Canadian Grand Prix 2008 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Robert Kubica delivered BMW Sauber's first victory in nearly a decade with a masterful performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, leading home teammate Nick Heidfeld for a stunning one-two finish that marked the high point of the team's modern era. The race descended into chaos after Lewis Hamilton crashed into Kimi Räikkönen in the pit lane, gifting BMW Sauber an unexpected but thoroughly deserved victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Starting from third on the grid behind Hamilton's pole position, Kubica drove a flawless race, positioning himself perfectly to capitalize when drama struck during a late safety car period. Hamilton had been controlling the race but made a critical error when the pit lane opened under the safety car - he ran into the back of Räikkönen's stationary Ferrari at the red light at the end of the pit lane, damaging his McLaren and eventually retiring. This handed the lead to Kubica, who held his nerve perfectly in the closing laps to secure his second career victory and BMW's first win since the 1980s under Brabham-BMW.

Heidfeld provided the perfect support to secure a historic one-two for BMW Sauber, marking their finest hour in Formula 1. David Coulthard claimed his first podium of the season in third place for Red Bull, while race favorite and pole-sitter Hamilton was handed a 10-place grid penalty for the following race after being deemed responsible for the pit-lane collision. The chaotic race also saw crashes and incidents throughout, typical of Montreal's wall-lined circuit. Kubica's victory propelled him into championship contention and proved that BMW Sauber's early-season form was no flash in the pan - though controversially, the team would soon abandon 2008 development to focus on their ill-fated 2009 car.