Hamilton Struggles As Russell Shines In Dramatic Canadian Grand Prix

When seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton lost pace early in Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix, the cause wasn’t immediately clear. But it turned out to be something no one expected — a collision with a groundhog.

The 40-year-old Ferrari driver, who had started fifth on the grid, only learned after the race that the sudden drop in performance came after he struck the animal, damaging the floor of his car. The incident cost him about half a second per lap and ultimately saw him finish in sixth place.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, Hamilton — a well-known vegan and passionate animal rights advocate — appeared more distraught over the animal than his result on the track.

“I didn’t see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog, so that’s devastating,” he said.
“I love animals, so I’m really sad about it. It’s horrible. It’s never happened to me here before.”

Groundhogs are a common sight at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, but this unfortunate encounter left Hamilton battling an uphill race. On top of the groundhog collision, he also struggled with brake issues and a delayed pit stop that dropped him into traffic.

“It felt decent until that happened,” he said.
“I had a strong start, was holding position and managing my tires well. But then came the brake issue, then we stayed out too long, and it all spiraled. I’m just grateful I was able to finish and get some points.”

Russell’s Redemption: First Win of the Season

While Hamilton was mired in misfortune, fellow Brit George Russell had a stellar day, taking his first win of the season from pole position.

The Mercedes driver led most of the race, holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had to settle for second place. The battle between the two has been fierce all season, but this time Russell came out on top.

Adding to Mercedes’ joy, rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured a podium finish in third, capping a dominant performance for the Silver Arrows.

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step,” Russell said.
“To win and see Kimi on the podium too—it’s a fantastic day for the team. The car really came alive in these cooler conditions.”

McLaren Meltdown: Norris Crashes Out After Clashing With Teammate

The most dramatic moment of the race came in the final laps when McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided in a tense wheel-to-wheel battle for position.

With just four laps remaining, Norris attempted a risky overtake on Piastri, tagging his teammate’s rear tire and crashing into the wall — ending his own race. Piastri managed to pit under the safety car and salvage a fourth-place finish.

Norris immediately took full responsibility.

“I’m sorry. All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me,” he said over the team radio.
Later, he told Sky Sports: “There’s no one to blame but myself. I apologize to the team and to Oscar. I went for something a bit too silly.”

Despite the crash, Piastri now extends his lead over Norris in the driver standings to 22 points, as McLaren remains 1–2 in the championship.

Team principal Andrea Stella didn’t hide his disappointment.

“We never want to see a McLaren involved in an accident, especially not with a teammate. That’s simply not acceptable,” Stella said. “But we respect Lando for taking immediate accountability.”

Up Next: Austrian Grand Prix

The F1 circus now heads to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix on June 29, with storylines heating up — from Mercedes’ resurgence and McLaren’s internal tension, to Hamilton’s continued battle with both misfortune and machinery.