Lucky for Lewis Hamilton in Canadian Grand Prix

MARK Webber and Sebastian Vettel admitted they struggled with strategy as they finished off the podium in the Canadian GP.

Lewis Hamilton

MARK Webber and Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel admitted they struggled with strategy as they finished off the podium in the Canadian Grand Prix won by British driver Lewis Hamilton yesterday.

Webber battled to seventh while world champion Vettel praised his team's late decision after a last-minute pit stop helped the German to salvage fourth place in Montreal.

McLaren's Hamilton became the seventh different winner from seven Formula One races this season.

Frenchman Romain Grosjean, of Lotus, was second with Mexican Sergio Perez, of Sauber, third.

Webber said the team's pit strategy ended up working against him.

"In the first 10 laps, we had a small issue with the engine which we had to manage, but then I settled into the pace. We pitted and came out behind the one-stoppers," he said.

"It's hard to get it right here. If you push to try and pass you kill the tyres but if you wait, then you find you're on the same strategy and finish behind them anyway.

"With hindsight we could have done a different strategy, but it's easy to say that now and I've had worse days."

Vettel, who started in pole position, had planned a one-stop strategy and was challenging Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Hamilton for the lead for most of the race.

However, his car began to lose speed and grip late in the race and he was unable to fend off his rivals.

As a result, his team called him in, - a decision that paid off as he was able to retake some positions.

"We could have (done something differently) but now it is easy to say that," Vettel said.

"In the end Lewis decided to go for the second stop - I think we tried then to get the place back by going for one-stop, the same as Ferrari.

"It turned out to be the wrong call, so we decided to come in again, which was a great call, given the position and what you can lose."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said in Webber's case it was clear earlier on they needed to go to a two-stop strategy.

"But, unfortunately, the one-stoppers managed to get ahead," Horner said. "So, a tactical race, a tricky race, but nonetheless we have still managed to salvage respectable points."

Hamilton produced a superbly judged race to seize his first win of the year.

It was his 18th career victory and hoisted him back into serious contention for the drivers' title.

"I was thinking they (Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso) were falling behind and I assumed they were doing a one-stop, so I decided to keep pushing," Hamilton said.

"We had a couple of problems during the stops, but otherwise it was a great race."