Hamilton dedicates victory to father

12 April 2012

Lewis Hamilton dedicated his maiden Grand Prix victory to his father Anthony on an emotional night in Montreal.

Hamilton, 22, continued his remarkable debut season in Formula One on Sunday by winning in just his sixth race, taking a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix from Germany's Nick Heidfeld for a rookie record sixth podium finish in a row.

"I have to dedicate this win to my Dad because without him this would not have been possible," Hamilton said of the man that started his career at the age of eight in go-karting. "I could see him in the crowd while I was on the podium and it looked like he had a tear in his eye. So it's obvious that he was extremely proud."

He added: "You wouldn't believe the amount of work he's put into my career. He had nothing when he was younger. He lost his mum at a young age and just to see his family be successful is a real pleasure to him and I dedicate this race to him."

Hamilton had also earned his first pole position for the McLaren team during qualifying and thanks to his victory now has an eight-point lead in the drivers' championship over team-mate and double world champion Fernando Alonso, who finished a lowly seventh, picking up just two points.

In a dramatic race that, apart from Robert Kubica's accident that resulted in the BMW Sauber driver being hospitalised with minor injuries, saw the safety car come onto the track on three other occasions.

Hamilton had to deal with the rest of the field coming back to him in a bunch as the race went on hold. It was another test on the young British rookie's steep learning curve.

"I thought it was quite a good challenge, to be honest," Hamilton said.

"I think it was an 11-second lead from the start and then we got the first pace car. Fortunately the team did a great job pulling me in a lap before, and I have to say that was just a very good call from them, because I think that was earlier than I was supposed to stop.

"And I think some other people got caught out with the pace car but I came out just behind Felipe (Massa) and then it was again, to try and get the gap, and each time I managed to do it. I think Nick was getting better and better towards the end, because I think it was a bit closer right at the end, but still I managed to hold it."

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