F1 leader coasts to first Canadian Grand Prix win ahead of Alonso

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winning the Canadian Grand Prix, Sunday, June 9, 2013 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

MONTREAL -- Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel coasted to victory from pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Bull driver finished the 70-lap race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 14.4 seconds ahead of second-place Fernando Alonso's Ferrari.

Alonso bumped defending champion Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes to third place with a pass heading into the 63rd lap after a long battle.

The second Red Bull driven by Mark Webber was fourth with Nico Rosberg's Mercedes in fifth and a season-best sixth place for Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rossi. Paul Di Resta of Force India was seventh.

Kimi Raikkonen tied Michael Schumacher's record of 24 consecutive races in the points with a ninth-place finish.

Vettel won the Canadian race for the first time, after finishing second in 2011 and fourth two other times. He was heard to yell over his radio to his pit crew: "we won Canada, thanks boys."

The German is on pace for a fourth straight Formula One title. It was his third win in seven races this season.

He was never threatened on a warm and -- most importantly -- dry day at the track. He quickly built a wide lead over Hamilton from the front row and relinquished it only briefly during an early pit stop.

A rainy qualifying session left quick and slower cars scattered through the starting grid, including rookie Valtteri Bottas in third position for Williams. There was high anticipation of what would happen at the start, particularly as cars crowd together through the first chicane.

Bottas dropped a few places and held on for several laps before falling back.