F1: Hamilton wins Canadian GP to end Rosberg's resurgence

MontrealDefending world champion Lewis Hamilton bounced back and increased his lead in the drivers world championship Sunday when he drove to a wellmeasured victory ahead of Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the Canadian Grand PrixThe twotime champion made the most of the 44th pole position of his career to lead from the lights to the chequered flag finishing the 70 laps contest at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 22 seconds clear of the 29yearold GermanLewis Hamilton Pic AFPHis victory ended Rosbergs run of two wins and confirmed his own full recovery from the disappointment of the Mercedes pitstop fiasco in Monaco where Hamilton was deprived of a nearcertain victory in the closing laps It was Hamiltons fourth win in Canada his fourth win this year and the 37th win of his career lifting him 17 points clear of Rosberg in the title race with 151 points to the Germans 134Did I need this after Monaco Yes I think I did said Hamilton adding I love Montreal I love this track and love this city And it really feels good to be back on the top step again Rosberg was unable to mount a serious challenge as he came home second ahead of Finns Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Kimi Raikkonen of FerrariFourtime champion Sebastian Vettel finished fifth after surging through the field from 18th on the grid in the second Ferrari Brazilian Felipe Massa finished sixth in the second Williams after another strong drive ahead of Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado who completed his first race of the season in seventh for LotusThe race proved disastrous for McLaren with both their cars driven by Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button failing to finish On a mild and dry afternoon Hamilton oozed confidence and revelled in the prerace Hollywood buildup with screen stars Michael Douglas and Al Pacino in attendance Mercedes serenity Before the start he thanked his Mercedes team for all the hard work this weekend putting the car back together again a reference to his crash in Fridays rain Knowing Mercedes had never won at this track and that pole position had led to victory only five times in the previous 14 races Hamilton made light of all expectations and worries when the lights went out By lap 10 he was 37 seconds clear and controlling the race while at the back Vettel fought to find a way through from 18th in his Ferrari and Button chose to take his drivethrough penalty almost immediately Alonso was left frustrated by McLarens fuel consumption problemsTold on the radio to conserve fuel he snapped back I dont want to I dont want to I already have big problems We look like amateur I will race and then concentrate on the fuel Raikkonen spun on lap 28 gifting third to Bottas and a lap later Hamilton pitted for new tyres After a 28 seconds stop he was out behind Rosberg who pitted in 26 on lap 30 and rejoined second The two Mercedes men were in a race of their own but Rosberg had no intention of settling for second and closed the gap to less than two secondsBy halfdistance in the 70lap contest Hamilton enlarged the advantage to 23 seconds again Hamilton maintained a 12 seconds lead on Rosberg as the pair were warned about fuel and brakes with 23 laps remaining By lap 50 the gap was 16 with Bottas third 23 seconds adrift The relative serenity of proceedings was interrupted when Grosjean collided with Briton Will Stevens of Manor Marussia as he lapped him going into the chicaneThe Frenchmans car suffered a puncture while Stevens front wing was damaged He hit me he hit me said Grosjean who pitted immediately The stewards investigated and the French drivers was handed a five seconds penaltyWhere does he want me to go said Stevens Off the track He does that all the time Recovering from his early difficulties Vettel surged through the field and showing his Ferraris speed he flew past Maldonado for fifth behind Raikkonen with 12 laps to go his 13th place gained in the race By then the leading duo were 28 seconds clear of Bottas and set for a duel in the final laps to the flag