Poland’s Robert Kubica, driving a BMW Sauber, won a drama-filled Canadian Grand Prix here on Sunday in which pre-race favourite Lewis Hamilton took himself and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen out of the race in an early pit lane collision.
Hamilton, who enjoyed his breakthrough win on the same course last year, inexplicably drove into the back of Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari in a pit-lane collision that put the top two drivers out of the race.
In their absence, Kubica seized his chance.
“Fantastic race, fantastic for the team, for me and for my country and for the fans who I thank for cheering for me here in Canada,” said Kubica after the Polish anthem had been played for the first time at a Formula One race.
The German was second, sealing an historic 1-2 as well as first ever victory for the team, with Kubica also establishing a four-point World Championship lead with the win. Red Bull’s David Coulthard was third.
Toyota’s Timo Glock was fourth - continuing his string of personal results at the circuit - with Felipe Massa fifth, having overtaken Jarno Trulli for the position with two laps remaining.
Italian Trulli did bring his car home sixth, though with Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel completing the points finishers.
The race began under a cloud of concern about the track’s surface. Repair work overnight saw fresh patches on Turn 2 and 10 with drivers under instruction to avoid the apex of the two corners on their formation lap.
Hamilton, who had claimed his maiden win in Canada last year, had been in control until his disastrous exit, setting a really quick pace to build a 4.3 second lead over Kubica after the first 10 laps following a series of fastest laps for the Englishman.
The safety car soon followed to undo Hamilton’s six-second lead and when the pit lane opened, all the leading contenders came in for their first fuel stops at the end of lap 18.
It was a bad pit stop for Hamilton as both Raikkonen and Kubica came out first and vied for the lead only to be stopped by a red light at the end of the pit lane.
They came to a halt side by side but Hamilton careered into the back of the Ferrari, forcing them both out of the race. Rosberg went into the back of Hamilton but managed to continue racing.
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