350,000 fans attended Circuit Gilles Villeneuve over the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix weekend, a new record for the Montreal event.
Formula 1 has announced a weekend attendance of 350,000 at the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix. This year’s attendance figure is up by 5,000 on the 2023 figure, and is an increase of 12,000 on the 3-day figure from 2022.
350,000 is a new official attendance record for the Canadian Grand Prix – though a figure of 360,000 was erroneously reported for the 2017 race, before the official attendance figure was retrospectively halved.
The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix ranks as the second-best-attended race of the season to date, behind the Australian Grand Prix, which saw a record-breaking 4-day attendance of over 452,000.
Last year, the Canadian Grand Prix ended up as the sixth top-attended race of the season. Races in Britain, Austin, Mexico and Belgium – all of which are yet to take place in 2024 – all attracted higher weekend figures than the Montreal event.
2024 Canadian Grand Prix Weekend a “Logistical Mess”
The wet weather conditions experienced over the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix weekend paired with other logistical shortcomings saw the event garner criticism from the media, team personnel and fans. Writing after the race, Martin Brundle branded the event a “logistical mess”.
On Friday, a number of fans were denied entry to the track following an apparent miscommunication between event organisers and local police. Transport authority Société de Transport de Montréal turned fans away, acting upon supposed information that both Friday practice sessions had been cancelled. This was not the case. Sky Sports F1 reported that the incident affected only a small number of fans, with most eventually able to access the track.
On Sunday, a number of fans in general admission areas were left dismayed when, just an hour before the race began, black mesh was fixed to the fences, obscuring their view of the start/finish straight.
Furthermore, complaints were raised by team personnel, guests and media after the weather led to far from ideal working conditions, with leaking roofs and muddy car park tracks among the issues.
Meanwhile, race promoters Octane Racing Group were summoned to the FIA stewards after the race following a track invasion by fans prior to the end of Sunday’s Grand Prix. The situation was branded “unacceptable” by the stewards, who deemed that the promoter must “present a formal remediation plan to the FIA” to ensure a similar situation does not arise in the future before the end of September.
F1 Returns to Canada Next June
Having been on the calendar since 1978, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosted its 43rd Formula 1 event in 2024. Only four circuits have hosted more events than the Montreal track: Monza, Monaco, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.
The Canadian Grand Prix holds a contract to remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2031. The 2025 race is scheduled to take place on June 13-15.
Our family attended the race on Sunday but due to lack of view to the track we left before the actually race occurred. Not only was there no room general admission viewing areas but any where else on the track they had blue tarps on the fence to obscure the view and extremely low hanging trees blocking the view. Now to read that in the designated general admission areas where there was limited viewing space as it was,they put up black tarps on the fence an hour before the race is disgusting and appalling. Fans should never be treated like this, let alone fans who paid to attend. We drove over 6 hours to attend our very 1st formula 1 race and will now most likely be the only one we will ever attend. Shame on formula 1 for allowing this.
I’m really sorry you had such a bad experience
Race and practice sessions were a blast. No one controls the weather. However, the comment: Logistics Mess, is completely fitting. Yes on an island but only one point for Uber pick up. A train station completely over whelmed with a line in the thousands. Too many pinch points for walking. It’s been 40+ years get your act together Montréal F1.
Agreed, Robert. F1 has outgrown Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, especially with bumper crowds since the pandemic. Time for the organizer to improve access to the island at the very least