Mercedes reel off one-two finish, Vettel finishes fourth behind Ricciardo
Montreal: Lewis Hamilton revived his bid for a fourth driver’s world title when he cruised to victory in the Canadian Grand Prix ahead of his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas here, Sunday.
It was the three-time world champion’s sixth victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as well as his third this season and the 56th of his career.
Hamilton took full advantage of his 65th pole position and led from lights to flag to finish 15 seconds clear of Finn Bottas who, in turn, was 15 seconds ahead of third-placed Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull.
It was the Mercedes team’s first one-two finish of the year and clear proof of their recovery after a disappointing weekend at last month’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s win cut championship leader and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel’s advantage to 12 points after the Ferrari man lost out at the start and, after an early pit stop for repairs, fought back to finish fourth.
Mexican Sergio Perez finished fifth after a bruising battle with his Force India teammate Esteban Ocon of France, who was sixth.
Finn Kimi Raikkonen finished seventh in the second Ferrari ahead of German Nico Huelkenberg of Renault, with local hero and teenage rookie Lance Stroll of Canada taking ninth for Williams and Frenchman Romain Grosjean 10th for Haas.
The race delivered immediate drama. Hamilton led cleanly off the grid as, behind him, Verstappen attacked and swept around the outside into turn one to take second place from Vettel, apparently clipping the front wing of the Ferrari in the process.
Behind them, Sainz collided with Frenchman Romain Grosjean’s Haas and then spun and crashed into the barriers, collecting Brazilian Felipe Massa’s Williams along the way. Both drivers were unhurt, but they were forced to retire as a Safety Car was deployed for three laps as the debris was cleared.
Hamilton made the most of the re-start and resisted another Verstappen attack before Vettel, his front wing clearly damaged, pitted for repairs. The German rejoined at the back of the field and began his recovery drive by swiftly climbing to 17th.
On lap 11, the action was paused again when Verstappen pulled over and retired, his engine having cut out. This saw a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) signalled until lap 14 when the racing resumed with the two Mercedes in control.
A mistake by Raikkonen let Vettel through to sixth and a chance to attack, which produced a thrilling battle as the Force India men, engaged in their own scrap, resisted.
Vettel finally claimed fifth when Ocon ran off at turn one, after being blocked by Perez, and the German then ran off again himself and recovered. With two laps to go, Vettel passed Perez at the final chicane to snatch fourth.
