Kubica gets first F1 win after Hamilton's mistake

Sauber

Lewis Hamilton made a huge mistake Sunday that took him and world champion Kimi Raikkonen out of the Canadian Grand Prix and helped Robert Kubica grab his first Formula One victory and the series points lead.

Defending race winner and pole-starter Hamilton slammed his Mercedes McLaren into the rear of Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pits early in the race, taking out both leaders and giving the 23-year-old Kubica a clear road to victory in his 29th F1 start.

It was a great day for the BMW Sauber team, winning for the first time in its 42 races as an F1 team and sweeping the top two spots with Nick Heidfeld finishing second, well ahead of Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard in third.

As Kubica crossed the finish line 16.4 seconds ahead of his teammate -- so far that the runner-up wasn't even in sight on the 2.71-mile track -- a member of his team said on the radio, ''That's a historic win, Robert. You are leading the championship points.''

The Polish driver's simple answer: ''Thanks.''

But he did show his excitement in the cockpit, pumping one fist in the air and then the other. Then hugging everyone within reach after getting out of his car.

But, even after finishing second twice this season, Kubica likely would have still been looking for that first win if not for Hamilton's surprising pit road gaffe.

The defending race winner started on the pole for the second straight year at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and led until the safety car came out and the leaders pitted on lap 19 of the 70-lap race. That followed Adrian Sutil parking his Force India entry on the grass alongside the track.

Raikkonen, who came into the race trailing Hamilton by three points in the world championship standings, came out ahead of the McLaren driver, along with Kubica, who had been in between Hamilton and Raikkonen. Raikkonen and Kubica stopped side-by-side at a red light at the end of pit road and Hamilton, picking up speed, rammed into Raikkonen's car, knocking off the rear wing. Nico Rosberg then hit the rear of Hamilton's car.

Both Hamilton and Raikkonen quickly climbed from their damaged cars and the Finnish world champion tapped Hamilton on the helmet as he walked past, pointing toward the light. Hamilton, obviously angry at himself, pushed past several cameras in the McLaren garage.

''All of a sudden they stopped,'' Hamilton said after cooling down a bit. ''It's not exactly a racing incident, just one of those things. It's a lot different if you crash into the wall. This sort of thing happens.

''I would rather neither of us be out,'' the Englishman added. ''Next time.''

Kubica was untouched in the pit road crash and, after everyone else on the lead lap finally made their first pit stops, he found himself in the lead for good on lap 42. The Pole led the rest of the way, building a big enough lead over Heidfeld that he was able to stay in front as he made his last pit stop on 49.

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