Originally named the Île Notre-Dame Circuit, the track was built and finished in 1978. The Canadian Grand Prix moved to Montréal following safety concerns at Mosport Park, which had hosted the race on eight occasions, and two earlier editions at the Mont-Tremblant circuit in Quebec in 1968 and 1970.
Notre Dame Island is a man-made island in the St. Lawrence River, largely built up for the Expo in 1967. Saint Helen's Island to the northwest was artificially enlarged for the Expo '67 fairgrounds; the Biosphere, a remnant of the fair, is located adjacent to the circuit. Almost half the track — from the hairpin turn until after the pit area — runs alongside the Olympic Basin, a rectangular basin created for the rowing and canoeing events of Montréal's 1976 Summer Olympics.
The inaugural 1978 Canadian Grand Prix was won by hometown hero Gilles Villeneuve (1950–1982) driving for Scuderia Ferrari. In 1982, following Villeneuve's death earlier that year, the circuit was renamed in his honour. Villeneuve was the father of Jacques Villeneuve.
Once held in late September, the race was moved to mid-June in 1982 for warmer conditions. The Grand Prix ran uninterrupted for over two decades before being dropped from the 2009 Formula One calendar, replaced by the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. On November 27, 2009, Quebec's officials and Canadian Grand Prix organizers announced a settlement with Formula One Administration and signed a new five-year contract for the 2010–2014 seasons.
The 2011 race was the longest World Championship Grand Prix ever held, exceeding four hours due to a lengthy rain delay.
In 2006, Normand Legault — promoter of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix — was awarded exclusive rights to stage the two allowed race weekends on the track, covering 2007 to 2011 with an option for 2012–2016. Legault replaced the Champ Car race with events from the Grand American Road Racing Association's Rolex Series and the NASCAR Nationwide Series — the latter's first race north of the Canada–United States border. On August 4, 2007, Kevin Harvick won the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race at the circuit in a controversial finish, with Robby Gordon claiming to have won. The 2008 NASCAR race was the first in that series to run on rain tires.
In its early years the circuit featured technical, medium-speed chicanes and relatively low overall lap speeds. Over the decades it transformed into a power track where straight-line speed became a priority.
Between 1986 and 1988 (with a one-year hiatus in 1987), the pitlane and start-finish straight were relocated from the hairpin to the exit of the fast right-left chicane, which became the final corner.
In 1994, following the fatal crashes of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at Imola, a chicane was inserted between the Casino corner and the hairpin to decrease top speed. The 1996 race saw both that chicane and the Casino corner removed; the run from the hairpin at the bottom of the circuit became a straight.
In 2002, the pit lane exit was changed to make it safer, also shortening the total circuit length. Changes to the curbs on the final chicane made in 2005 were controversial, with the curbs made higher and more difficult for drivers to see.
In 2017, to accommodate higher cornering speeds from new Formula One regulations and new FIA safety requirements, additional Tecpro barriers were installed following removal of older tyre barriers. The angle of the exit of the last chicane (the Wall of Champions) was also modified, as the FIA found the previous configuration dangerous.
Over the winter of 2018–19, the paddock in use since 1988 was demolished and replaced with the current structure.
Senna 'S': The complex of turns one and two, which viewed from above forms an 'S' shape.
Pont de la Concorde (Turn 8): A fast corner after a bridge underpass, known as a 'quick kink' before Turn 9 and the approach to the hairpin.
The Hairpin (Turn 10): A 180-degree hairpin requiring full wheel lock during F1 competition. Different entry lines allow for overtaking at the apex or on exit; braking too late sends cars into the runoff. It is one of the circuit's main overtaking zones.
Wall of Champions (Turns 13–14): The exit barrier of the final chicane before the start/finish straight, bearing the inscription "Bienvenue au Québec" (formerly "Mur du Québec"). In the 1999 race, three Formula One World Champions — Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve — along with FIA GT champion Ricardo Zonta all crashed into it. The wall subsequently gained the nickname "The Wall of Champions." Later victims include Jenson Button in 2005 and four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel during 2011 free practice. A car damaged here typically brings out a Safety Car or VSC.
The fastest lap ever recorded at the circuit was a 1:10.240 set by Sebastian Vettel during qualifying for the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix. As it was set in qualifying, it is not recognised as the official lap record. Lewis Hamilton set the previous qualifying benchmark with 1:11.459 for the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix, earning him pole position — his 65th, level with Ayrton Senna's record. Hamilton was subsequently presented with a helmet from Senna's family in front of the crowd.
In 2006, the last time Champ Car and F1 raced on the same track, Formula One was 5 to 7 seconds per lap faster. The fastest F1 race lap was 1:15.841 by Kimi Räikkönen; Sébastien Bourdais set 1:22.325 in the Champ Car race. The 2007 NASCAR Busch Series pole time was 1:42.086 by Patrick Carpentier; the 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series track record is 1:32.620, set by Scott Pruett driving for Chip Ganassi Racing in the Daytona Prototype class.
The circuit has hosted a wide range of series beyond Formula One:
Current: Formula One Canadian Grand Prix (with FIA Formula 2 and F1 Academy support).
Former: Atlantic Championship (1978–1983, 1986, 1988–2006), Barber Pro Series (2002–2003), Canadian Superbike Championship (2004), Champ Car World Series Grand Prix of Montreal (2002–2006), Ferrari Challenge North America, Formula BMW USA (2004–2008), Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series Montreal 200 (2007–2012), IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 (2007–2012), Porsche Carrera Cup North America (2024–2025), Star Mazda Championship (2005–2006), Trans-Am Series (2005), World Sportscar Championship 480 km of Montreal (1990).
As part of Parc Jean-Drapeau, the circuit is open between races for walking, running, cycling, in-line skating, and driving. During Grand Prix weekend, Notre Dame Island is one of the noisiest places in Montréal; for the rest of the year it is among the quietest, situated on a river island filled with greenery. A ban on competitive cyclists introduced in June 2009 following a rise in injuries was subsequently lifted following protests.
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