LONDON — Even commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, whose ideal Formula One season would be decided at the very last corner, could hardly have dreamed of a championship like this one.

With just over a third of the distance gone, and an unprecedented seven different winners from the first seven races, the ultimate winner of the 2012 driver’s crown is anyone’s guess.

Even calling the winner of the next race in Valencia is tough, with two of the six world champions on the grid - Kimi Raikkonen and Michael Schumacher - yet to win in this most unpredictable of seasons.

A mere three points separate the top three in the championship standings with the top five split by less than the 25 for a win and 13 races remaining.

“It’s absolutely wide open. It’s a dream for the sport,” declared America’s former champion Mario Andretti after McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won in Canada Sunday.

“Formula One for so many years has been quite predictable ... that’s out of the window now. Somewhere the rules are working, something is working. So don’t fix it,” he told Sky Sports television.

Just when a team believes it is cracked the code, the Pirelli tires make it think again.

“This is what is going to be normal for the season,” Hamilton told reporters after being joined by Lotus driver Romain Grosjean and Sauber’s Mexican Sergio Perez on the podium.

“That’s just my feeling, but then again my guess is as good as yours ... we’re still trying to fully understand these tires. Sometimes you’re overheating them, sometimes you’re not heating them up enough. But I think it’s great for Formula One, it’s great for the fans to see,” said the 2008 champion, while adding that seven was now quite enough different winners.” — Agencies