McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton has become the seventh winner of a Formula 1 Grand Prix this year, taking out a thrilling Canadian Grand Prix.

The former world champion took his first win of 2012 using a two-stop strategy, passing one-stopping rival Fernando Alonso in the closing laps.

Hamilton’s Canadian Grand Prix win is his third at the Circuit Gilles Villenueve and vaults him to the top of the world championship table.

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean and Sauber’s Sergio Perez finished second and third and were the best of the one-stop drivers. The duo nursed their tyres to make a one-stop strategy pay dividends, passing the fading Alonso in the closing laps who eventually slipped down to fifth.

Red Bull’s pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel took fourth place. The German led the opening stint but was passed by Hamilton and Alonso during the first pit stops. Vettel abandoned his one-stop attempt, making a late tyre change and was the last driver to get past the fading Alonso.

In sixth was Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg ahead Red Bull’s Mark Webber, who both used a two-stop strategy.

Kimi Raikkonen’s Lotus, Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber and Felipe Massa’s Ferrari completed the top 10. Massa’s position was compromised when he spun from fifth place, dropping seven places.

Race result

Note – Maldonado qualified 17th, but dropped five grid places as penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change.

Championship standings