McLaren in dreamland as Hamilton-Button complete British one-two for second time
There was something Ayrton Senna-like about his driving on Saturday when he decided to run the last lap on an empty tank in the qualifying and in the end not even being left with enough gas to take his car to the pits. But the reward to all this was a pole position at the tricky Montreal circuit, which the driver himself describes as one of the most difficult on the tour. The decision was a brave one so much so that it walked the line of stupidity but Lewis Hamilton pulled off a stunner. Moreover, despite his a mesmerizing show of driving, it was this decision that was the mainstay of his win in Canada last night.
There are those who dispute the right of Lewis Hamilton to be mentioned amongst the pantheon of Formula ones greatest but on the evidence of this weekend’s happenings, the number is set to diminish like quick sand.
Hamilton has been tested this season more than Achilles was in the Trojan War but the Brit heart throb returned to the top of the world championship with his second straight win in Montreal which was the thirteenth of his career.
The victory takes Hamilton to the top of formula one standings for the first time since he won his maiden title in 2008 as he and his compatriot Jensen Button completed a mesmeric McLaren one-two for the second time running after their heroic exploits in Istanbul two weeks ago.
Hamilton is the fifth leader of the standings in a highly volatile season and yesterday night, he was a picture of pure joy with a beaming Nicole Scherzinger in the audience after the couple got back after a public break up a few months ago.
The decision to go into qualifying on soft “crumble like cheese” tyres was nothing short of a high stakes gamble but the British pulled off a victory that is nothing short of a miracle.
On a track with super fast straights, tight bends and all the chicanes the Montreal circuit is one of the most unforgiving and punishing circuits on the tour .Hamilton made his second pit stops in the 26th lap which meant that he ran on the same tyres for 44 gruelling laps. The move showed the sort of tyre conservation you only associate with the greats of the game.
Montreal does not need rain and safety cars as a prop to prove why this is such a compelling circuit and Red Bull - despite having the fastest car on the circuit this year - must be wondering how did they manage to fall behind the two McLaren’s, although the circuit was never to benefit superior down force of their cars. Things did not have a rosy start for the England based team as Mark Webber, the leader of the championship before the race, was hit with a five place penalty for changing his gearbox.
Webber finished fifth on the night, immediately behind the skilful Vettel. Fernando Alonso whose Ferrari is due a major overhaul before the next race in Valencia finished third in the race and will be utterly disappointed as victory was never out of reach for the Spaniard. However, at crucial times in the race when the two Mclarens overtook him, Alonso was entangled in one-twos with other cars.
If it was a disappointing night for Alonso, imagine how would Schumacher feel after he finished a sorry 11th and outside the point table.
It was a great race for the Force India team as both their drivers finished in the top 10 for the first time ever but last night was all about a British whose sheer grit, determination, will and sublime skill was the highlight of a highly eventful race in Montreal.
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