Hamilton cops Canadian Grand Prix
MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) —
Lewis Hamilton made it a magnificent record seven different winners in seven races this season yesterday when he drove with speed and perfect control to win the Canadian Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old Briton produced a superbly judged race to wipe away all fears hanging over the event after a weekend of protests and police action in the city to seize his first win of the year.
Police reported the arrests of around 30 protesters in the hours before the race as Canadian students rallying for months over tuition hikes used the Formula One showpiece to highlight their cause.
Late Saturday, shield-wielding riot police had pushed back and chased hundreds of protesters amassed in the downtown shopping district, making 28 arrests.
The event itself passed off smoothly, with Hamilton’s triumph coming five years to the day after he had claimed his maiden Formula One victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and his third win at what must be one of his favourite circuits.
It was his 18th career victory and it hoisted him back into serious contention for the drivers’ title in this year of unexpected results and unpredictable racing.
He now leads the standings on 88 points ahead of Fernando Alonso on 86 and defending champion Sebastian Vettel on 85.
Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus came home second after an equally well-judged race to finish ahead of third-placed Mexican Sergio Perez of Sauber.
Defending double world champion German Vettel of Red Bull finished fourth after a late second pit stop ahead of two-time champion Alonso of Ferrari and sixth-placed Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.
Australian Mark Webber was seventh in the second Red Bull ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, in the second Lotus, and Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber and Felipe Massa for Ferrari.
Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate, 2009 champion Jenson Button endured another troubled race and finished 16th, while seven-times champion veteran Michael Schumacher was forced into early retirement by mechanical problems with his Mercedes.
At the start Vettel made a clean getaway from his 32nd pole position.
