When one exits the final corner-Turn 14, the drivers meet the infamous Wall of Champions. A chicane is no Herculean task for the drivers, but this specific chicane, it is an Achilles’ Heel. The chicane has seen many drivers including multiple champions crashing into it during races.
The first Formula One driver to crash into the Wall was Austrian F1 driver Alexander Wurz in a Benetton in the year 1997. The home favourite, Jacques Villeneuve followed suit soon enough. Wurz recently tweeted it as his favourite Canadian Grand prix memory. The chicane became the infamous two years later.
It was a nice morning at Montreal. Michael Schumacher started the race at pole ahead of Mika Hakkinen and Eddie Irvine. At one point, Jarno Trulli spun and crashed Barichello and Alesi. All of them had to retire although Barichello did a bit later. During the third lap, Brazilian Ricardo Zonta crashed into the wall at the exit of the turn. He thus became the first to crash on the wall.
The next break in peace came at the fifteenth lap, Damon Hill crashed out on the same region. He became the first World Champion to become the victim of the Wall of Champions. Fifteen laps later, Champion Schumacher crashed into the wall and at the 35th lap, another champion Jacques Villeneuve rammed into the Wall. Mika became the only champion who was spared at the end of the day. Hakkinen thus finished at the top followed by Fisichella and Irvine. A total of nine drivers retired or did not finish in that race.
But the scare continues to the day. During the 2005 race, Jenson Button crashed out. However it was four years before he won the title. The only reigning champion to have crashed out was Sebastian Vettel. In 2011, Vettel misjudged the chicane in free practice 1 and clattered into the wall. He recovered but lost the race in the final lap, giving rise to the infamous Button victory.
Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are racing this weekend and we are ready with popcorn and fizzy drinks
