Formula One drivers from Canada

There have been thirteen Formula One drivers from Canada, only two of whom ever scored points. Gilles Villeneuve, rated amongst the greatest drivers of all time, died while qualifying for his 68th race. His son, Jacques Villeneuve won the World Drivers' Championship in 1997. Canadian drivers were absent from Formula One since his departure in 2006, until the arrival of Lance Stroll in 2017.

Lance Stroll is competing in the 2017 Formula One season, driving for Williams.

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.

...
Wikipedia