LEWIS Hamilton has dominated an exciting Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix to slash a big chunk out of Sebastian Vettel's championship lead.
Montreal provided the setting for Hamilton's first victory in his debut season in 2007 and he topped the podium there for the sixth time in his career on Sunday, and third in succession, making it his most successful circuit.
Hamilton's teammate Valtteri Bottas was third-fastest in qualifying and will start from the second row beside Raikkonen. He then shared a sip with actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who was serving as the post-race master of ceremonies. "Every year the energy grows!"
Still chasing his first race win of 2017, Ricciardo heads to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix later this month, where he finished seventh past year.
Wolff says the leadership process into the ongoing investigation into Mercedes' struggles is being spearheaded by around half a dozen members of the team, while he reiterated there is not a single limiting factor behind its varying level of performance. "I am just over the moon".
"I think we had a very good vehicle today, a solid auto", Wolff said.
"I knew where he was", admitted Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel's duel has turned this season's title race into one of the most keenly-anticipated - and most hard to forecast - in decades.
A first-lap mishap that damaged the two Ferraris made it an easy day for the Mercedes AMG team, with Hamilton taking the chequered flag and teammate Valterri Bottas safely in second place.
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He recovered well with some aggressive overtaking on a two-stop strategy and caught the battle for third place, in which Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was leading the Force Indias of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon, with seven laps to go.
The race delivered immediate drama.
"We gave them a lap yesterday they couldn't answer and today they had a messy race", Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.
The out of control Toro Rosso came back across the the track at the next right hander and collected the blameless Felipe Massa, sending the Williams into the barrier. There was no stone left unturned: aero, mechanical balance, set-up work, the tyres themselves, the way the drivers drove the auto. On lap 11, Verstappen's Red Bull died at the side of the track, ending his day and leaving Hamilton and Bottas alone in front.
Vettel holds a 129-104 lead over Hamilton in the standings as Mercedes and Ferrari have dueled in one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.
On lap 11, the action was paused again when Verstappen pulled over and retired between Turns Two and Three, his engine having cut out. The Dane had incurred a penalty from the race stewards for overtaking under the virtual safety vehicle.
A mistake by Raikkonen let Vettel through to sixth and a chance to attack, which produced a thrilling battle as the Force India men, engaged in their own scrap, resisted.
Vettel passed Ocon in a touch-and-go move into Turn One with four laps to go.
With just a few laps remaining Raikkonen had nearly caught Esteban Ocon for fifth but his brakes were overheating, a common issue around Canada, and he started to lose several seconds a lap.
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