Canadian Grand Prix 1982 - Race Schedule and Countdown

The Canadian Grand Prix witnessed Formula 1's second driver fatality of 1982 when rookie Riccardo Paletti crashed fatally at the start. Didier Pironi's pole-sitting Ferrari stalled on the grid, and Paletti's Osella, mid-pack and accelerating hard, could not avoid the stationary car. The impact at high speed was devastating, and despite desperate rescue efforts, the 23-year-old Italian succumbed to his injuries. The tragedy cast another dark shadow over a season already scarred by Gilles Villeneuve's death.

The race eventually proceeded after extensive delays, with Nelson Piquet leading teammate Riccardo Patrese to a Brabham 1-2 that demonstrated Gordon Murray's BT50's competitive pace when its BMW turbo held together. John Watson finished third for McLaren, but the result felt hollow compared to the loss of Paletti, who had only just qualified for his second full Grand Prix. The accident prompted renewed calls for improved safety protocols, particularly regarding stalled cars on the grid and circuit medical response capabilities.