Lewis Hamilton almost floated into Montreal’s Gilles Villeneuve circuit, his confidence buoyed by what he has called the greatest win of his career in Monaco a fortnight ago.
Monaco was special for Hamilton not only because of his brilliant performance, but because his hero Ayrton Senna was a serial winner at Formula One’s most prestigious circuit.
However, while Hamilton now looks back on Monaco as the favourite of his six race victories, he still has a place in his heart for Canada 2007 - the first occasion on which he sampled the sweet taste of winner’s champagne.
“Last year in Canada was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life, to take my maiden pole and victory in Formula One was incredible,” he said. “It would be great to go back there and do the same.”
“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,” says Hamilton. “I will never forget the moment, but now my only focus 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 last year it is a very special place for me. 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.”
Team mate Kimi Raikkonen, who won in Montreal for McLaren in 2005, needs a strong result after Monaco. He is convinced the F2008 will work better than last year around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, when Ferrari had a relatively poor Canadian Grand Prix, with the Finn taking fifth place and Massa being disqualified for a pit lane infringement. “Traditionally Canada is a good race for Ferrari,” says Raikkonen, “so let’s hope that we can continue this tradition. It’s possible to have strange races there, too, because it’s very possible that the safety car will be employed, but we’re ready for every kind of situation.”
Kubica has also grown stronger, taking two second places and a third already this year, as well as BMW Sauber’s first pole position. Paddock gossips hint at a future move to Ferrari for the Pole but for now he remains firmly committed to BMW. The German team have set a maiden victory as their priority for the year.
While Ferrari and McLaren are the race favourites, Canada would be just the place for Kubica to make the breakthrough. “I like the track because there’s a lot of heavy braking and stop-and-go,” he said.
“Canada is one of my favourite tracks. Of course everybody knows what happened in 2007, but I don’t have to cope because it’s already a year ago, and since then I have been driving a Formula One car without thinking about it.”
He added: “In Formula One and motorsport, the risks are high. But I don’t have any negative feelings about Canada. I am just coming here as I go to any other race, with the goal to score as many points as possible.”
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