The 22-year-old McLaren driver dominated the Montreal race to take an eight point championship lead - the largest advantage anybody has had this season - over his team-mate Fernando Alonso.

"The next dream is obviously to win a Formula One world championship," said a delighted Hamilton.

Hamilton's win made him the youngest Briton to win a Grand Prix - breaking Mike Hawthorn's record that has stood for 54 years - and the third youngest overall, beaten only by Alonso and Bruce McLaren.

It also put him in a commanding position to become his country's first world champion since Damon Hill in 1996.

But he warned his fans that he has yet to experience a breakdown or an accident in a race, even though he is prepared for it when it comes.

"It's always good to bear in mind that I'm still a rookie and this is my first season. There are going to be some hard times - I hope that there aren't, but it's just bound to happen," he added.

"It's just the way it goes in this business and there'll be good days and bad days. But at the moment it's been consistent and that's down to the team and all the people around me. I've got a very well-grounded family and I think it works perfectly."

Nobody has won the world title in their first season since Giuseppe Farina became Formula One's first champion in 1950.

Jamie O'Leary