Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel finished second and Finland’s Valtteri Bottas was third for Williams, but 46.4 seconds behind the victor. Strategy wise I think we have a really strong team, I wouldn’t go anywhere near criticising them because the guys are really on the money and very strong, reacting very well. In the end, it’s my job to make sure I’m in front after a battle like that next time.
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Vettel controlled the opening phase of the Montreal race after leapfrogging both Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg off the line, but Ferrari’s decision to pit the German twice enabled Hamilton to claim his fifth victory here.
Nico Rosberg was left seething after his Formula One drivers’ championship lead over Lewis Hamilton was cut to single-digit figures at the Canadian Grand Prix.
He added: “Ali was someone who inspired me so much”.
“I don’t know if I got a tailwind or a loss of downforce from being so close to him, but I just had understeer, and after watching it was the smallest tap”. “I almost ran out of fuel – that’s why I couldn’t really attack Max (Verstappen) properly and he did a very good job to defend”. “That’s for Muhammad Ali”, the triple world champion said over the radio after taking the chequered flag at a cold Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. “I wish I could have spoken with the charisma that he would have, or the comedic side that he had, that confidence that he could carry into a fight and outwit and outsmart his opponents”. I also think we put ourselves under enormous pressure because we want to win. After four season-opening wins scored him a flawless 100 points, the German has claimed just 16 in the last three outings. “But RIP. This was for him”, said Hamilton.
A seventh place finish, behind Verstappen’s fourth drops him to fourth in the title standings and suggests a team that has yet to regain a once proud tradition of bringing home the bacon on race day.
“I feel incredibly grateful and very blessed to have had these two great weekends”, said Hamilton.
He managed to straighten himself out and maintain his position.
Hamilton edged Vettel by five seconds in the 70-lap race, while Valtteri Botta brought his Williams in third for a second straight year in a row.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in the paddock before the start, hanging with the Red Bull team.
The German said he had been angered by the situation at the time but later accepted that it had been tough but fair racing. He has now gone three races without a podium finish. Obviously we committed very early, we were hoping the Virtual Safety Car gave us a bit of an advantage and make a two-stop strategy favourable.
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Rosberg lost control of his auto and ended up on the grass.
