Lewis Hamilton Charges Forward After Chaotic Start at Wet… read more 👇 details in the comments section
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion made an impressive early charge during a dramatic and confusing start to the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, as changing weather conditions and a disrupted opening sequence created chaos at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Heavy uncertainty surrounded the race before the lights even went out, with teams split over tyre strategy as rain continued to affect the track surface. The slippery conditions forced drivers and engineers into difficult decisions, with some gambling on slick tyres while others preferred the safer intermediate compound.
On the front row, the two drivers lined up on slick tyres despite the damp circuit. Meanwhile, both cars chose intermediates, believing the extra grip would provide a major advantage during the opening laps.
The drama began moments before the official race start. As the lights prepared to go out, young Mercedes driver appeared to creep forward slightly from his grid position. However, before the field could launch properly, the start procedure was suddenly aborted, leaving drivers and fans confused.
The interruption was caused by , who signaled from inside his car that he was suffering a technical issue. Marshals quickly moved onto the grid to remove the stranded machine, forcing officials to delay the start and add another formation lap.
What had already been a tense situation soon became even more chaotic. Drivers were forced to complete a third formation lap before the race could finally begin properly, increasing uncertainty over tyre temperatures and grip levels as the wet conditions continued to evolve.
When the race eventually got underway, immediately demonstrated the strength of the intermediate tyres. The McLaren driver launched superbly off the line and surged into the lead, quickly moving ahead of the Mercedes pair during the opening corners.
Hamilton also enjoyed an excellent getaway. Starting behind the leading group, the Ferrari driver wasted no time attacking and successfully moved ahead of the Australian in the early stages. With confidence growing in the tricky conditions, Hamilton then began chasing down fellow Briton for a potential podium position.
As the opening lap unfolded, drivers began reporting rapidly improving track conditions. Hamilton informed his engineers that the rainfall had eased considerably, encouraging teams to rethink their tyre strategies almost immediately.
McLaren reacted first. At the beginning of lap two, Piastri headed into the pits to swap his intermediate tyres for medium slicks. Although the switch promised better long-term pace, the early stop temporarily dropped him down the order while the team evaluated whether the crossover point to dry tyres had fully arrived.
Soon afterward, Norris also dived into the pits to abandon intermediates for dry-weather rubber. His stop handed the race lead to Antonelli, who suddenly found himself leading a Formula 1 grand prix ahead of teammate Russell.
Russell, however, encountered problems during the start phase after suffering a deployment issue that limited his acceleration and early pace. That setback allowed Hamilton to climb into third position, where the Ferrari star looked increasingly competitive as the circuit slowly dried.
Hamilton appeared especially comfortable in the difficult “greasy” conditions, balancing the car confidently while several rivals struggled for grip. His pace during the early laps suggested Ferrari could become a serious threat as the race developed.
The battle at the front soon took another twist on lap six. Antonelli, pushing hard to maintain his lead, locked up under braking and ran wide, giving Russell the perfect opportunity to retake first place. The Mercedes teammates continued to fight closely at the front while Hamilton remained firmly in contention just behind them.
After a chaotic beginning filled with confusion, strategy gambles, and changing weather, the Canadian Grand Prix quickly developed into a thrilling contest — and Hamilton’s fast start ensured he remained right in the middle of the action.