The Formula One tour returns to Montreal this weekend for the 2017 edition of the Canadian Grand Prix on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve (did you know that the first edition of the race was held in Mosport, Ontario precisely 50 years ago?). For fans of speed, sound, performance and technology, this is an event that delivers and then some.
In fact, all consumers will derive some benefit as well, as several concepts and systems found in today’s production vehicles have their genesis in car racing, particularly in F1. Notable among them, carbon-material structures and components, active suspensions, sequential gearboxes, steering wheel-mounted controls including paddle shifters, and high-performance tires.
Here is a quick overview of production car manufacturers that will be present on the starting line of Sunday’s race; it includes videos and links to articles and reviews on Auto123.com that will allow you to learn more about and fully appreciate the sophisticated technologies they have dreamed up.
Mercedes-AMG
The German automaker supplies the engines that power the Mercedes, Williams and Force India entrants
2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S: First impressions
2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S: Review (fast, racy and full of tech)
Mercedes-AMG GT R: Ready to tear the track apart!
2016 Mercedes GLA 45 AMG 4MATIC: Review (street-legal rally car)
2017 Mercedes-AMG SLC 43: Review (the right stuff)
Ferrari
The Italian manufacturer supplies the engines for the Ferrari, Sauber and Haas teams
Ferrari: 70 years of emotions in new video
Ferrari 812 Superfast: The most powerful and fastest Ferrari in history
Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta: The ultimate drop-top?
Ferrari GTC4Lusso T: First Ferrari 4-seater with turbo V8
Ferrari 488 GTB: Technology meets symphony
Honda
The Japanese manufacturer supplies the engines for the McLaren team
Honda and the passion for racing
Honda Civic Type R: The most powerful Honda ever sold in North America
Honda Civic Type R: A highly anticipated coming
McLaren
McLaren F1 successor, codenamed BP23, in the works
McLaren 720S makes 1st North American appearance
2016 McLaren 570S: Review (like an English gentleman)
2015 McLaren 650S: Review (making more than a statement)
Renault
The French manufacturer, now a part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance (along with INFINITI, formerly associated with Red Bull), supplies the engines for the Renault, Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams. While it has no current presence on the Canadian market, it’s worth a moment to take a look at our article and video exploring Renault’s very futuristic TREZOR electric concept. The following video, meanwhile, presents the company’s vision of the future of F1: