Canadian Grand Prix: By Andrew Baker
In Lewis Hamilton's ideal scenario, Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix will play out as a repeat of last year's race, but Robert Kubica, the Polish prodigy, is hoping for something very different.
McLaren's Hamilton took his first grand prix win in Montreal in 2007 after a string of podium places, while BMW Sauber's Kubica suffered the most spectacular crash in recent Formula One history. They return to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Hamilton leading the championship after last month's Monaco win, but only six points separate him from the fourth-placed Pole.
In between are the Ferrari duo of world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who is three points behind the Briton and one ahead of Felipe Massa, the Finn's Brazilian team-mate.
However, Montreal, like Monaco, is a special track for Hamilton. "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."
Hamilton, now 23, has put flesh on the bones of his promise, with six wins, 16 podium finishes and seven pole positions from his 23 starts so far.
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.
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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.
In Lewis Hamilton's ideal scenario, Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix will play out as a repeat of last year's race, but Robert Kubica, the Polish prodigy, is hoping for something very different.
McLaren's Hamilton took his first grand prix win in Montreal in 2007 after a string of podium places, while BMW Sauber's Kubica suffered the most spectacular crash in recent Formula One history. They return to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Hamilton leading the championship after last month's Monaco win, but only six points separate him from the fourth-placed Pole.
In between are the Ferrari duo of world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who is three points behind the Briton and one ahead of Felipe Massa, the Finn's Brazilian team-mate.
However, Montreal, like Monaco, is a special track for Hamilton. "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."
Hamilton, now 23, has put flesh on the bones of his promise, with six wins, 16 podium finishes and seven pole positions from his 23 starts so far.
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.
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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.
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