Formula One world championship leader Lewis Hamilton has set his sights on a triumphant return to Montreal this weekend.
Hamilton claimed his maiden race victory in last year’s incident-packed Canadian Grand Prix and the 23-year-old Briton believes he is even better equipped to win at the Gilles Villeneuve circuit this time around.
”Last year in Canada was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life,” Hamilton said.
”To take my maiden pole and victory in Formula One was incredible, even more so as it was with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.
”It would be great to go back there and do the same, and that is what we are working hard to achieve. Since then I think I’ve matured a lot, I think I have grown stronger as a driver and have become closer to the team.”
Surely no one would argue that McLaren’s shining star has progressed as a driver in the last year.
Hamilton arrives in Canada a six-time race winner, runner-up in the last world championship and off the back of a scintillating win in Monaco a fortnight ago.
Some young racing drivers might have allowed themselves an extended hangover after such a glittering performance in Monte Carlo, but Hamilton is nothing if not supremely focused and there is little doubt that he will arrive in Montreal ready and raring to go.
”Winning at Monaco is the highlight of my career, it was a very emotional victory for me as it is something I have dreamed of since I was a kid,” Hamilton added.
”I will never forget the moment, but now my only focus with the team is Canada. We have good momentum right now and we are pushing to keep that going and to keep developing.
”The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is one of my favourite tracks and following my debut win there last year it is a very special place for me, and I hope that we will be quick there again this year.
”It is renowned for its difficult track surfaces, particularly with tyre graining, and the walls. Despite being very fast, it can feel like a street circuit with the barriers very close, but it is good fun to drive at and I am looking forward to getting back there.”
Hamilton leads the championship by three points from Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, whose Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa is just a single point further back.
But whilst Hamilton has only fond memories of Montreal, the Ferrari duo suffered an abysmal weekend at the circuit last season, with Raikkonen finishing fifth and Massa disqualified.
After an error-strewn — and ultimately pointless — outing at Monaco, Raikkonen knows that he cannot afford another disappointment in Canada this weekend.
”Monaco was the first race of the season where I couldn’t gain any points and we can’t have another one like that, because the fight for the championship is extremely fierce,” the Finn admitted.
That is not to say that the racing machine dubbed the ”Ice Man” is actually rattled. After all, what is a three-point deficit to a man who came from nowhere to win last year’s world championship?
”Monaco was a staggering blow, but there’s nothing we can do about it now,” he added.
”I said at the beginning of the season that I expect the title to be assigned at the last moment. A third of the season has passed, we have 35 points and we are in the second place.
”Nothing has been won and nothing has been lost. There is no point in panicking after the race at Monaco, because compared with last year the situation is much better.”
Massa also arrives in Canada in positive mood. He is arguably the form driver in the F1 paddock and would be justified in thinking that probably only the unpredictable weather stopped him from winning in Monaco.
Another man to watch over the next few days will be Polish BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica, who suffered a spectacular high-speed crash in Montreal last year.
Kubica is enjoying a great season so far and finds himself just two points behind Massa. If McLaren and Ferrari err on this notoriously slippery circuit, it will most likely be Kubica to capitalise. — AFP
