Hamilton secured his second fastest race lap of 2024 in Canada

Despite failing to take his first podium finish of the year, the Canadian Grand Prix saw the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton secure the fastest race lap ifor the second time this year.

Despite failing to secure his first podium finish in 2024, Lewis Hamilton made his mark on an action-packed Montreal race, claiming the quickest race lap.

The Briton looked extremely strong on Friday which he carried over to Saturday. Although he appeared to display eye-catching pace in the first two segments of qualifying, he was unable to master the last qualifying section, and started only from P7.

The seven-time world champion was unbale to overtake the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso in the rain-hit first half of the race which saw him lose the connection to the leading drivers. One safety car later and he was at least on the back of the lead group of four cars but couldn’t get past. For a short time, though, it looked like conditions turning dry might even open the door to victory for him.

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.