Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory in the Canadian Grand Prix, picking up his 56th career win. The Brit dominated the race from start to finish to top off an emotional weekend in which he matched the pole position feat of hero Ayrton Senna.

"I had my first pole here, I had my first win here 10 years ago so to repeat it this weekend is incredibly special," he said. "I really have to thank my team for making this possible. The guys back at the factory have worked so hard to really fix what we had in the last race, bring it here and really give it to the Ferraris. I'm over the moon."

Valtteri Bottas drove to another podium finish and crossed the line in P2, claiming a one-two finish for the Silver Arrows. The two Mercedes' were untouched throughout the 70 laps around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

It was a great result for Daniel Ricciardo who claimed his second podium of the year after keeping the two Force India's behind him for much of the race. The Australian will be delighted to come away with 15 points in a weekend Red Bull was expected to struggle massively.

Pole ✅
Win ✅
Led every lap ✅
Fastest lap ✅

It's a 4th #F1 Grand Slam for @LewisHamilton, and 2nd of the season ___Escaped_link_6620a190f06b8___ pic.twitter.com/YDCtoIBrzZ

— Formula 1 (@F1) ___Escaped_link_6620a190f06ba___

The start saw a rocket launch from Max Verstappen who bolted into second place after starting from fifth. Behind him, all hell broke loose as Carlos Sainz and Romain Grosjean collided on the run to turn 3, causing Sainz to spin. Felipe Massa was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was collected by Sainz, putting both of them out of the race. Grosjean had to pit for a new front wing.

A safety car came out while the Toro Rosso and Williams were recovered. At the end of lap 3, it peeled away into the pits, releasing race leader Hamilton. He was forced to go defensive into the final corner as Verstappen looked to take the lead of the race, but had to settle in behind.

YELLOW FLAG/SAFETY CAR: Race is over for both MAS and SAI as they collide at the first chicane on lap one ?#CanadianGP ?? pic.twitter.com/mZduvoeFM8

— Formula 1 (@F1) ___Escaped_link_6620a190f06bd___

Raikkonen had a scary moment on the next lap as he got onto the grass at the exit of turn 7. His momentum was killed and it allowed the Force India of Sergio Perez to sneak by. Meanwhile, it became noticed that Sebastian Vettel had suffered substantial front wing damage. The carbon fibre was chopped at turn 1 on the first lap when Max Verstappen flew around his outside.

Vettel pitted on lap 5 for a new front wing and a set of super soft tyres. Ferrari told him they were targeting a one-stop strategy and he rejoined the race in last place. There was heartbreak for Max Verstappen on lap 11, as the Dutchman grounded to a halt after turn 2. The Red Bull had a battery issue and he was out, after looking comfortable in P2.

A virtual safety car was emitted causing the field to neutralise. Both Renault's of Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer chose to pit on lap 11. The VSC period ended on lap 11 and the track went green, as Kevin Magnussen, Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg battled hard for eighth place. 

Raikkonen came in to pit for the super soft tyres on lap 17, while Ricciardo was in on lap 19. Force India reacted to the pit-stop of Ricciardo and brought Sergio Perez in one lap later, while they left Esteban Ocon out for a longer first stint. Ricciardo stayed ahead of Perez after the round of stops.

By this stage, Vettel had made his way up to ninth place and was still targeting a one-stop strategy. Valtteri Bottas came into the pits on lap 24 and fitted the soft compound to his car. Leader Lewis Hamilton didn't venture into the pits until lap 32. The Brit had such a lead, that when he re-joined the track he was still in P1.

Ocon pitted one lap after Hamilton. The Frenchman was running around in second place, ahead of Bottas. When the Mercedes junior driver rejoined the track, he was behind Ricciardo, Perez and Raikkonen in sixth place.

Lap 42 saw Raikkonen enter the pits. He bolted on a fresh set of ultra soft tyres and was going to be very quick. He was passed by teammate Vettel, but the German was still on the tyres he fitted in the opening laps of the race. 

Local boy Lance Stroll was in the shout for his first points score of the year and was locked in battle with the McLaren of Stoffel Vandoorne. Vandoorne was instructed to hold up Stroll to allow Alonso to pull a gap ahead. However, with Mercedes power vs Honda power, Stroll passed both men in the next 4 laps.

Vettel's one-stop strategy started to fail and the Ferrari was forced to pull into the pits on lap 50. With 20 laps to go, he set off in chase of his teammate, the two Force India's and Ricciardo, who currently held the final spot on the podium.

On lap 55, Daniil Kvyat took a trip to the pits and retired from the race. The Russian was evidently furious after a frustrating race ended in disaster. Vettel was handed sixth place on a plate by teammate Raikkonen. Raikkonen began to suffer brake issues and he missed the final chicane, allowing Vettel to coast through.

Vettel was rapidly closing up onto the back of the podium fight, while an intra-team battle saw hot heads arise in Force India. Ocon requested that Perez let him by as his tyres were much fresher, however, Perez wouldn't give. Vettel closed up and attacked Ocon, getting by Force India in an edge of seat move at turn 1.

Vettel was forced to brake late on the dirty side of the track and Ocon ran across the tarmac and dropped behind the four-time world champion. On the penultimate lap, Vettel got by the other Force India, consolidating fourth in a fantastic recovery drive.

Perez and Ocon crossed the line fifth and sixth respectively, although there will be wonders whether the result could have been a lot more. Raikkonen held onto seventh, while Nico Hulkenberg ended the day in eighth.

Lance Stroll will be delighted to have claimed his first career points finish in front of the home crowd as he came across the line in ninth. Rounding out the top ten and taking the final points position was Romain Grosjean.

"At last... some points. It's taken a while. Thanks, guys!"

STR claims the first points of his F1 career... and in front of his own fans ?? pic.twitter.com/QMqLSYugE6

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 11, 2017

Fergal Walsh

Photos Canada 2017

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