PREVIEW: Hamilton eyes repeat win; Kubica puts crash behind him

Jun 5, 2008, 15:44 GMT

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of McLaren Mercedes goes with a faulty tire to a box stop during the F1 Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco, 25 May 2008. EPA/PASCAL GUYOT / POOL

Montreal, Canada - Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for a repeat performance while Robert Kubica wants anything but when Formula One returns to Montreal for Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix.

McLaren-Mercedes driver Hamilton enjoyed his maiden Grand Prix win at Montreal last year, while Kubica was fortunate to survive a horrific crash without injury.

They return to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Britain's Hamilton brim full of confidence after a tremendous victory in Monaco two weeks ago, and Poland's Kubica of BMW Sauber equally happy with his season, lying fourth in the standings only six points behind.

In between Hamilton on 38 points and Kubica on 32 in the standings are the Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (35) and Felipe Massa of Brazil (34), both aiming to bounce back after a disappointing race for the team in Monte Carlo.

'We have good momentum right now and we are pushing to keep that going and to keep developing,' Hamilton said.

'The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is one of my favourite tracks and following my debut win there last year it is a very special place for me and I hope that we will be quick there again this year.'

Hamilton described last year's year's maiden pole and win in Montreal as 'one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.'

He added: 'It would be great to go back there and do the same, and that is what we are working hard to achieve.'

Ferrari meanwhile have to recover from the disappointments of Monaco where despite leading the front row had to make do with third (Massa) and ninth (Raikkonen) positions.

The team admitted to strategic mistakes while defending champion Raikkonen had a race to forget, culminating in him driving into the back of Force India driver Adrian Sutil of Germany.

'Monaco has been left behind: it was a staggering blow, but there is nothing we can do about it,' Raikkonen said.

The Finn said he expected the race at the tight and tricky circuit in Montreal, where the stability of braking will be important on the track's sharp bends and fast straights, to be evenly balanced.

'I said at the beginning of the season that I expect the title to be won at the last moment,' he said.

'A third of the season has passed and we have 35 points, lying in second place, which is more or less what I expected. Nothing has been won, and nothing lost.

'There is no point in panicking after the race in Monaco because compared to last year the situation is much better. I won't change anything in my approach for the upcoming weekend - the designated target is to win, and we will give our best.'

Massa is meanwhile convinced Ferrari can do well on a track where they have not won since 2004 when Michael Schumacher scored a hat-trick of successive victories.

He will be hoping personally for a better race than last when was black flagged for exiting the pit lane under a red light during a chaotic race which saw the safety car come out four times.

'It's clear we are up against two very strong opponents in McLaren and BMW, even if the latter has not actually won a race yet,' he said.

'It's all getting very close and exciting and shows you need to pick up points in every race.'

Kubica may fancy his chances of a maiden Grand Prix victory after two second places and a third already this year.

Last year's spectacular high-speed crash when his car flew over the top of Jarno Trulli's Toyota and smashed into a concrete wall after is now behind him, he says.

Kubica checked out of hospital the next day having suffered only slight concussion and a sprained ankle, and with no apparent negative psychological effects.

'I don't have to cope (mentally) because it's already a year ago and since then I have been driving a Formula One car without thinking about it,' the 23-year-old said.

'In Formula One and motorsport the risks are high, but I don't have any negative feelings about Canada.'