Race Notes - Hamilton wins in Montreal

By Mark Karp in Montreal 

Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes GP won the Canadian GP today over Sebastian Vettel, in his Ferrari by 5 seconds and Valtteri Bottas in his Williams-Mercedes in third place, 46.4 seconds behind the winner.

The win is Hamilton's 45 career victory - and second of the season. He now closes to just nine points behind is Mercedes team mate in the World Champioship standings.

Max Vertappen (53.0s) in the Red Bull finished in fourth, followed by Nico Rosberg (62.0s) in the second Mercedes in fifth, Kimi Raikkonen (63.0s) in the Ferrari in sixth, Daniel Ricciardo (63.6s) in the second Red Bull in seventh, Nico Hulkenberg (1 lap) in the Force India-Mercedes in eighth, Carlos Sainz in the Toro Rosso-Ferrari in ninth and Sergio Perez in the second Force India in the final points position in tenth place.

Before the start the sky was cloudy with low temperatures and rain spitting down - it foretold of a dramatic possible race to come.

Sainz was given a 5-grid penalty for changing his gearbox after a crash during qualifying, and will start the race from 20th.

Hamilton starts on pole alongside his Mercedes GP teammate Rosberg. Vettel in the Ferrari and Ricciardo in the Red Bull start on the second row. His team mate Verstappen and the Ferrari of Raikkonen start on the third row. The Williams team mates, Bottas and Massa start on the fourth row, and the Force India of Hulkenberg and the McLaren on Alonso round out the top ten.

All drivers in the top ten start on ultrasoft tyres - Perez in 11th and Magnussen in 22nd start on soft tyres - Button and Haryanto start on supersoft tyres.

The cars leave the grid and head out on the formation lap and line up on the grid, with mechanics still leaving the grid.

The lighrs go off and the race starts with Vettel juming out in to the lead at turn 1, Hamilton and Rosberg go side by side into turn 1 - making contact, Rosberg cutting across the corner and falling bback to tenth. Nasr and Magnussen touch and the Sauber spins.

On lap 2 Vettel cuts the chicane but continues. Vettel leads Hamilton, Verstappen, Roccoardp, Raikkonen, Bottas, Massa, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Rosberg.

On lap 4 Rosberg passes Alonso for ninth. Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m17.400s and then again at 1m17.326s. Vettel leads by 0.7s.

On lap 8 Rosberg cuts the final chicane but continues.

On lap 10 Vettel pits from the lead switching to supersoft tyres and rejoining in fourth place.

Ricciardo hounds his team mate Verstappen for second place.

Jenson Button retires with an engine problem.

On lap 14 Raikkonen pits, while Rosberg passes Hulkenberg for seventh.

Vettel is closing up behind Ricciardo in third place, while Raikkonen passes Kvyat for 12th.

On lap 17 Vettel passes Ricciardo for third at the hairpin. Alonso pits.

On lap 18 Vettel passes Vertappen and takes over second place. Palmer retires in the pits.

On lap 20 Verstappen pits from third place switching to soft tyres and rejoining in eighth place.

Ricciardo pits the nex lap for for another set of ultrasoft tyres, Rosberg pits for soft tyres - they rejoin in seventh and ninth.

On lap 23 Massa pits for more ultrasoft tyres.

On lap 24 Bottas pits from tihrd place for soft tyres and rejoins in sixth.

Hamilton pits from the lead the next lap for another set of ultrasoft tyres and rejoins 10.4 seconds behind Vettel, retaking the lead.

At lap 25 Vettel leads Hamilton by 13.2 seconds followed by Verstappen (24.8s), Raikkonen (27.4s), Ricciardo (27.4s), Ricciardo (28.7s), Bottas (29.5s), Rosberg (33.3s), Perez (35.7s), Massa (37.4s) and Hulkenberg (43.5s) in tenth.

On lap 30 Vettel complains to the team to get the backmarkers out of his way. Perez finally pits for soft tyres and rejoins in 11th. Rosberg sets fast lap at 1m16.867 seconds.

A long line of cars follows Raikkonen in fourth place, with Ricciardo, Bottas and Rosberg beind him.

On lap 33 Raikkonen pits for soft tyres and rejoins in eighth. Everyone is running soft compound tyres except Vettel and Perez on supersoft

On lap 37 Vettel pits from the lead switching to soft tyres and rejions in second place. Ricciardo cuts the final chicane and Bottas takes fourth.

On lap 39 Ricciardo pits for soft tyres.

At lap 40 Hamilton leads Vettel by 6.6 seconds, followed by Verstappen (18.0s), Bottas (24.0), Rosberg (26.0s), Raikkonen (40.8s). Ricciardo (44.0s), Hulkenberg (48.9s), Sainz (50.0s) and Perez (62.3s) in tenth place.

Magmussen is the final runner to make his first pit stop running 39 laps on soft tyres and switching to ultrasofts - he runs 16th in his Renault. Gutierrez pits as well.

On lap 43 Vettel sets fastest lap at 1m16.573s, as he locks up his brakes at the hairpin and still complaining about the backmarkers.

Rosberg informs the team that he is getting warning messages on his steering wheel - the team responds that they are real warnings.

On lap 46 Verstppen pits from third place for another set of soft tyres, and rejoins in fifth place. Perez pits as well.

On lap 47 Grosjean has an offtrack excursion at turn 3 but continues. Rosberg's problems are reportedly temperature related.

On lap 49 Verstappen sets fast lap a 1m16.319 seconds.

At lap 50 Hamilton leads Vettel by 4.8 seconds, followed by Bottas (30.5s), Rosberg (31.2s), Verstappen (41.6s), Raikkonen (44.7s), Ricciardo (46.4s), Hulkenberg (62.8s), Sainz (1 lap), and Alonso in tenth place.

Vettel is closing the gap on Hamilton in the lead.

On lap 51 Rosberg pits with a slow puncture on his right rear tyre - taking on another set of soft tyres and rejoining in seventh. Hulkenberg pits.

On lap 53 Ricciardo closes on Raikkonen in fifth place. Rosbeg sets fast lap at 1m15.972s, and then passes Ricciardo for sixth place.

On lap 56 Vettel cuts the final chicane but continues.

Rosberg closes on Raikkonen in fifth place, and passes him in the final chicane.

On lap 59 Rosberg sets fast lap at 1m15.832s.

At lap 60 Hamilton leads Vettel by 5.5 seconds, followed by Bottas (37.0s), Verstappen (43.5s), Rosberg (46.4s), Raikkonen (51.5s), Ricciardo (54.0s) Hulkenberg, Sainz and Perez in tenth place.

On lap 62 Vettel locks up his brakes once again trying to chase Hamilton.

On lap 64 Rosberg chases Verstappen for fourth and the two battle.

Verstappen starts to quicken his pace and pulls a gap on Rosberg.

On lap 69 Rsoberg attempted a pass on Verstappen but spun and then continued at the final chicane.

Hamilton wins, followed by Vettel and Bottas - Rosberg finishes in fifth.

After taking the flag Hamilton tells the team, "Floats like a butterfly, sting like a bee - that was for Muhammad Ali!"