Open House at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, F1 fans come out for pit lane walk

F1 fans from around the world are in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and they’re lined up for the Open House at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. They’ll get to do a pit lane walk and see the Formula One cars that will race this Sunday on Île Notre-Dame.

“Last year open house was good, and they let everybody in. You got to go up to the pit lane and you see the drivers in the cars and stuff like that. This year we don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Craig Beaudoin, a Montrealer, who has frequented the Canadian Grand Prix events for years.

“I would love to see the drivers as I have seen in the other use. Last year they were not there, but all the other years before they were there. So I hope to see them there today.,” said Gardene Aguiar who has been a Formula One fan for the past 40 years.

The gates were open from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. and fans were able to get a close up look at some of the fastest regulated road-course racing cars in the world.

#WATCH: F1 fans from around the world are in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and they’re lined up for the Open House at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

READ: https://t.co/Ls8ZW2avcU pic.twitter.com/Z2zf7RN9eB

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) June 15, 2023

Lewis Hamilton made an appearance to greet fans and he even signed autographs. Hamilton is a seven time Canadian Grand Prix champion, but many believe there’s a clear favourite to win come Sunday.

“Max Verstappen. Honestly, Max Verstappen. Charles, maybe Stroll. Why not? He’s from Montreal, so why not?” said Sonia Bezzoui, a Montrealer.

“I think it’s going to be Max. That car is so strong, I don’t think anybody’s going to be able to touch him this year.,” predicted Kim Reimer from Tallahassee, Florida.

“Honestly, I feel like Max is going to win. I do want Checo to win, but I also want like Lance on the podium because it’s his home Grand Prix and he has a good car this year because he’s really good this year,” added Rosaura Romero from Montreal.

#WATCH: Seven time Canadian Grand Prix champion Lewis Hamilton made an appearance to greet fans and sign autographs at the Canadian Grand Prix open house at the Gilles Villeneuve track in Montreal.

READ: https://t.co/Ls8ZW2avcU pic.twitter.com/gErmqKi3NP

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) June 15, 2023

Friday are the practice sessions, then qualifiers Saturday and Sunday –  the big race, the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix.

“I just like the speed,” said Bezzoui, a Montrealer, about her passion for Formula One racing as she waited in line for the open house.

#WATCH: “I just like the speed,” said Sonia Bezzoui, a Montrealer, about her passion for Formula One racing as she waited in line for the Canadian Grand Prix open house in Montreal.

READ: https://t.co/Ls8ZW2b32s pic.twitter.com/rhkC2ORKk0

— CityNews Montreal (@CityNewsMTL) June 15, 2023