Hamilton still has work to do

Lewis Hamilton can sense his championship challenge is beginning to gather momentum.

Hamilton thrust himself firmly into the title hunt with his victory in Turkey 10 days ago, which although fortuitous, ended his barren run of nine races without a win.

The collision between Red Bull duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel 18 laps from home when they were running one-two at the time, was a blessing in disguise for Hamilton.

It allowed the 25-year-old to slingshot his way into a lead that was temporarily threatened by McLaren team-mate Jenson Button prior to the 2008 world champion having the final say over last season's title winner.

Heading into this weekend's return to Canada after its absence from the calendar last year, Hamilton trails current championship leader Webber by nine points and Button, who is second in the standings, by four.

"I'm back in the championship again, but that's the way with these championship points," Hamilton told Press Association Sport, referring to the 25-for-a-win system.

"I wasn't that far behind anyway prior to Turkey, and considering I got the win I'm still nine points behind, so I've not caught up too much."

"By no means am I whooping and cheering. I've got a lot of work to do, and the only time I'll be really smiling will be at the end of the season if I'm in front."

"For the last few races, though, I've felt I've a really good shot at the championship."

"I've just been waiting for the right opportunity to come along, which it did in Turkey, and I grabbed it with both hands."

"The car was good, I had one of my best qualifying performances for a while, and in the race I was on the tail of the Red Bulls giving them hell all the way."

The feeling is Montreal could be the venue where Red Bull's run of seven consecutive poles to start the season finally comes to an end as it is a track that should be more beneficial to McLaren's car.

Furthermore, given the rate of development at the team's factory in Woking - a point acknowledged by both drivers last week - the tide may now start to turn in its favour.

"Red Bull are still clearly the guys we want to chase and beat," said Hamilton.

"They've got the fastest car, not the best but the fastest at the moment, and that will soon change."

Hamilton's two races at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve could not be of greater contrast as he won in F1 for the first time in 2007.

But a year later he ran into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in the pit lane, sending both into retirement.

It is his maiden triumph Hamilton naturally recalls with affection, although appreciates the track is not one for the faint hearted as it generally throws up a number of incidents.

"My first win in 2007 seems like such a long time ago, but I still have some absolutely fantastic memories of that weekend," added Hamilton.

"The pole position, the crazy number of safety cars, the uncertainty in the final laps, and then, at last, crossing the line."

"It was just a massive feeling of relief and amazement at the same time. It was fantastic."

"So to return for 2010 is great because it's such a fast, demanding and unforgiving circuit - I love racing here."

"It's an incredibly tough track, even if you can avoid the walls, which are really close and exciting at some places."

"As for the surface, that is very treacherous offline because of all the marbles. It's a place where you don't want to make even a tiny mistake."