one-off drive for McLaren at the 1977 British Grand Prix. He was quickly signed up by Ferrari to replace the outgoing Niki Lauda and he would remain with the team for all his time in Formula One. Villeneuve's most successful year came in 1979 when he won three races and came second in the drivers' championship. He was killed during qualifying in an accident at the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix – a collision with Jochen Mass pitched his Ferrari into the air and it was destroyed by the impact when it landed. He never won a Formula One drivers' title and only won six races but is held as one of the best racers to ever compete in the sport. In a survey conducted by Autosport asking drivers to vote for their choice of the greatest driver in history Villeneuve was placed tenth. Former team-mate Jody Scheckter said of Villeneuve "I will miss Gilles for two reasons. First, he was the fastest driver in the history of motor racing. Second, he was the most genuine man I have ever known."

Jacques Villeneuve, son of Gilles, was eleven at the time of his father's death. He had a successful career in IndyCar before moving to Formula One with Williams in 1996. He nearly won his first race, but a mechanical failure halted the car after he had led for most of the race. He went on to win four races that year and clinched second place in the drivers' championship. Seven wins in 1997 saw Villeneuve go one better, achieving the title that had eluded his father. However, he would never win another race in his Formula One career, doing no better than four third place finishes between 1998 and his retirement in 2006.

In 1981 another member of the Villeneuve family had tried his hand at Formula One. Jacques, brother of Gilles, is sometimes now referred to as Jacques Villeneuve snr. He failed to qualify for either of the two North American races he contested. He tried again at his home Grand Prix in 1983 but was unable to set a time to good enough to allow him into the race.

George Eaton competed in 13 Grands Prix with BRM, the majority of which were in 1970. His debut was in the 1969 United States Grand Prix and he entered one other race that year. He attended ten events in 1970, starting eight of them, and left the sport after a single race the following year, the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix. He only finished in four of the eleven races he started with a best finish of tenth.

Allen Berg drove for Osella in 1986, competing in nine races. He saw the chequered flag on three occasions with a highest finish of 12th place.

A number of Canadian drivers have competed solely in races held in their own country. Al Pease drove an Eagle Mk1 in three consecutive Canadian Grand Prix between 1967 and 1969. He was unable to finish any of the races and is remembered as the only driver in F1 history to be disqualified from a race for being too slow. Bill Brack also competed in three home races, starting with Lotus in 1968 then, in 1969 and 1972, driving a BRM. He was unable to finish in any of the events. Eppie Wietzes competed in two home races separated by more than seven years. He drove a Lotus in 1967 and a Brabham in 1974 but was unable to finish either race.

Peter Ryan (1961), John Cordts (1969), and John Cannon (1971) all competed in one Grand Prix each. Peter Broeker and Ernie de Vos were both entered for one race with Stebro in 1963. Broeker competed and finished seventh but de Vos did not start.