Formula One: Lewis Hamilton falls in love with Montreal

Hamilton waxed lyrical about the race and the city in the wake of a pulsating victory that has elevated him to the top of the standings for the first time in over 18 months.

"I don't know why I go well here, but it's a great track," said the 2008 world champion of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"It's a fantastic city, great food, great people, amazing support, and the weather was great for the race as well.

"For me this is one of the best races of the whole season. I don't know why, again, but I'm able to dial my car in, feel the car a bit better here than in other places.

"But we've a long season ahead of us. There will be good races and bad races, and I just hope there are more good ones than there are bad."

When it was put to him he should buy such a T-shirt, Hamilton smiled and said: "I think I should get one.

"Maybe I will get one at the airport or something."

McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, who finished runner-up to give McLaren their second successive one-two, added: "They should give him one for free."

Hamilton then replied: "Yeah, I'm sure one of the fans will give me one, but I should get one, definitely."

It was a deserved triumph for Hamilton, the 13th of his career and first back-to-back in almost two years after his win in Turkey a fortnight ago.

It also proved to be a war of attrition as the 25-year-old led on three separate occasions due to an intense battle that raged with the tyres throughout.

Hamilton ultimately prevailed to become the sixth different leader of the championship after eight races.

"You can see how tight this championship is," added Hamilton. "All the best drivers are in the top teams, and they're all very, very competitive.

"It's the ultimate challenge I think I've experienced in Formula One, perhaps in Formula One history maybe.

"There are so many of us up there pushing right to the wire, which I'm sure means the championship will remain close."

Behind the McLaren duo, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was third, with Sebastian Vettel fourth and Mark Webber fifth, the trio now 15, 19 and six points behind Hamilton respectively, who is three clear of Button.