{{short description|2008 Canadian Formula One race held in Montreal}} {{Infobox Grand Prix race report |Type = F1 |Grand Prix = Canadian |Country = Canada |Image = Île Notre-Dame (Circuit Gilles Villeneuve).svg |Date = June 8 |Year = 2008 |Race_No = 7 |Season_No = 18 |Official name = Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2008 |Location = [[Circuit Gilles Villeneuve]], [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], [[Canada]] |Course = Street circuit |Course_mi = 2.710 |Course_km = 4.361 |Distance_laps = 70 |Distance_mi = 189.686 |Distance_km = 305.270 |Weather = Hot with temperatures approaching {{convert|31|C|F}}; wind speeds up to {{convert|8.9|km/h|mph}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.almanac.com/weather/history/QC/Montreal/2008-06-08 |title=Weather information for the "2008 Canadian Grand Prix" |publisher=The Old Farmers' Almanac |access-date=2013-06-25 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526181449/https://www.webcitation.org/6HtjzGakT?url=http://m.almanac.com/weather/history/QC/Montreal/2008-06-08 |archive-date=2024-05-26 |url-status=live }}</ref> |Pole_Driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] |Pole_Team = [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |Pole_Time = 1:17.886 |Pole_Country = Great Britain |Fast_Driver = [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |Fast_Team = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |Fast_Time = 1:17.387 |Fast_Lap = 14 |Fast_Country = Finland |First_Driver = [[Robert Kubica]] |First_Team = [[BMW Sauber]] |First_Country = Poland |Second_Driver = [[Nick Heidfeld]] |Second_Team = [[BMW Sauber]] |Second_Country= Germany |Third_Driver = [[David Coulthard]] |Third_Team = [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault F1|Renault]] |Third_Country = Great Britain |Lapchart = {{F1Laps2008|CAN}} |Next_round=2008 French Grand Prix|Previous_round=2008 Monaco Grand Prix}} The '''2008 Canadian Grand Prix''', formally the '''Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2008''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/canada_793/circuit_diagram.html|title=Canada|website=Formula1.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612101508/http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/canada_793/circuit_diagram.html|access-date=29 December 2020|archive-date=2008-06-12}}</ref> was a [[Formula One]] motor race held on 8 June 2008 at the [[Circuit Gilles Villeneuve]]. It was the 7th&nbsp;race of the [[2008 Formula One World Championship]]. The 70-lap race was won by [[Robert Kubica]] for the [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] team after starting from second position. Kubica's teammate [[Nick Heidfeld]] finished second, with [[David Coulthard]] third in a [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]], taking the 62nd and final podium of his F1 career. [[Lewis Hamilton]], who started from [[pole position]], failed to finish the race, retiring on lap&nbsp;19 after crashing into the back of [[Kimi Räikkönen]]'s [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] car in the [[Pit stop|pit lane]].

As of {{F1|2025}}, this is the last victory for a [[BMW in Formula One|BMW]]-powered car, the only race to be won by a Polish driver and the last podium finish by a Scottish driver. Kubica's win promoted him into the lead of the [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|World Drivers' Championship]] for the first time in his career, overtaking Hamilton, Räikkönen and Massa. Massa and Hamilton tied for second place, four points behind Kubica, while Räikkönen was fourth. In the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|World Constructors Championship]], BMW-Sauber passed McLaren for second position, three points behind Ferrari.

==Report==

===Background=== The Grand Prix was contested by 20&nbsp;drivers, in ten teams of two.<ref name="classification">{{cite web|title=Race Classification|url=http://fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/canada/Pages/race_classification.aspx|publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile|date=8 June 2008|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102122049/http://fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/canada/Pages/race_classification.aspx|archive-date=2 January 2010}}</ref> The teams, also known as "[[Formula One#Constructors|constructors]]", were [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]], [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]], [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]], [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]], [[Honda in Formula One|Honda]], [[Force India]], [[Toyota in Formula One|Toyota]], [[Red Bull Racing]], [[Williams Racing|Williams]] and [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]].<ref name="classification"/>

Before the race, McLaren driver [[Lewis Hamilton]] led the [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Drivers' Championship]], with 38 points, ahead of Ferrari's [[Kimi Räikkönen]], on 35 points and his teammate [[Felipe Massa]] on 34 points. BMW driver [[Robert Kubica]] was fourth, ahead of Kubica's teammate [[Nick Heidfeld]] in fifth. In the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors Championship]], Ferrari were leading on 69 points; 16 points ahead of McLaren with 53 points; BMW were a further point behind them in third.<ref name=Points>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Bruce|title=The Official ITV Sport Guide: Grand Prix 2009|chapter=Final Results 2008|url=https://archive.org/details/grandprix2009off0000jone/|year=2009|publisher=[[Welbeck Publishing Group|Carlton Books]]|location=London, England|pages=116–117|isbn=978-1-84732-262-3|via=Internet Archive|url-access=registration}}</ref>

Ahead of the race, the organizers unveiled a new paddock and media center facilities at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67937|title=Montreal unveils new paddock|author= Jonathan Noble|publisher=autosport.com|date=2008-06-02|access-date=2008-07-24| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080804223543/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67937| archive-date= 4 August 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Also the site where [[Robert Kubica]] crashed in [[2007 Canadian Grand Prix|the previous year's race]] was modified. The wall on which Kubica crashed was moved closer to the track to decrease angle of impact. Additionally, debris fencing was put on the wall to prevent any hazard to cars on the other side of the wall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67966|title=Kubica crash site modified for 2008|author= Jonathan Noble|publisher=autosport.com|date=2008-06-04|access-date=2008-07-24| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080716050635/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67966| archive-date= 16 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

===Practice and qualifying=== [[File:Felipe Massa 2008 Canada.jpg|thumb|left|[[Felipe Massa]], seen here correcting [[Understeer and oversteer|oversteer]], set the fastest lap time in the first free practice session on Friday.]] Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race—two on Friday, and a third on Saturday. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions each lasted 90&nbsp;minutes. The third session was held on Saturday morning and lasted an hour.<ref name="sporting">{{cite web |url=http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/475632E46002BEDAC125744F004312F4/$FILE/F1.SPORTING.REGULATIONS.19-05-2008.pdf |title=2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-05-19 |access-date=2008-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324235223/http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/475632E46002BEDAC125744F004312F4/$FILE/F1.SPORTING.REGULATIONS.19-05-2008.pdf |archive-date=2009-03-24 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Friday practice session started in wet conditions which resulted in most of the drivers venturing out in the latter half of the hour, some of them, such as [[Lewis Hamilton]], emerging only during final minutes of the session. [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]'s [[Felipe Massa]] recorded the fastest lap in this session, followed by [[Robert Kubica]] and [[Heikki Kovalainen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68008|title=Massa tops damp first practice&nbsp;— Canada|author=Simon Strang|publisher=autosport.com|date=2008-06-06|access-date=2008-06-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080608193254/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68008| archive-date= 8 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> In the second session of the day, Lewis Hamilton aced while Kubica continued to record good timings at number two. [[Kimi Räikkönen]] recorded third fastest lap time compared to his fifth fastest in the earlier session. [[Timo Glock]] suffered a minor accident after he hit the wall on turn four.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68020|title=Hamilton quickest in practice 2 - Canada|author=Simon Strang|publisher=autosport.com|date=2008-06-06|access-date=2008-06-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080609094516/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68020| archive-date= 9 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Nico Rosberg, however, sprung a surprise by topping the Saturday session ahead of Räikkönen and Hamilton. The session was [[Racing flag#Red flag|red flagged]] 45 minutes in when [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]'s [[Sebastian Vettel]] hit the wall after losing control at turn nine, resulting in a number of drivers being unable to complete their flying laps. Further, Vettel's teammate [[Sébastien Bourdais]] suffered a crash at turn five.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68059|title=Rosberg fastest in final practice&nbsp;— Canada|author=Matt Beer|publisher=autosport.com|date=2008-06-07|access-date=2008-06-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080610003925/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68059| archive-date= 10 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> {{Clear}}

[[File:Lewis rounds turn 2 Canada 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lewis Hamilton]] took [[pole position]] for [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]].]] Saturday afternoon's qualifying session was divided into three parts. In the first 20-minute period, cars finishing 16th or lower were eliminated. The second qualifying period lasted for 15 minutes, at the end of which the fastest ten cars went into the final period, to determine their grid positions for the race. Cars failing to make the final period were allowed to be refuelled before the race but those competing in it were not, and so carried more fuel than they had done in the earlier qualifying sessions.<ref name="sporting"/>

Lewis Hamilton recorded the fastest time for the session, ahead of Felipe Massa and Heikki Kovalainen. Sebastian Vettel's poor season continued after he could not compete the qualifying following his crash in third practice session. Others eliminated in this session were [[Sébastien Bourdais]], [[Adrian Sutil]], [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] and [[Jenson Button]]. Bourdais received a five place grid penalty due to a gearbox change following the earlier practice session. Button too suffered a gearbox problem during his first lap run and clocked the slowest time for the session.

[[File:Track cleaning 2008 Canada.jpg|thumb|left|Resurfaced sections of the track began to break up in practice and qualifying and had to be repaired on numerous occasions.]]

Qualifying conditions were hampered by a disintegrating track, which caused most drivers to record slower times than in Q1. Track officials were seen clearing the track of debris in between sessions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/6/7896.html |title=Qualifying analysis&nbsp;— take nothing for granted in Montreal |publisher=Formula1.com |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-06-08| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080608094620/http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/6/7896.html| archive-date= 8 June 2008}}</ref> [[Toyota F1|Toyota]]'s [[Jarno Trulli]] suffered significantly from these conditions, his car spinning twice during the second session. Trulli, along with [[Timo Glock]], [[Kazuki Nakajima]], [[David Coulthard]] and [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]], was unable to progress to the next session.

Hamilton once again topped this session, with Massa and Räikkönen coming second and third respectively.

Hamilton recorded quick times during early laps of the session, which were only surpassed by Robert Kubica towards the end of the session. But Hamilton on his final flying lap overcame Kubica's time claiming his second pole position at Montreal. Räikkönen came in third with teammate Massa pushed down to sixth position. [[Fernando Alonso]] and [[Nico Rosberg]] exhibited remarkable performances, taking positions four and five respectively.

[[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]], who also became a victim of the breaking track surface, could not compete in Q3 after damaging his car at the end of second session.

===Race=== [[File:2008 Canadian GP lap 1 turn 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Lewis Hamilton]] leads [[Robert Kubica]], [[Kimi Räikkönen]] and the rest of the field at the start of the race.]] There was severe criticism from drivers about track conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68079 |title=Trulli slams 'disastrous' track conditions |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-07 |access-date=2008-07-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080702090056/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68079| archive-date= 2 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68076 |title=Raikkonen very critical of track problems |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-07|access-date=2008-07-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080716053028/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68076| archive-date= 16 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The track was said to be breaking up on turn two, the exit of turn seven and also the apex and exit of turn 10.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/6/7897.html |title=FIA post-qualifying press conference&nbsp;— Canada |publisher=Formula1.com |date=2008-06-07 |access-date=2008-07-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611025209/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/6/7897.html| archive-date= 11 June 2008}}</ref> The authorities applied chemicals on turn 2 and carried out further resurfacing of track on turn 11&nbsp;– the hairpin&nbsp;– following Saturday's qualifying session.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68125 |title=Drivers fear track will break up in race |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-07-14| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611002318/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68125| archive-date= 11 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

After overnight track work to fix problems with the track at turn 10,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68095|title=Montreal Hairpin to be resurfaced |publisher=Autosport |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-06-08| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080609074029/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68095| archive-date= 9 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> the race started with Hamilton holding his lead and all the cars making it through the first corner. Hamilton built up a lead of over 5 seconds over [[Robert Kubica]] before [[Adrian Sutil]] had a gearbox failure<ref name="FIndia">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68139 |title=Canada Sunday quotes: Force India |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-07-10| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080612073225/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68139| archive-date= 12 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> on the 16th lap and parked his car after turn 3.<ref name="report1">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68131 |title=Kubica leads historic BMW 1-2 in Canada |author=Matt Beer |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-07-10| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080710105046/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68131| archive-date= 10 July 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Sutil's car was off the track but after it caught fire the safety car was brought out, and there was a rush of drivers into the pits as all of the six lead drivers went in for their [[pit stop]]s. Hamilton led Räikkönen and Kubica into the pitlane but Räikkönen took the lead as they left their garages, with Kubica alongside him and Hamilton behind.

[[File:Pitlane collision 2008 Canada.jpg|thumb|left|In the aftermath of the collision, [[Kimi Räikkönen]] and Hamilton retired from the race, whilst [[Nico Rosberg]] continued with a broken front wing.]] {{quote box |quote="...as I exited the box, I saw two cars jostling for position ahead of me in the pit lane. Obviously, I didn't want to get involved in their tussle, and was trying not to do so, and then all of a sudden they stopped. And by the time they'd come to a halt, it was too late for me to avoid them." | source=– [[Lewis Hamilton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Canada Sunday quotes: McLaren |publisher=autosport.com |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68143 |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-07-01| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611064858/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68143| archive-date= 11 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> | width=21% | align=right}} Räikkönen came to a stop at the end of the pit lane as the exit was closed, with the red indicator light on. Räikkönen was alongside Kubica at the end of the pit lane when Hamilton sped towards them not noticing the red light at first.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68130 |title=Hamilton apologises to Raikkonen |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-07-15| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080715104535/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68130|archive-date= 15 July 2008 |url-status= live}}</ref> Hamilton slid into the back of Räikkönen's car, with Nico Rosberg further hitting the back of Hamilton. Both Hamilton and Räikkönen retired from the race, each leaving their vehicles at the exit of the pitlane. Rosberg continued the race, but stopped again for a new wing. Meanwhile, Massa had to make a second stop in the following lap, as his car had not been refuelled during his first stop due to technical problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68149|title=Canada Sunday quotes: Ferrari|publisher=autosport.com|date=2008-06-08|access-date=2008-07-15| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611002329/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68149| archive-date= 11 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Hamilton later said that he saw the light too late and could not avoid hitting the Ferrari.<ref name="Penalty">{{cite web | url = http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68140 | title = Hamilton, Rosberg hit with grid penalty | publisher = Haymarket Publishing | work = autosport.com | author = Pablo Elizalde | date = 2008-06-08 | access-date = 2009-05-19}}</ref> It was Hamilton's only retirement of the 2008 season.<ref name="williams">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68146 |title=Rosberg bemoans 'unfortunate' incident |author=Pablo Elizalde |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080709022418/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68146 |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-07-09 |archive-date= 9 July 2008 |url-status= live}}</ref>

There were seven different race leaders over the next section of the race until most of the drivers each took pit stops leaving Heidfeld in the lead. Kubica was in a much lighter and faster car and overtook Heidfeld after only his first lap out of the pits. {{Clear}}

[[File:Kubica + Heidfeld + Alonso 2008 Canada.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Kubica passing teammate [[Nick Heidfeld]] after both had made their first pitstops.]]

The remainder of the race had fewer incidents, despite the surface of the circuit severely degrading over the course of the race. [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] suffered another retirement, his fifth of the year from seven races, on the 39th lap because of abnormal brake wear.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68136 |title=Canada Sunday quotes: Renault |publisher=Autosport |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-06-11| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611232135/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68136| archive-date= 11 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Piquet had also spun off the circuit earlier in the race while running in a points-scoring position due to brake failure, but fell to the back of the field before he reversed his car to get back onto the track. Piquet's teammate at [[Renault F1]] and former world champion [[Fernando Alonso]] was running in a strong third place and was pushing Nick Heidfeld for second place before spinning off and damaging his front wing and suspension. [[Kazuki Nakajima]] broke his front wing after hitting the back of [[Jenson Button]] in turn ten on the 46th lap, and was forced to retire when the front wing detached itself completely and was stuck under the chassis as he was about to enter pitlane. Giancarlo Fisichella was running last after his car engine stalled during his first pit stop,<ref name="FIndia"/> and later he spun and hit the wall after the chicane at turn nine.

[[Felipe Massa]] fought back towards the end of the race, after finding himself last since making three pit stops in total due to earlier incidents. Massa overtook both Barrichello and Kovalainen at the same time through the hairpin at turn ten as his rivals struggled for grip. With a few laps to spare the Brazilian overtook [[Jarno Trulli]] when the Italian got caught up behind [[Timo Glock]], who was recovering from running wide at turn two.

[[File:Robert Kubica 2008 Canada 2.jpg|thumb|right|The race was won by [[Robert Kubica]], who took his and [[BMW Sauber]]'s only F1 victory.]] [[File:Barrichello + Vettel + Kovalainen Canada 2008.jpg|thumb|left|A late-race scrap between [[Rubens Barrichello]], [[Sebastian Vettel]] and [[Heikki Kovalainen]] provided on-track entertainment.]]

Kubica had built up a substantial lead over the course of the race and was never threatened while he raced towards the finish. Heidfeld held onto second place leading to the first one-two finish for the BMW Sauber team. [[David Coulthard]] finished third to score his first points of the season and his first podium finish since the [[2006 Monaco Grand Prix]], but had to run to the podium after his car ran out of fuel 50 meters from where the podium finishers park. [[Toyota F1|Toyota]] drivers finished fourth and sixth, with Massa between them in fifth. Barrichello kept the seventh position and Vettel defended eighth place from Kovalainen. Thus, no [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] driver finished in the points for the first time since the [[2006 United States Grand Prix]], and neither [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] nor [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] took a podium finish for the first time since the [[2006 Malaysian Grand Prix]]. Kovalainen, Rosberg, Button, Webber and the lapped Bourdais were the last of the finishing drivers.

The win for BMW Sauber marked the first time a German constructor had won a Formula One Grand Prix since the [[1962 French Grand Prix]] (with [[Dan Gurney]] for [[Porsche in motorsport|Porsche]]), as well as the first and only win for [[BMW in Formula One|BMW]] engines since the [[2004 Brazilian Grand Prix]] which [[Juan Pablo Montoya]] won for [[WilliamsF1|Williams]].

===Post-race=== The top three finishers appeared on the [[Podium#Usage in motorsport|podium]] and in the subsequent [[press conference]]. Kubica was delighted with his first race victory, saying, "I'm very happy at having won the first race for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. I'm also happy for Poland and all my fans. It was a very difficult race for me. I started on the dirty side of the track and Kimi Raikkonen was nearly able to pass me, but I just managed to keep him behind."<ref name="GrandPrix.com quotes">{{cite web|title=Canadian GP - Sunday - Team Quotes|url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r792sunquotes.html|publisher=GrandPrix.com|date=8 June 2008|access-date=25 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129033128/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r792sunquotes.html|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the race, Heidfeld said,

{{blockquote|Congratulations to Robert for winning this race, which he really deserved! I made a poor start and lost a position to Rubens Barrichello. Fortunately I was able to pass him, and from this moment on I was one of the fastest cars on the track. I stayed out when most of the other cars pitted because I was on a long stint. I was pushing very hard at that stage. We then decided to switch to a one stop strategy, with a very high fuel load and with the soft option tyres which was a challenge.<ref name="GrandPrix.com quotes"/>}}

Coulthard said, "I'm delighted to get a podium for the team, they've had a lot of work on at the previous races and back at base. You can expect some unusual results here, so we fuelled it long; but we expected the incidents would occur on track, not in the pit lane."<ref name="GrandPrix.com quotes"/>

Hamilton and Rosberg were both given ten place grid penalties for the French Grand Prix, meaning that whatever their qualifying position, they could start no better than 11th.<ref name="Penalty"/> After the penalty was given, McLaren's CEO, [[Martin Whitmarsh]], said that he thought the penalty was "severe", citing a similar incident at [[2008 Monaco Grand Prix|Monaco]] where Räikkönen had crashed into the back of Force India's Adrian Sutil.<ref name="Pen McL">{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68142 |title=McLaren disappointed with 'severe' penalty |date=2008-06-08 |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |work=autosport.com |author=Charles Bradley and Pablo Elizalde |access-date=2009-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008080519/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68142 |archive-date=2008-10-08 |url-status=live }}</ref> There, no penalty had been given.<ref name="Pen McL"/> However, Rosberg said that the penalties were "deserved".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68470 |title=Rosberg says penalty was deserved |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |work=autosport.com |author=Pablo Elizalde |date=2008-06-20 |access-date=2009-05-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703012203/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68470 |archive-date=2008-07-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the race, Kubica moved into the lead of the Drivers' Championship, on 42 points, taking the Championship lead for the first time in his Formula One career. Hamilton lost the lead of the Drivers' Championship, falling four points behind Kubica. Massa tied on points with Hamilton, while Räikkönen was three points further behind. Heidfeld remained fifth. Before the race, Ferrari had been 16 points ahead of McLaren in the Constructors' Championship; after the race, BMW moved up into second position and reduced Ferrari's lead to 3 points. McLaren fell down to third place, 17 points behind BMW.

==Classification==

===Qualifying=== [[File:Sebastian Vettel 2008 Canada.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sebastian Vettel]] could not take part in qualifying]] [[File:Heidfeld Canada 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Nick Heidfeld]] finished second to make it a BMW Sauber one-two.]] [[File:David Coulthard 2008 Canada.jpg|thumb|right|[[David Coulthard]] finished third for [[Red Bull Racing]], his last podium in Formula One.]] [[File:Track wear 2008 Canada.jpg|thumb|right|The track surface was significantly worn by the end of the Grand Prix.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%" !Pos. !No. !Driver !Constructor !Part 1 !Part 2 !Part 3 !Grid |- !1 |22 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] |[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |'''1:16.909''' |'''1:17.034''' |'''1:17.886''' |1 |- !2 |4 |{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Robert Kubica]] |[[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] |1:17.471 |1:17.679 |1:18.498 |2 |- !3 |1 |{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:17.301 |1:17.364 |1:18.735 |3 |- !4 |5 |{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Fernando Alonso]] |[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:17.415 |1:17.488 |1:18.746 |4 |- !5 |7 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nico Rosberg]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:17.991 |1:17.891 |1:18.844 |5 |- !6 |2 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Felipe Massa]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:17.231 |1:17.353 |1:19.048 |6 |- !7 |23 |{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Heikki Kovalainen]] |[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |1:17.287 |1:17.684 |1:19.089 |7 |- !8 |3 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nick Heidfeld]] |[[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] |1:18.082 |1:17.781 |1:19.633 |8 |- !9 |17 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rubens Barrichello]] |[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |1:18.256 |1:18.020 |1:20.848 |9 |- !10 |10 |{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] |[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:17.582 |1:17.523 |No time{{ref|1|1}} |10 |- !11 |12 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Timo Glock]] |[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:18.321 |1:18.031 | |11 |- !12 |8 |{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kazuki Nakajima]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:17.638 |1:18.062 | |12 |- !13 |9 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[David Coulthard]] |[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:18.168 |1:18.238 | |13 |- !14 |11 |{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Jarno Trulli]] |[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:18.039 |1:18.327 | |14 |- !15 |6 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] |[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:18.505 |1:18.393 | |15 |- !16 |14 |{{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]] |[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:18.916 | | |18{{ref|3|3}} |- !17 |20 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]] |[[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:19.108 | | |16 |- !18 |21 |{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] |[[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:19.165 | | |17 |- !19 |16 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Jenson Button]] |[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |1:23.565 | | |19 |- !20 |15 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Sebastian Vettel]] |[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |No time{{ref|2|2}} | | |20 |- !colspan="8"|{{center|Source:<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2008 - Qualifying |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/793/6519/ |publisher=Formula1.com |access-date=28 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626115518/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/793/6519// |archive-date=26 June 2014}}</ref>}} |} ;Notes *{{note|1|1}} – [[Mark Webber]] spun into the wall and damaged his right front suspension during the second part of qualifying, thus he was unable to compete in the third part.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68073|title=Hamilton snatches Canadian GP pole|date=2008-06-07|publisher=autosport.com|access-date=2008-06-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080609073406/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68073| archive-date= 9 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> *{{note|2|2}} – [[Sebastian Vettel]] was unable to take part in qualifying due to damaging his car during third practice.<ref name="QF" /> *{{note|3|3}} – [[Sébastien Bourdais]] incurred a five place grid penalty for a gearbox change.<ref name="QF">{{cite news|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/6/7891.html|title=Vettel to miss qualifying, gearbox penalty for Bourdais|date=2008-06-07|publisher=Formula1.com|access-date=2008-06-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080608094626/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/6/7891.html| archive-date= 8 June 2008}}</ref>

===Race===

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%" |- ! Pos. !! No. !! Driver !! Constructor !! Laps !! Time/Retired !! Grid !! Points |- ! 1 | 4 || {{flagicon|Poland}} '''[[Robert Kubica]]''' || '''[[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]]''' | 70 | 1:36:24.447 | 2 | '''10''' |- ! 2 | 3 || {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Nick Heidfeld]]''' || '''[[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]]''' | 70 | +16.495 | 8 | '''8''' |- ! 3 | 9 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} '''[[David Coulthard]]''' || '''[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]''' | 70 | +23.352 | 13 | '''6''' |- ! 4 | 12 || {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Timo Glock]]''' || '''[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]]''' | 70 | +42.627 | 11 | '''5''' |- ! 5 | 2 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} '''[[Felipe Massa]]''' || '''[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]''' | 70 | +43.934 | 6 | '''4''' |- ! 6 | 11 || {{flagicon|Italy}} '''[[Jarno Trulli]]''' || '''[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]]''' | 70 | +47.775 | 14 | '''3''' |- ! 7 | 17 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} '''[[Rubens Barrichello]]''' || '''[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]]''' | 70 | +53.597 | 9 | '''2''' |- ! 8 | 15 || {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Sebastian Vettel]]''' || '''[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]''' | 70 | +54.120 | PL{{ref|4|4}} | '''1''' |- ! 9 | 23 || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Heikki Kovalainen]] || [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] | 70 | +54.433 | 7 | |- ! 10 | 7 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nico Rosberg]] || [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 70 | +57.749 | 5 | |- ! 11 | 16 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Jenson Button]] || [[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] | 70 | +1:07.540 | PL{{ref|4|4}} | |- ! 12 | 10 || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] || [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 70 | +1:11.229 | 10 | |- ! 13 | 14 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]] || [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 69 | +1 Lap | 18 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 21 || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] || [[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 51 | Spun off | 17 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 8 || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kazuki Nakajima]] || [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 46 | Accident | 12 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 5 || {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Fernando Alonso]] || [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 44 | Spun off | 4 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 6 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] || [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 39 | Brakes | 15 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 1 || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] || [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 19 | Collision damage | 3 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 22 || {{flagicon|UK}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] || [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] | 19 | Collision | 1 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 20 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]] || [[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 13 | Gearbox | 16 | |- !colspan="8"|{{center|Source:<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2008 - Race |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/793/ |publisher=Formula1.com |access-date=28 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115184913/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/793/ |archive-date=15 November 2014}}</ref>}} |} ;Notes *{{note|4|4}} – [[Jenson Button]] and [[Sebastian Vettel]] started from the pitlane.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68126 |title=Button, Vettel to start from the pitlane |author=Jonathan Noble |publisher=autosport.com |date=2008-06-08 |access-date=2008-07-10| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080611063132/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68126| archive-date= 11 June 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

== Championship standings after the race == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" |+Drivers' Championship standings ! ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! Driver ! Points |- | [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 3 |align="center"| 1 | {{flagicon|POL}} [[Robert Kubica]] | 42 |- | [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Felipe Massa]] | 38 |- | [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 2 |align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] | 38 |- | [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 2 |align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] | 35 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 5 | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Nick Heidfeld]] | 28 |- !colspan=4|Source:<ref name="champ">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/canada/championnat.aspx|title=Canada 2008 - Championship • STATS F1|website=www.statsf1.com|access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref> |} {{col-2}} {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" |+Constructors' Championship standings ! ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! Constructor ! Points |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 1 | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 73 |- | [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|GER}} [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] | 70 |- | [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] | 53 |- | [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 21 |- | [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 5 | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 17 |- !colspan=4|Source:<ref name="champ"/> |} {{col-end}} *<small>'''Note''': Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.</small>

==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Clear}}

==External links== {{commons category}} {{Wikinews|Robert Kubica wins 2008 Canadian Grand Prix}}

{{F1_race_report |Name_of_race = [[Canadian Grand Prix]] |Year_of_race = 2008 |Previous_race_in_season = [[2008 Monaco Grand Prix]] |Next_race_in_season = [[2008 French Grand Prix]] |Previous_year's_race = [[2007 Canadian Grand Prix]] |Next_year's_race = [[2010 Canadian Grand Prix]] }} {{F1GP 00-09}}

{{coord|45|30|00|N|73|31|22|W|source:kolossus-nowiki|display=title}}

[[Category:2008 Formula One races|Canadian Grand Prix]] [[Category:2008 in Canadian motorsport|Grand Prix]] [[Category:Canadian Grand Prix]] [[Category:2008 in Montreal]] [[Category:2008 in sports in Quebec]] [[Category:June 2008 sports events in Canada|Grand Prix]]