Key Moments: Canadian Grand Prix 2010

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Key Moments : Canadian Grand Prix

The Canadian Grand Prix was an exciting battle from start to finish and the McLaren team emerged as deserving winners. Lewis Hamilton set himself up for victory with a brilliant qualifying lap but secured the win on Sunday during a few key moments in the race.

Lap 7 - First Pitstop

Hamilton made his first stop on lap seven, the same lap as Fernando Alonso and one after Jenson Button. Although the timing of Hamilton's stop was managed by McLaren's engineers, Lewis would have had some input and if he had stayed out a lap longer he would have lost plenty of time to his nearest rivals. Any delay in the early stages of the race may have stunted Hamilton's charge against Alonso later in the Grand Prix.

Lap 15 - Overtaking Alonso

Alonso beat Hamilton out of the pitlane but Lewis took revenge with a brilliant move eight laps later. He got ahead of the Ferrari heading towards the final chicane but set up the move at the hairpin when Fernando was baulked by Sebastien Buemi. The Toro Rosso driver was in the lead having not made a pitstop and defended his position against Alonso for most of lap 15. Heading into the hairpin Fernando pulled alongside Buemi on the outside but with no way around he looked to get a run on Sebastien down the back straight instead. Alonso was thwarted by Hamilton who edged the nose of his McLaren into the apex of the corner and forced the Ferrari to stay wide. This compromised Alonso's run onto the back straight and gave Hamilton the chance to attack his old teammate and move into the lead.

Alonso had the pace to win the Canadian Grand Prix, so Hamilton's overtaking manoeuvre was a crucial step towards victory.

Lap 49 - Overtaking Webber

In addition to his battle with Alonso, Hamilton also overtook Mark Webber for the lead later in the race. Although Mark was not a threat for victory, he was in a position to delay Lewis and bring Alonso back into contention. Hamilton cleared Webber quickly by forcing him to take a defensive line into the final chicane and by getting a much better run towards turn one. Getting ahead of the Red Bull with minimal fuss prevented Lewis from worrying about Fernando being close enough to attack.

Hamilton described his victory as “truly fantastic” and was overjoyed to have won after such a tough race. Lewis now leads the points table heading towards another circuit that should favour the McLaren so the 2010 World Championship is well and truly alive.

Buy your 2011 Canadian Grand Prix tickets already!

Posted by Martin Porter. - Follow him on twitter @mpondaweb.