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MONTREAL - Lewis Hamilton's maiden Formula One victory, in the Canadian Grand Prix today, was hailed as "faultless" by McLaren team boss Ron Dennis while the driver's father said his son was capable of winning the world championship.
Dennis, the long-standing McLaren boss whose team celebrated multiple world
titles with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, said the 22-year-old rookie British driver's victory was particularly impressive given the chaotic nature of the race.
"It was a textbook drive from him and he didn't put a foot wrong. He drove the car faultlessly and did not have one single thing gifted to him -- it was a race he won from start to finish," Dennis told reporters in the paddock after a race in which the safety car was brought out four times.
"That makes it a special win because the first win for many drivers, which is sometimes their only win, comes from circumstances that are unusual to the event," he added.
"This was a straight out, full on, tremendous achievement and at one of the most difficult circuits in the world and he deserves all the plaudits he will undoubtedly get," added the McLaren chief.
Hamilton's victory, his sixth podium in six races, sent him eight points clear at the top of the championship standings but Dennis said he was not surprised by the meteoric rise of the young driver.
"Honestly I am not surprised because you just know that he can cope. He wants to understand and be the best in every respect and he is focused on that and he is a good listener," he said.
Hamilton's father Anthony said he had long believed his son would win a Formula One race and promised there was more and better to come.
"I knew this day would come, many more will come and some championships will come so don't bet against Lewis," he said.
Hamilton is the first black driver to race in Formula One and his father touched upon that fact as he savoured the victory.
"It is a special day for us for sure and for a lot of people, Formula One fans and not Formula One fans. It's the ordinary guy makes good. What can I say?
"I am proud but the problem is I don't think there are enough superlatives to describe how we feel today -- to be honest the smile says it all.
"It's great, a family win, a McLaren win, Ron's win, it is a combination of 14 years' hard work and a lot of sacrifices. I'm just shattered," he said.
Hamilton dedicated his win to his father saying: "This wouldn't have been possible without him", and said he had spotted him in the crowd of cheering fans as he celebrated.
"I could see him in the crowd and it looked like he had a tear in his eye. He's worked so hard," he said.
- REUTERS
