Wednesday 14 May at 18:59 : Less than a month prior to the Canadian grand prix, organisers of the Montreal race have confirmed changes to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in response to Robert Kubica's huge crash there one year ago.

Racing for BMW-Sauber last year, the young Pole was fortunate to emerge relatively unscathed after striking an unprotected concrete wall at high speed and at a sickeningly acute angle.

A change to the wall adjacent to the left-hand kink, located before the hairpin, was ordered by the FIA in its regular post-event report.

Francois Dumontier, executive vice-president of the Montreal promoter, is quoted as saying by the Canadian news agency CP that, if the same accident occurs in June this year, "the car will slide on that wall instead of hitting" it.

The change is among the $4.5 million of improvements at Montreal this year, including better paddock facilities and several resurfaced corners.

It is also understood that proper paddock toilets for each team have also been installed, after David Coulthard earlier this year slammed the usual Canadian GP "portaloos".