Reverend
June 10th, 2007, 19:47 PM
Lewis Hamilton drove a copybook race to win the Canadian Grand Prix and take his first Formula One victory in only the sixth race of his career.
The Englishman led a dramatic race throughout, driving with composure as the field fell apart around him.
He survived four interventions by the safety car to head Nick Heidfeld of BMW Sauber and Williams's Alexander Wurz.
World champion Fernando Alonso finished seventh and Robert Kubica survived a huge crash after rolling his BMW.
The Pole's 180mph crash at the hairpin prompted the second, and most lengthy of the safety car periods, but by that time all semblance of a challenge to Hamilton had evaporated.
His victory puts him into an eight-point championship lead over Alonso and strengthens the astonshing prospect of him winning the title in his first season.
The 22-year-old started from pole position, and was expecting a strong challenge from team-mate Alonso. But the Spaniard ran wide at the first corner, and slipped down to third place behind Heidfeld. He was then taken completely out of contention through no fault of his own.
The first caution period was triggered by a crash involving Adrian Sutil's Spyker, and, running low on fuel, Alonso had no choice but to make his first pit stop at the same time, breaking rules that say drivers cannot pit until the field has formed up behind the safety car.
That meant Alonso was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty, dropping him down to 13th place.
He started lapping at record pace in an attempt to make up places, and was aided in his quest by three further safety car periods - the second for Kubica's horrendous crash.
The Pole's car appeared to touch Jarno Trulli's Toyota as they approached the hairpin and speared off the track. The car was launched into the air, flew into the barriers and barrell-rolled down the track before coming to rest on its side.
Medical crews took several minutes to get him out of the car, and he was taken to Montreal hospital for further checks, but his manager Danieli Morelli said he was "fine".
The constant safety car interventions might have unsettled some drivers, but Hamilton demonstrated the coolness and maturity that have been his signature in his stunning debut season to continue unflustered at the front.
McLaren boss Ron Dennis, who has overseen Hamilton's career for the past decade, said: "He has done a great job, he deserved it. I am happy for him.
"I am disappointed that the saftey car was deployed when we needed fuel. It really destroyed Fernando's race.
"We are here to do well with both cars but nothing can take away from Lewis's first and fantastic victory."
Canadian Grand Prix result:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes
2. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
3. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota
4. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari
6. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda
7. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes
8. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota
Championship standings:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 48
2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes 40
3. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 33
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 27
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW 26
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 13
7. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW 12
8. Alexander Wurz (Aus) Williams-Toyota
Constructors Championship:
1. McLaren-Mercedes 88 pts
2. Ferrari 60
3. BMW 38
4. Renault 21
5. Williams-Toyota 13
Full race report (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6739373.stm)
The Englishman led a dramatic race throughout, driving with composure as the field fell apart around him.
He survived four interventions by the safety car to head Nick Heidfeld of BMW Sauber and Williams's Alexander Wurz.
World champion Fernando Alonso finished seventh and Robert Kubica survived a huge crash after rolling his BMW.
The Pole's 180mph crash at the hairpin prompted the second, and most lengthy of the safety car periods, but by that time all semblance of a challenge to Hamilton had evaporated.
His victory puts him into an eight-point championship lead over Alonso and strengthens the astonshing prospect of him winning the title in his first season.
The 22-year-old started from pole position, and was expecting a strong challenge from team-mate Alonso. But the Spaniard ran wide at the first corner, and slipped down to third place behind Heidfeld. He was then taken completely out of contention through no fault of his own.
The first caution period was triggered by a crash involving Adrian Sutil's Spyker, and, running low on fuel, Alonso had no choice but to make his first pit stop at the same time, breaking rules that say drivers cannot pit until the field has formed up behind the safety car.
That meant Alonso was handed a 10-second stop-go penalty, dropping him down to 13th place.
He started lapping at record pace in an attempt to make up places, and was aided in his quest by three further safety car periods - the second for Kubica's horrendous crash.
The Pole's car appeared to touch Jarno Trulli's Toyota as they approached the hairpin and speared off the track. The car was launched into the air, flew into the barriers and barrell-rolled down the track before coming to rest on its side.
Medical crews took several minutes to get him out of the car, and he was taken to Montreal hospital for further checks, but his manager Danieli Morelli said he was "fine".
The constant safety car interventions might have unsettled some drivers, but Hamilton demonstrated the coolness and maturity that have been his signature in his stunning debut season to continue unflustered at the front.
McLaren boss Ron Dennis, who has overseen Hamilton's career for the past decade, said: "He has done a great job, he deserved it. I am happy for him.
"I am disappointed that the saftey car was deployed when we needed fuel. It really destroyed Fernando's race.
"We are here to do well with both cars but nothing can take away from Lewis's first and fantastic victory."
Canadian Grand Prix result:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes
2. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
3. Alexander Wurz (Aut) Williams-Toyota
4. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari
6. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri-Honda
7. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes
8. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota
Championship standings:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 48
2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren-Mercedes 40
3. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 33
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 27
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW 26
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 13
7. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW 12
8. Alexander Wurz (Aus) Williams-Toyota
Constructors Championship:
1. McLaren-Mercedes 88 pts
2. Ferrari 60
3. BMW 38
4. Renault 21
5. Williams-Toyota 13
Full race report (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6739373.stm)