Lewis Hamilton dedicating his win
to Muhammad Ali was certainly a heartfelt tribute after he took his fifth victory
at the Canadian Grand Prix. But there was greater resonance for the season as a
whole as his performance here has brought to the Formula One World Championship
all the hallmarks of the Champ climbing into the ring and positively his opponent
step up to the fight.
A superb run to a win at Montreal
in tense but ultimately perfectly judged race by both the driver and his team,
makes it two victories on the bounce and having been 43 points in arrears two
races ago, Hamilton now trails his team-mate Rosberg by only nine, a 34 point
swing. It has almost reduced the opening races to mere sparring and now as the
pair touch gloves almost at parity, their clash at a highly contested first
corner in Canada is only likely to increase the needle.
Vettel early lead was ultimately
not enough to secure the win when his team opted for a two stop strategy,
gambling that Hamilton one stop would leave him vulnerable at the end. It was
not to be the case, the circuit had rubbered in over the weekend and the world
champion kept just enough between himself and Vettel, while maintaining his
grip, an example of the race craft for which he deserves greater recognition.
Williams’s commitment to a design
philosophy of maximizing their car for high speed circuits paid off with their
first podium place this season as Valtteri Bottas took third but it remains
Mercedes who have the complete package. Ferrari step forward will be welcomed
by all who want a proper battle at the front but while their strategy precluded
a climatic finish, Hamilton found the perfect impetus to focus everyone
attention on the fight for the title.
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