Champions Wall: History of the most famous barrier in Formula 1 | Formula 1

In the world of formula-1, many trails with a rich history, each of which retains legendary areas with loud names. In old roads, every turn, every ligament carries the memory of great battles.

But all of them are a place that is especially distinguished: it is the « Wall of Champions » on the Hilly Vilnyov highway in Montreal – the eternal symbol of the fact that even the best of the best are not immune to mistakes.

Today, this name is familiar to almost every fan of Formula-1. Many ears have heard stories from veterans viewers, but not everyone knows how the ordinary concrete barrier has become truly legendary. And this story leads us in the late 90s-or more precisely, in 1999.

The situation before the start

The beginning of the 1999 season looked as a continuation of the previous one: Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen were the first roles, and the correspondence of Ross Brown and Edrian News in the team bridges unfolded.

Before the start of the Grand Prix of Canada, both favorites had two victories, and the Red Baron was leading the points with a break of six posts.

However, the Mclarene’s car looked clearly faster – in the first five races, the fools were invariably reached by hacquin. However, in Montreal, it was Schumacher who was at the first step in the qualification. The difference between the circles of the main contenders was only 0.029 seconds – an indicator that is considered minimal even by current standards.

As for other exchmpions, Damon Hill started from the 14th position, and Jacques Vilnev-on his home route-from the 16th.

Part 1: Ricardo Zonta

Among the several titled pilots, who were in the center of this story, there was one racer without any significant achievements in the formula-1-Ricardo Zonta. For all his career, the Brazilian scored only 3 points, and the titles conquered only in younger series.

However, it was he who was the first victim of the then nameless wall at the exit from the last turn during the 1999 Grand Prix.

The safety car caused by the starting collision between Jarno Trully, Jean Alesy and Rubens Barrikello, just had time to leave the route, as he had to go back – the umbrella lost control of the back of the car and hit the wall. The blow did not look particularly strong, but proved to be sufficient for damage incompatible with the continuation of the race.

Part 2: Damon Hill

In the 7th circle, the check-in recovered. Everything went in a typical line for the race that year – Ferrari and Mclarene’s pilots are fighting in front, and in the middle – a sluggish struggle for the title of « best among others. »

But for a long time, the audience did not have to be bored, because on 14 circles in the same place in the same way broke their car champion 1996 – Damon Hill: another seemingly light touch to the wall, damaged the attachment of the rear right wheel. This time, the real owner of the title came down from the distance.

Part 3: Michael Schumacher

A year earlier, the noise to the last stage fought for the title on a weaker machine – in particular due to stability and fewer errors. But Montreal-1999 showed that even the Red Baron himself was not immune to the fatal mistake.

By the 30th circle, the duo of Schumacher-Hakkine leaders caught up with a dense group of circular pilots. Of course, Michael did not want to lose the pace and sought to go through this moving obstacle as soon as possible.

But everything turned out otherwise: the noise overdone and lost control in the same place. If the previous two contacts with the wall were relatively light, then Skuderia’s leader crashed into it truly seriously.

Michael Schumacher in « Champions Wall »

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After the race, at that time, the two -time world champion, he acknowledged that it was his personal mistake. He also added that such a similar one occurs only once a season.

Part 4: Jacques Vilnev

Of course, most of the stands on the Montreal was dressed in Ferrari’s colors. However, the audience has not yet been sad-because the Canadian pilot still remained on the highway-Jacques Vilnev, the champion of the 1997 season. But only to the 35th circle.

By nature, this accident was slightly different from the previous three. If other pilots began to carry the car, and they did not have time to catch it to contact with the wall, then Jacques crashed into the concrete fence in the front of the car.

Jacques Vilnev in « Champions Wall »

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The events that led to such a legendary place on the Canadian highway were over. However, it was only the middle of the check -in.

Further struggle in the race

The restarts after the next appearance of the safety car clashed between David Kulthard and Eddie Irvin. Although both pilots remained in the race, the positions were lost. As it turns out later, this episode has made a much greater impact on the title than the events described above.

After two more cars from the top commands swept back, nothing more stood on the way to the victory of the latter surviving in the champion race-Mickey Hakkinen. However, the struggle for the rest of the places on the podium remained tense.

In the second position, Janarlo Physicalella was, and in the third-Heinz-Harald Frentzen. They rode until they rested in a circular Olivier Panis – the one who had previously ignored the blue flags and thus « helped » Schumacher to be in the wall. And this time the behavior of the Frenchman remained, to put it mildly, incorrect.

Taking advantage of Panis delayed physicella, Frentzen managed to break forward. But, after all, this maneuver was futile: five circles to the finish line broke the car due to brake problems. The incident has led to the completion of the security car.

As for the third participant of the podium, he became Eddie Irweine, who, after a collision with Kulthard, staged an impressive breakthrough. Particularly striking was his fight against Johnny Herbert.

Canada Grand Prix Codium 1999: Giancarlo Physicello (2nd place), Mika Hakkinen (1st place) and Eddie Irvine (3rd place)

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Summary

As mentioned earlier, after three title owners crashed into the same concrete bumper at once, it was called « Wall of Champions ». But the most interesting thing – none of them lost nothing.

Damon Hill and Jacques Wilnev traveled far beyond the point zone. Moreover, all their seasons were so sluggish after the triumphs that many viewers have already begun to forget about their championship status. In this context, the incident in Montreal has become a kind of way to remind itself.

As for Schumacher, his mistake was really expensive: 14 points (10 for a lost victory and 4 more – from the fact that Khakkine rose to the step above).

However, after two races, due to the problems with the brakes, Michael got into a serious accident on Silverstone, and a leg injury put a cross on any ambitions in the 1999 season.

Heritage

The name « Wall of Champions » has firmly entered the lexicon of riders, journalists and fans. This fragment of the highway claims the title of the most famous in the whole formula-1, and only a few turns on « classic » motorways can compete with him.

Later, many famous pilots broke the car in the same place, which often became a reason for irony and jokes in the spirit: « The future champion? ».

For example, in 2005, under pressure from Schumacher, the mistakes there was made by Jenzon Button there. And in 2009 he won the title.

Times change, the car becomes faster and safer, but the bumper in the Montreal remains a test symbol not only for technology but also for character.

Of course, real fans would like the pilots to finish, not fly. But most likely, not one car will remain in the « Champions Wall ».