Hamilton crashes out in Canada

Motor Sport : Robert Kubica claimed his maiden victory and took control of the world drivers' championship as Lewis Hamilton…

Motor Sport: Robert Kubica claimed his maiden victory and took control of the world drivers' championship as Lewis Hamilton's Canadian Grand Prix ended in disaster in Montreal.

Kubica survived a horrendous crash at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 12 months ago and the BMW Sauber driver took full advantage of a pit-lane accident that took out McLaren's world championship leader Hamilton and world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.

Hamilton crashed into the back of Raikkonen as they emerged from a pit stop on lap 18 with the Englishman failing to spot the red light at the end of the lane as the Ferrari was waiting on the line.

It was a BMW Sauber one-two as Nick Heidfeld claimed the runners-up spot for the second year in a row.

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The drama also cleared the way for Scotland's David Coulthard to score his first points of the season with an invaluable third-place finish to ease the pressure on his seat at Red Bull Racing.
 
Hamilton dismissed his pit-lane collision with Kimi Raikkonen which knocked both of them out of the Canadian Grand Prix as "unfortunate".

Hamilton was leading the race by six seconds when the safety car was deployed after Adrian Sutil ditched his car trackside.

The Briton and his main championship rival Raikkonen were among a number of drivers who took the option to pit — creating unusual congestion down by the team garages.

As Raikonnen stopped for the red light at the end of the pit lane, Hamilton's McLaren careered into the back of the Finn's Ferrari, forcing them both out of the race.

As both drivers got out of their cars, Raikkonen theatrically pointed at the pit signals to indicate they had been on red.

It was a disaster for the leading two drivers in this year's championship but Hamilton was philosophical.

"I saw the two guys in front of me battling in the pit lane and I was trying to make sure I didn't get involved but then they stopped," he explained. "I saw the red light but it was too late. It's not a racing incident but I think it is unfortunate.

"It is a lot different if you crash into the wall and you are angry with yourself. I apologise to Kimi if I ruined his race. I would rather neither of us be out. I was so quick I was breezing it."