MONTREAL - Ferrari blamed a groundhog strike for wrecking Lewis Hamilton's Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, with the seven times Formula One world champion saying he was devastated to have killed the animal.

I’m nowhere in this race,” Hamilton admitted mid-race in Montreal after Ferrari revealed he had been carrying car damage since Lap 13.

Lewis Hamilton opened up on his future with Ferrari amid challenges and revealed his preference for team boss Fred Vasseur.

Lewis Hamilton said he adapted his driving style with a Ferrari car “definitely not suited” for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Hamilton was able to drive the SF-25 to P5 on the grid for the Canadian Grand Prix – a race he has won a record-equalling seven times – though claimed the Ferrari challenger is “like someone that can’t dance” with “no rhythm”.

Lewis Hamilton joked that driving his Ferrari Formula One car is like dancing with "someone that has no rhythm".

Lewis Hamilton defended Fred Vasseur on Friday amid reports the Ferrari team principal will be ousted before the end of the Formula 1 season. Reports have swirled for a bit as Hamilton, in his first season with Ferrari,

Just like Michael Schumacher backed Jean Todt in 1996, Lewis Hamilton is standing firmly behind Fred Vasseur amid growing pressure inside Ferrari.

McLaren 's dominance was tossed to one side on Saturday as George Russell grabbed pole for Mercedes at the Canadian Grand Prix. He will be joined on the front row by Red Bull 's Max Verstappen two weeks after their controversial on-track collision in Spain.