Cold, hard Montreal winter failed to derail new Canadian GP pits

The city and the race promotion organisation committed to the $39m new facility after signing a contract that runs until 2029, in one of the last deals agreed by former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.

The old pit building, which was first used in 1988 when the start/finish straight was moved, was demolished soon after last year’s Canadian GP.

“We had a rough winter, and the weather was not permitting us to put asphalt down,” race president and promoter Francois Dumontier told Motorsport.com. “It was really, really cold, and a longer winter than we are used to in Montreal.

"Apart from that, they did a great job. Last week [they] did the asphalt around the building. I am quite happy about it, it’s going to be very nice.”

For the first time there are proper permanent hospitality facilities on top of the garages. The rear of the garages is closer to the rowing lake than previously, reducing the width of the walkway. The team hospitality units remain located on platforms that stretch over the water.

The new facility includes a media centre that will be available for rent for the rest of the year, generating some extra income to help justify the cost of the construction.

Dumontier added: “The media centre will become for the rest of the year an events room, and the city is going to take care of that. I think it’s going to be very popular, if you want to do event in the F1 building, with a very nice view of the Montreal skyline. So it’s been built for that.”

The lengthy contract means that Montreal is not part of any debate about the future of the calendar and possible lost races, but Dumontier admitted that he is watching developments elsewhere.

“We’re lucky enough to have a long deal up to 2029, but it’s always interesting to see what’s going on. I know a lot of those people, so I always wish the best both for them, and for F1,” he said.

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