A controversial victory at the Canadian Grand Prix

British driver Lewis Hamilton won the Grand Prix du Canada on Sunday. This seventh triumph on the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit of Notre-Dame Island, in Montreal, was not without its controversy, as the Mercedes driver had never managed to overcome his team rival during the race. Ferrari Sebastian Vettel and in front of his victory at a penalty of five seconds inflicted on the German.

"It's really not the way you want to win a race," commented the victorious driver as he was picked up at the exit of his car and you could hear hoots in the crowd.

Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, had not waited until the end of the event to say all the harm he thought of the decision of the commissioners who found that he had returned on track in a dangerous way after a brief expedition in grass. "I had nowhere else to go," he pleaded in a radio communication with his team, who had just told him the penalty that awaited him at the finish line. "We steal the victory! "

Everything had gone well for him until then, during this test run by a nice and hot day. Starting from the first position, the driver was able to stay in front of a Lewis Hamilton who blew him in the neck without ever being able to pass him, but hoping to get to blame the quadruple world champion.

It finally happened in the 48th lap of the 70-run race, as Vettel missed a turn, bypassed it in the grass and reappeared on track just in time to block his pursuer's path. , who had to brake to avoid the collision. The verdict of the commissioners was made ten laps later, after which Hamilton had only to make sure to stay within five seconds of his opponent to win the victory.

A little further, the other Ferrari driver, Monegasque Charles Leclerc, could not do the same and was content with the third step on the podium. The three men were followed, in order, by the other Mercedes driver, Valtteri Bottas, the Dutchman Max Verstappen, who, with his Red Bull, passed from 9th to 5th place during the race, as well as the two Renault drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg, respectively 6th and 7th.

Lewis Hamilton's seventh win in Montreal equals a Canadian Grand Prix record set for the first time by former champion Michael Schumacher. Hamilton reiterates to anyone who wants to hear that this circuit, where he won his first win in 2007, is one of his three favorites of the season.

More what it was

Once past the checkered flag, Sebastian Vettel's first reaction was to take refuge in the private lounges of his stable, before being convinced to step on the podium and answer journalists' questions, but not without first to make a detour on the side of the parc fermé, where the cars were parked, to place the sign of the 2nd place in front of Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes.

Struggling with questions at a press conference, the German repeated his version of the events before taking witness to the crowd's boos. "I was just trying to regain control of my car," he said. "I had no idea where Lewis was on the track," he said. Sitting beside him, the Brit has been more discreet and has not openly contradicted him. He had argued earlier that a rider who goes off the track can not simply return to the race line without consideration for other riders.

Vettel stated that the two drivers had the greatest respect for each other and that it was especially against what Formula 1 became that he had, with his habit of wanting to police and regulate, even the communications of its actors. "In the past, this whole story today would have been considered a mere race incident," he said. "It's not the sport I fell in love with when I was little," said the 31-year-old.

One-way season

The disarray of the German was commensurate with his disappointment. It was the first time in seventeen races that he was starting a race in the first place, moreover on a circuit that seemed favorable to the powerful Ferrari engines. Mercedes is even more dominant this season (seven wins in seven races) than they were in previous years.

After only seven grand prizes, Lewis Hamilton outrageously dominates the driver's championship with 162 points. His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, followed in second, with 133 points, then came Vettel, with 100 points, Max Verstappen, with 88 points, and Charles Leclerc with 72, double points compared to his closest pursuer.

The local driver, Montreal's Lance Stroll, did pretty well on Sunday. Starting from 17th, he crossed the finish line in 9th place, beating Sergio Perez (12th), his team-mate of the Racing Point team, and matching his two best results this season. He brings his points total in the championship to 6, 16th out of 20 drivers.