Kubica joy is the pits for Hamilton

Robert Kubica claimed his maiden victory and took control of the world drivers’ championship as Lewis Hamilton’s Canadian Grand Prix ended in disaster in Montreal.

Pole Kubica survived a horrendous crash at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 12 months ago and the BMW Sauber driver took full advantage of a pit-lane accident that took out McLaren’s world championship leader Hamilton and world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.

Hamilton crashed into the back of Raikkonen as they emerged from a pit stop on lap 18 with the Englishman failing to spot the red light at the end of the lane as the Ferrari was waiting on the line.

It was a BMW Sauber one-two as Nick Heidfeld claimed the runners-up spot for the second year in a row.

The drama also cleared the way for Scotland’s David Coulthard to score his first points of the season with an invaluable third-place finish to ease the pressure on his seat at Red Bull Racing.