Hamilton celebrates in style after first win of the season in Canada

Lewis Hamilton celebrated his Canadian Grand Prix victory in style... by diving backwards into a pool of water.

The McLaren driver was ecstatic to have won his first race of the season, and after celebrating on the podium and giving his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger a hug, he saw fit to make a further splash in Montreal.

Away we go: Lewis Hamilton marks his first F1 victory at the Canadian Grand Prix

Hamilton has admitted to exploding with joy inside after playing his part in another slice of Formula One history.

Hamilton's third Canadian Grand Prix triumph means there have now been seven different winners of the first seven races, extending the record set in Monaco a fortnight ago.

Hamilton and McLaren perfectly executed a two-stop strategy at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, although there was a point when it appeared that would be in doubt.

But after a run of seven races without a win, and just one in his last 15, the 27-year-old finally took a chequered flag, and with it has reclaimed the lead in the drivers' championship.

The gap-toothed smile was undoubtedly in evidence as Hamilton stood on top of the podium to take the acclaim of a crowd for which he has a great deal of affection.

Splash: Hamilton hits the water

Peace at last: Hamilton swims away after his dive

Hamilton, whose first of his 18 career wins was in Canada five years ago, said: 'It's been five years since I won for the first time, but it feels just as good.

'To finally be here on the top step is great, something which can never be taken for granted, and for me this feels like one of the best races I've had for a very, very long time.

'The satisfaction is huge. I was thinking at the start that to finish at the front, as I did here with my first win in 2007, would be very, very special.

'So I couldn't believe it when I crossed the line, the feeling inside was like an explosion, just incredible. That's what I love about racing.'

Unlike last season's four-hour epic that was a thrill-a-minute, the drama on this occasion did not really take hold until Hamilton pitted for a second time on lap 50, with 20 remaining.

Proud: Girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger was at Hamilton's side after his win

Hamilton had already been told by his team of their confidence Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull would also pit again for fresh Pirelli rubber.

Leading by four seconds at that stage the win seemed in the bag if that was the case, even despite another slip in the pit stop as the slow fitting of the right-rear wheel cost Hamilton two seconds.

But as the laps unfolded it became clear Alonso, leading Vettel, would not pit again, leaving Hamilton to hunt them down.

On the fresher rubber Hamilton eased past Vettel on lap 62, the German deciding immediately to pit again, even though he knew it would cost him a podium.

Two laps later and Hamilton targeted and passed former team-mate Alonso, whose tyres proceeded to fall off a cliff.

Focus: Hamilton got the job done on the track

Although Lotus' Romain Grosjean and Sauber's Sergio Perez were also on one-stop plans, they too flashed past the stricken Ferrari, with the final denouement coming when Vettel dropped Alonso to fifth on the penultimate lap.

'Thanks to the team who never seem to give up,' said Hamilton.

'I also want to dedicate this to all the fans who are constantly sending me messages of positive support.

'But what a great feeling. I knew this would be a tough race, but I loved every single minute of it, and I'm really grateful.

'I never had a doubt in my mind there was not a possibility to win, but I knew I had to keep pushing, opening the gap.

Traditional celebration: Hamilton still found time to spray some champagne