Hamilton fastest in Montreal practice

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in practice for the Canadian Grand Prix yesterday with a best lap of one minute 15.752.

After a wet track had restricted the drivers in the morning session, the world championship leader pulled out a time which was 0.271 faster than that of closest challenger Robert Kubica in a BMW Sauber.

The 23-year-old, who took his first grand prix win at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve last year, lapped fastest with his final effort of the day.

The British driver will now be confident of repeating his 2007 pole position in qualifying today as he looks to extend his three point advantage over Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Kubica, who was second quickest behind Ferrari's Felipe Massa in the first session, looked sharp throughout the day and his performance will ease any worries about the psychological effect of the Pole's horrific crash at the circuit last year.

Raikkonen was third fastest, 0.341 behind Hamilton, on a grey and overcast day with McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and Massa producing the next quickest laps.

Massa did not participate in the last 15 minutes of the race due to a technical problem with his car.

The exit of turn four proved problematic for a number of drivers with Kubica and Toyota's Timo Glock both making contact.

Brazilian rookie Nelson Piquet's miserable form continued with the Renault driver slowest in the afternoon with a lap 2.324 off Hamilton's pace.