Formula 1 historical archive

Gilles Villeneuve won the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix

Gilles Villeneuve won the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix for Ferrari, ahead of Jody Scheckter and Carlos Reutemann at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Gilles Villeneuve
Team
Ferrari
Top listed
Gilles Villeneuve, Jody Scheckter, and Carlos Reutemann
Race date
October 8, 1978
Pole
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Fastest lap
Alan Jones
Classified drivers
28
Circuit
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

The decisive result

Gilles Villeneuve finished first for Ferrari. Jody Scheckter is listed 2 for Wolf, with Carlos Reutemann 3 for Ferrari.

Grid to finish

Didier Pironi from P18 to P7 (+11), Jean-Pierre Jabouille from P22 to P12 (+10), and Derek Daly from P15 to P6 (+9) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Jean-Pierre Jarier started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 9 Finished, 6 DNQ, 3 Accident, 2 +1 lap, and 1 +5 laps. Alan Jones holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:38.072 on lap 70. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

Report a correction · Get the iPhone app

Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Gilles VilleneuveFerrari1:57:49.1969
2Jody ScheckterWolf1:58:02.5666
3Carlos ReutemannFerrari1:58:08.6064
4Riccardo PatreseArrows1:58:13.8663
5Patrick DepaillerTyrrell1:58:17.7562
6Derek DalyEnsign1:58:43.6761
7Didier PironiTyrrell1:59:10.4460
8Patrick TambayMcLaren1:59:15.7560
9Alan JonesWilliams1:59:18.1360
10Mario AndrettiTeam Lotus+1 lap0
11Nelson PiquetBrabham+1 lap0
12Jean-Pierre JabouilleRenault+5 laps0
NCKeke RosbergATS Wheels+12 laps0
DNFJacques LaffiteLigierTransmission0
DNFJames HuntMcLarenSpun off0
DNFJean-Pierre JarierTeam LotusOil leak0
DNFRené ArnouxSurteesEngine0
DNFBobby RahalWolfFuel system0
DNFJohn WatsonBrabhamAccident0
DNFNiki LaudaBrabhamBrakes0