Hamilton looking nailed on for Canadian GP fastest lap

It’s tough to look beyond Lewis Hamilton as the most likely winner of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes man simply loves driving at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. He’s won four times at the track over his career and sealed his fifth pole position in qualifying for the 2016 edition.

Reasons to back 31-year-old to win at odds for 4/7 are plentiful and explored in more detailed fashion here, but judging by the post-qualifying comments Hamilton made in Montreal, there’s another price worth taking too.

Ladbrokes offer odds of 6/4 that the Brit records the fastest official lap of the race and it apparently is a gong Hamilton is gunning for.

After beating teammate Nico Rosberg to first spot on the grid by just 0.062 seconds, Hamilton declared himself unhappy with his speed. It was an ominous statement to his rivals considering he remained faster than the rest without being totally satisfied.

“Honestly, it wasn’t a great lap, but I’m not sure l should admit that!” Hamilton told Sky F1 following qualifying.

“I didn’t have the same pace that l had yesterday,” Hamilton added. “I’m not sure if it was a set-up change. It was enough, but not as much as l would have liked.”

A return to the speed that Hamilton displayed during practice, where he was significantly quicker than Rosberg, will surely guarantee him the fastest lap of the race come Sunday.

Some have suggested that the lap record, set by Ralf Schumacher, was even in danger earlier in the week when the former McLaren star was haring around the circuit, so 6/4 looks a very generous offering with all things considered.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.