Canadian Grand Prix 1991 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Nelson Piquet claimed a surprise victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, ending Ayrton Senna's perfect start to the season and reminding the paddock of his three-time World Champion credentials. The Brazilian veteran drove a calculated and mature race for Benetton-Ford, benefiting from Senna's rare moment of vulnerability when the McLaren driver made an uncharacteristic error while lapping a backmarker, allowing Piquet through to take the lead. Piquet's victory would be his final Formula 1 triumph, a fitting end to a stellar career that included 23 wins and three world titles.

Stefano Modena finished second for Tyrrell in what would be his career-best result, capitalizing on the chaos ahead to claim an unexpected podium finish. The Italian drove a flawless race to bring his underpowered Honda-powered car home in second, scoring valuable points and demonstrating his underrated talent. Riccardo Patrese completed the podium for Williams in third place, salvaging points after teammate Nigel Mansell retired with engine failure while running strongly.

Senna's retirement was a significant blow to his championship aspirations, marking his first failure to finish in 1991 and breaking his four-race winning streak. The incident highlighted that even the greatest drivers can make mistakes under pressure when lapping slower cars. Despite the setback, Senna remained comfortably ahead in the championship standings, though the result served as a reminder that Williams and others could capitalize on any McLaren weakness.