Hamilton secured his second fastest race lap of 2024 in Canada
Despite failing to clinch his first podium result of the season, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton set the quickest race lap for the second time this year at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Despite failing to score his first podium position in 2024, Lewis Hamilton left his imprint on an action-packed Montreal race by setting the fastest racing lap.
The Briton looked incredibly strong on Friday, and he carried that over to Saturday. Although he appeared to have impressive speed in the first two qualifying segments, he was unable to grasp the last qualifying part and started only in seventh place.
The seven-time world champion was unable to overtake Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin during the rain-soaked opening half of the race, which caused him to lose contact with the top drivers. After one safety car, he was at the back of the lead group of four cars, but he couldn’t pass. For a brief period of time, it appeared that the drying circumstances would even pave the way for his win.
When he switched from intermediates to medium slicks on Lap 43, Hamilton was the fastest man on the track for several laps. The seven-time world champion then struggled with strategy in the final sprint after a second safety car period. With 16 laps to go, both Mercedes came in to change tyres, but only Russell still had a set of mediums left.
Hamilton had to make do with the hard compound tyre. He was still fast, however, and was able to turn Russell’s tough scrap with Oscar Piastri in front of him to his advantage, even managing briefly to overtake the two of them, but Russell hit back on Lap 68. Hamilton’s final counterattack on Lap 70 earned him the DHL Fastest Lap and the bonus point.
After nine rounds in 2024, three drivers have already clinched the fastest race lap twice: Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Fernando Alonso, George Russell and Oscar Piastri have set the best race lap once apiece.
