The Grand Prix League - GPL results Round 9

After confusing free practice sessions, qualifying hinted at the expected pole for McLaren but the eventual margin in Q3 was unexpected large. Throughout Hamilton clearly had much more confidence over the last sector and particularly the intimidating kerbs leading onto the start/finish straight. However, the story of qualifying was the rapid break-up of the track in two places leading to hurried overnight work for the Montreal tracksmen. Intriguingly, Hamilton was one of only two runners to start on the softer compound and eased away from Kubica and Raikkonen from a surprisingly orderly first few laps. However, things changed dramatically when Sutil's abandoned car caught light prompted safety car. Doubtless fearing further deployments for the big Merc, the six leading cars poured into the pits while those fueled for one stop happily carried on. Raikkonen and Kubica both jumped Hamilton away from their stops, but the reason became irrelevant when the McLaren steamed in the back of the Ferrari while it waited at the end of the pit lane. Kubica rejoined as the light went green to eventually win his maiden GP, while Heidfeld leading the one-stoppers completed a noteworthy BMW one-two.