F1 driver Lance Stroll's guide to a weekend in his hometown Montreal

Known for its French flair, splendid parks and rugged mountain backdrops, Montreal is the largest city in Canada's French-speaking Québec province. And according to Formula 1 racer and Montreal native Lance Stroll, it's also home to one of the F1 calendar's coolest racing weekends.

"I’m not just saying it because it's my home," says Stroll. "[It's] just the spirit around the whole weekend, how the whole city really gets into it and everyone's very passionate for the race!"

We asked Stroll to share his favourite hometown activities  – even when F1 isn't on. Stroll, who started go-karting at local racetrack Kart-O-Mania at the age of four with his father Lawrence Stroll; the executive chairman of Aston Martin and owner of the Aston Martin F1 Team, reports that the city is lively all year around. But some months, he warns, aren’t for the faint-hearted. "I don't miss the winters," admits Stroll. "They can get a little grim and it's sometimes too cold."

Thankfully, he says the warmth of the locals makes up for those chilly temperatures. "We're nice, good people up in Canada," he says. "We’re friendly and very welcoming, too." 

Lance Stroll was born and raised in Montreal. He joined Aston Martin in 2019, two years after his entry to the sport. In his first season, he became F1’s youngest ever rookie podium finisher, claiming third position at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at just 18 years old.

The city's official language is French, but not as you might know it. "We have a different way of talking in Quebec," he says. "So, I adapt when I'm in in Europe because they don't understand anything when I'm speaking hardcore Quebecois. It’s like Texas French, you know?" He adds, "you could say it’s the wild west of French".

Stroll travels constantly for his racing schedule but knows he's home "when I’m waking up and having maple syrup on my pancakes in the morning. That's when I know."

Here are Lance Stroll's favourite ways to spend a weekend in his beloved Montreal.

1. Best way to take in Montreal: Mount Royal Park

Stroll’s number-one tip for experiencing Montreal is a run or stroll through Mount Royal Park; (called Parc du Mont-Royal by locals) –an idyllic greenspace found at the top of the 233m high Mont-Royal, where Stroll says visitors can take in panoramic views of the city; an impressive skyline of high-rise buildings and lush forests.

According to Stroll, Montreal loves F1, congregating in droves each year at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve race track. "Everyone here is very passionate about the race," he says. "Although there's one area in particular that comes alive. Anyone here without a ticket should head to Sherbrooke Street. It's an iconic road in Montreal that shuts down when the race is on, so you would be spoilt for venues there."

"It’s something I try to do every time I'm back in Montreal," he says. "You can plan a route up towards the lookout point which takes around 45 minutes if you’re walking. From there you can see the whole city; the [St Lawrence] river and the park too."

Mount Royal is in the centre of the city, hence the epic views. Although a "mount" by name, it’s actually a cluster of three hills spanning 692 acres.

2. Best cultural experience: Catch a gig at the Centre Bell

To experience Montreal at its best, Stroll suggests an evening at the Centre Bell, a downtown arena boasting an exciting programme of concert listings.

"Everyone should check it out," he says. "It's an amazing venue and they always get huge acts in. I've seen Coldplay and Drake there, and they were both great gigs." The venue has a capacity of 21,000 and Stroll says that "Montreal crowds are always lively."

For sports fans, from October to April, the venue is also home to the Montreal Canadiens, the city's professional ice hockey team. "We like our hockey in the city, and everyone gets behind the Montreal Canadiens," says Stroll.  

3. Best neighbourhood to stay in: Old Montreal

Montreal has many bustling neighbourhoods, but Stroll recommends first-time visitors stay in Old Montreal.

"There's a lot of life going on there," he says. "It's got a nice canal [The Lachine Canal], which is great to walk around on a sunny day, and bunch of good restaurants and cool bars." He adds, "it's pretty close to the racetrack too".

As the name suggests, Old Montreal (called Vieux-Montréal in French) is the most historic part of the city. Ironically, the neighbourhood is now home to some of the city's most modern attractions, like zip-lining at the Old Port, which allows exhilarating views of the St Lawrence River, or the AURA immersive lightshow experience housed in Old Montreal's 19th-Century Notre-Dame Basilica. Tourist attractions aside, the quarter oozes old European flair with its cobbled streets and townhouses dating to the 1600s when French explorers first settled in the area, calling it "Ville Marie" in honour of the Virgin Mary.

4. Best for exploring Montreal's culinary scene: Lester's Deli and R.E.A.L. Bagels

When it comes to Montreal's culinary side, Stroll's hands-down favourite is Lester's Deli. "It's an institution", he says. Proudly occupying Montreal's upscale Outremont neighbourhood since 1951, Lester's is a family-run spot selling Montreal smoked meat sandwiches; a kosher-style served on rye bread, loaded with salted beef brisket and a healthy serving of mustard.

In Stroll's words, "it's like a pastrami sandwich, but different and much better. They're super unique to the city and you don't get them anywhere else." It's also the place Stroll takes his teammates when they're in town for the circuit. "I took a bunch of the mechanics and engineers there for a good sandwich last season," he says. "It was a lot of fun, and most importantly, everyone loved the food."

Lester's is part of a healthy community of Jewish eateries in the city, a fixture since Jewish immigrants began arriving in the area in the 1760s. Stroll also loves another famous local food with Jewish heritage: the Montreal-style bagel. Unlike its New York cousin, the Montreal bagel is thinner and sweeter and is always baked in a wood-fired oven.

"The bagel situation here is very good, so you have to get one," says Stroll. "My favourite in the city would be R.E.A.L Bagel." Stroll's trick is to keep your order simple. "I go for the plain bagel straight out of the oven with cream cheese," he says. "You really don't need to get funky with it."

5. Best outdoor experience: Mont-Tremblant

When Stroll has some time off from racing, he takes a trip to Mont-Tremblant. More than two hours away by car, this year-round ski resort is situated on the shores of Lake Tremblant in the Laurentian mountains. Known for its snow sports in the winter, come summertime, it's a popular spot for golfers and ramblers. Visitors can partake in numerous outdoor adventures, from bungee jumping to go karting to apprentice falconer experiences, but Stroll prefers the resort's quieter pleasures.

"I love the lake there," says Stroll. "It's super cool and nice to get out of the city. If you're into water sports, you can hire a boat with some friends. There's also a beach, so it's the perfect place to hang out in the summer."

-bbc