Lewis Hamilton ran over a groundhog. Plus, 200 thoughts for our 200th newsletter

Prime Tire Newsletter | This is The Athletic's twice-weekly F1 newsletter. Sign up here to receive Prime Tire directly in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday.
Welcome to the 200th edition of Prime Tire, where we're excited to announce that, in celebration, we're going to see if we can write 200 thoughts about F1 in this newsletter. Buckle up. Apologies to my editors.
I'm Patrick, and Madeline Coleman will be along shortly. Let's dive in.
200: It took 5 hours and 34 minutes for the FIA to confirm the results of the Canadian GP, thanks to Red Bull filing a protest against George Russell's win. It was eventually dismissed, and Russell retained his win.
We go into all that in depth here, but … 5 hours and 34 minutes. 199: No thank you.
The race itself lasted 1 hour and 31 minutes. 198: You could have watched the entire race three full times, and be 31 minutes into your fourth viewing by the time F1 confirmed Russell's win. 197: Other things you could've done:
196: This is silly. I know why it took so long: the stewards tackle issues in the order they come in — after the race, there were five, including the protest. 195: But, come on. At some point, this isn't officiating; it's a trip to the DMV.
194: On a week when a steward got suspended, it wasn't a great look.
193: Russell's pole lap on Saturday was one of the cleanest, fastest, no-notes laps of the year. 192: If Max Verstappen had done it, we'd be calling it ominous for the title fight. Because it was George, we mostly called it surprising.
190: But maybe we shouldn't have. He's been quietly sharp all season — just didn't have the machinery to rule a weekend. In Canada, he did. 189: Madeline wrote about that today — how a tweak to Mercedes' suspension finally gave Russell and Kimi Antonelli the chance to show their stuff.
Advertisement
188: I think it's nice we have our first non-Verstappen/Lando Norris/Oscar Piastri win of the entire 2025 season. 187: Variety is nice. 186: That's why berry-themed Skittles are often disappointing.
185: Antonelli's first F1 podium was a quietly huge moment. 184: He's 18. He's racing and still doing school. 183: But he stood next to Max and George and didn't look out of place! Except the height thing.
182: I thought what George said, when asked about the year-long talk of Verstappen joining Mercedes, was right on: 'Why would you want to change something that's working?'
181: Beyond Piastri and Norris, Mercedes might have the second-best driver lineup in F1. Madeline broke it all down here.
180: Sometimes my dog will try to take a shortcut to go downstairs. Instead of going around the couch, she'll see a gap between the other side of the couch and the end table, closer to the stairwell. It's her preferred line to overtake me on the way downstairs.
179: So sometimes she'll go for that gap. As she gets closer, you'd think she'd notice that the gap isn't as big as she thought it'd be. But she still goes for it. 178: It never works. She just won't fit. The table will shake as she bumps into it.
176: One time, she knocked over a bowl of soup I had spent all afternoon making. Ruined my day, so to speak. Ruined my race to make a good bowl of soup.
A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1)
175: And then I wondered, will I ever be good enough to make a bowl of soup as good as my wife makes? Consistent enough? Or am I too mistake-prone to make a bowl of soup as good as my wife, my teammate, makes? To put it all together over a full season of making soup?
174: Anyway. Lando Norris DNFed after crashing while trying to pass Oscar Piastri. 173: Norris trails his teammate in the championship by 10 points more than he did before Montreal. Luke wrote all about it here.
172: Speaking of Montreal, I think (see what I did there) it's time to throw it to Madeline in the paddock …
One of the unique parts about Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve is the groundhogs. They're more courageous than most people would be, escaping the safety of their homes to sit trackside as cars zip past. Some will creep up to the track edge while others will be daring enough to sprint across — even with a live track.
Advertisement
This does, unfortunately, lead to casualties at times, though it is not a yearly occurrence. Nicholas Latifi hit one during practice in 2022, while Romain Grosjean struck a groundhog in 2018, damaging his front wing (also during a practice session). On Sunday, Lewis Hamilton hit a groundhog early in the race, around Lap 12, and suffered damage to his car, experiencing a loss of downforce.
'I got a good start (to the race), held position, I was holding onto the group and managing tires well, so I was feeling optimistic,' Hamilton said to Sky Sports on Sunday. 'I didn't see it happen, but I heard I hit a groundhog so that's devastating.
'I love animals, and I'm so sad about it. That's horrible. That's never happened to me here before. But the floor, basically the right side, there's a hole in it and all the vanes are all gone.'
Matters only got worse for Hamilton from there, as the seven-time world champion also experienced a brake issue around halfway through the grand prix. He ultimately finished the race sixth after starting fifth.
154: Thanks, Madeline. This is where I plug my interview with a groundhog expert from last year — still one of the happiest moments of my career. I'm counting that section as 20 thoughts, including Nos. 191 and 177. Please do not double-check my math.
During the Canadian GP weekend, some of the media (including The Athletic's own Luke and Madeline) got an early look at F1: The Movie, the Brad Pitt-led and Lewis Hamilton-produced attempt to bring Formula One to the big screen. It's not officially out until June 27 in the U.S., but we can say this: it's not made for longtime fans — and it doesn't pretend to be.
This is a movie movie. It's glossy, dramatic. It's got slow-mo shots and orchestral swells and some cheesy lines. If you live and breathe F1, you might find yourself squinting at certain details or rolling your eyes once or twice. But if you accept it as a stylish recruitment ad for people who have maybe heard of Verstappen but definitely know who Brad Pitt is — hey, it might work.
Advertisement
Read our full review here.
Wow, I count, like … 150 thoughts in that review. Amazing.
4: Verstappen got testy when asked too many times about being close to a race ban. I think that was entirely predictable.
3: I also think it's no surprise that both Las Vegas and Canada announced extensions to their F1 deals. Great races both. (F1 Academy extended in Canada, too.)
2: Hamilton came to the defense of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur this weekend. I think the pressure on Vasseur will only grow the longer Ferrari goes without sniffing a race win.
1: And, finally, I think (no, I know) I'm grateful for you, our Prime Tire readers. Here's to 200 more. I will not be doing this idea again.
📫 Love Prime Tire? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters.
(Top photo of Lewis Hamilton and a groundhog: GEOFF ROBINS/AFP via Getty Images, Malcolm Griffiths – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Yahoo

39 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Jets Receiver Picks Bad Time To Be In 'Catch-Up Mode'

Jets Receiver Picks Bad Time To Be In 'Catch-Up Mode' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. One thing we know about Aaron Glenn's regime with the New York Jets is that he isn't mucking around - he means business in his first NFL offseason. Advertisement For rookies and veterans alike, everyone starts from square one as Glenn looks to mold this Jets team into one he thinks can win playing his way. And to do that, players who might be seen as being on the roster bubble have to perform, and for receiver Malachi Corley, he hasn't gotten off to the best of starts under the new management. Having already sat out considerable time at minicamp and prior, Corley is swimming against the tide to make an impression in a receiver room that has spots up for grabs. And receivers coach Shawn Jefferson had a true, yet pointed message to Malachi as training camp comes into focus next month. Advertisement "My old coach, Bill Parcells, used to say the first thing you need to be is you need to be available," Jefferson said via ESPN. "He's missed some time, and there's a learning curve here, so he's in catch-up mode right now." Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Catch-up mode isn't ideal. Yes, Corley only has one NFL season under his belt, but the third-round pick only had three receptions for 16 yards in nine games (one start) and played just 83 snaps on offense all season. Keep in mind that it was with a Jets offense that struggled to do anything right. So Corley has it all in front of him in 2025 if he is to make the impact that Glenn and coordinator Tanner Engstrand want. Advertisement But out of all the abilities Corley has, right now, he doesn't have the best one - availability. Related: Glenn Reveals Only Thing He 'Hates' as Jets Finish Offseason Workouts Related: Sauce Speaks Out On Jets 'Change' Amid Contract Talks This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.

Yahoo

39 minutes ago

• Yahoo

Jets' Mason Taylor Earmarked For Pro Bowl Career Predicts Insider

Jets' Mason Taylor Earmarked For Pro Bowl Career Predicts Insider originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Jets offense under Tanner Engstrand will be an interesting watch with Justin Fields, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall as the "big" trio. Advertisement But one knock on the offense since the beginning of Aaron Glenn's tenure has been the lack of weapons for Fields outside of Wilson. Enter tight end Mason Taylor, who was drafted in the second round and is expected to develop into one of Fields' trusted targets. Granted, that is providing he can show that he can be that during training camp, with Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt seen as his competition. But for Fox Sports' Rob Rang, in naming a rookie who could be a franchise star for all 32 teams, in New York's case, it is Taylor, with a resemblance to two-time Pro Bowler Mickey Shuler. "Perhaps some of the reason why the Jets have struggled developing a young quarterback in recent years is their lack of a "security blanket" at tight end," Rang writes. "Taylor has some of the surest hands of any pass-catcher in this class, providing an immediate boost to a franchise that hasn't produced a Pro Bowler at TE since Mickey Shuler … in 1988." Mason Taylor And The JetsBy Tony Fisher Shuler played 12 years with the Jets and totaled 4,819 yards and 37 touchdowns, so that is the bar Taylor has to reach. Two Pro Bowl selections in 1986 and 1988, Shuler was quite the weapon. Advertisement Now, it is up to Taylor to try to emulate that. Of course, we don't want to put too much on his plate, but Mason has all the tools to develop into a security blanket for Fields, and based on the rest of New York's weapons outside of Wilson, Justin might need it. Is there a Pro Bowl in Taylor's career? It sure would be nice. Related: Jets Receiver Picks Bad Time To Be In 'Catch-Up Mode' Related: Jets Running Back Tipped For 'Make-Or-Break' Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.

New York Times

an hour ago

• New York Times

Gonzalo Garcia, Igor Jesus, Jorginho – the Club World Cup players who caught the eye in week one

The Club World Cup has been marketed as the best against the best and while the absence of some of the game's biggest teams makes that a stretch, there has been no shortage of quality players on show in the United States. Lionel Messi is the (on-field) face of the tournament and he has delivered, scoring a superb free kick to put MLS side Inter Miami in a strong position to reach the knockout stages. Advertisement Michael Olise has three goals and two assists (albeit aided by a game against part-timers Auckland City) and, at the age of 39, Sergio Ramos has rolled back the years to score a dramatic equaliser against Inter and shut out River Plate. Colombian Jhon Arias has arguably been the pick of Fluminense's players at a tournament where Brazil's teams have gone unbeaten through two rounds. Three Botafogo players have already verbally agreed to join Nottingham Forest, and while the time difference means many games are played in the small hours for European audiences, recruitment departments will be watching closely what happens in the U.S. After the first week of the tournament, we asked our writers which players they have most enjoyed watching. One of the old privileges of a global tournament, before blanket coverage of the sport arrived, was that it would introduce you to players with whom you were not familiar. Brilliant footballers from all over the world, who had never even seen the inside of a gossip column, would pop off the screen, getting the better of the household names. Salem Al-Dawsari is not quite in that category because many will remember his goal for Saudi Arabia against Argentina at the last World Cup and the Saudi Pro League is well-covered, but — aside from one La Liga game on loan at Villarreal — he has played his entire career for Al Hilal and has remained largely out of European sight. But, now 33 and with 98 caps for his country, he is regarded as one of the finest players in Saudi Arabian history. And you can see why, because he was absolutely excellent against Real Madrid and their debutant right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Coincidentally, Al-Dawsari is really quite similar to Vinicius Junior in the way he plays, with speed, slashing runs and a relentless attacking ambition, and all of that was evident in Miami during one of the best games of the tournament so far. A spectacle of a player getting another day in the sun. The tournament is better for it. Sebastian Stafford-Bloor When watching Botafogo in person, the first thing you'll notice about Igor Jesus is his physicality. While Jesus is listed at 5ft 10in (178cm), the way he plays makes him a burden for any defender to mark. In his first games against the Seattle Sounders — whose centre-back, Jackson Ragen, checks in at 6ft 6in — and Paris Saint-Germain, Jesus earned a 68.8 per cent aerial win-rate and 60 per cent success in all duels. Advertisement Much of that comes down to his movement and his bravery to thrust himself into a challenge. The former factor, his footwork, also helps him be difficult to contain. Against Seattle, Jesus would often stay near Ragen as the defender's primary focus, then bolt into the throng of bodies just as the ball was served into the box. It makes him tough to contain in the moment and that split-second is enough for opponents to give him an opening to prod home a goal. At 24, Jesus is older than the usual modern profile for a Brazilian forward making his first European venture. Four years with the UAE's Shabab Al Ahli on a steady strike rate will give Nottingham Forest confidence that he can adapt better than, say, compatriot Gabriel Barbosa nearly a decade ago. Jesus is one of three Botafogo players, along with Cuiabano and Jair Cunha, that Forest have a verbal agreement to sign, and they should be confident that Jesus can be a fine alternative to Chris Wood, and a worthy successor if the New Zealand great sees his form dip as he nears his 34th birthday. Jeff Rueter After a season without winning any of the three major trophies, fans were excited to see this new version of Real Madrid after the arrival of Xabi Alonso as coach and new signings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen. However, the spotlight surprisingly went to academy striker Gonzalo Garcia. With Kylian Mbappe out due to fever, Alonso opted for the 21-year-old No 9 from the Real Madrid Castilla reserve team, who arrived at the youth system at the age of 10. In a team with Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo, Gonzalo scored the first goal of the Alonso era, making it 1-0 against Al Hilal in the 34th minute. With that goal, he showed most of his main qualities: he went to receive the ball in Madrid's own half, launched the counter-attack, and reached the area to, with a double touch, finish off Rodrygo's assist. In the second half, he almost scored with a header, demonstrating his aerial capability. Despite playing very well across the entire pitch, Gonzalo is a No 9 with a great nose for a goal in the area and, even though he is not overly tall, he excels aerially. Without Endrick, who is injured, in the tournament, this is Garcia's moment to prove himself… and he is doing just that. Mario Cortegana He's no up-and-comer, but I have been really impressed by Jorginho's contribution to Flamengo's campaign so far. He only joined the Brazilian side at the beginning of the month and might well have expected to be integrated into the side slowly. Instead, manager Filipe Luis has made him the fulcrum of the side. Advertisement It looks like an inspired decision. Flamengo have talented individuals all over the pitch, but they were lacking someone in midfield to knit it all together — a player who knows when a five-yard pass is better than a crossfield ball, someone to set the rhythm. Uruguay international Nico de la Cruz can do that job, but he has been out injured for months. Erick Pulgar is a decent player, but he is better as a leggy patroller in front of the back four. Jorginho has been playing slightly further forward, linking up intelligently with Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Gerson. Jorginho will be 34 in December. This was a signing for the here and now, rather than the future. It is worth noting, though, that he is unlikely to suffer the effects of age as much as some players do. Physicality was never a major part of his game. What Jorginho has always had is a whip-smart mind. In Flamengo's first two matches, he demonstrated that there has been no major slowdown on that front. Jack Lang Pedro Neto's skills aren't going to sneak up on anyone at this Club World Cup. Anyone who makes over 40 appearances for Chelsea is already, well, on the map. Yet, the Portuguese winger has plenty still to prove, and it does feel like his top-level career is just getting started. A regular starter for his national team (but with just 17 caps), Neto entered the Club World Cup under a bit of pressure to perform. Chelsea will welcome Brazilian starlet Estevao, a pacey winger with Luis Diaz-type qualities, into their dressing room next season. The 18-year-old has been dazzling for Palmeiras at this tournament, which prompted a reporter to ask Neto about the young Brazilian after Chelsea's 2-0 win over LAFC. Neto was named player of the match that day. 'When the club signs players, this is to help, like the club is doing now,' Neto said. 'So we are really happy. I didn't watch a lot of (Estevao's) matches. But like I say, I always focus on myself and on doing my job, and that is the most important stuff for me. I'm here to help the team and everyone who gets into the team is to help, as well.' Neto, 25, has been a joy to watch and his aggressiveness on the wing has been impressive. He gives Chelsea an attacking outlet both in possession and in transition, his pace is a weapon, and his goal against LAFC was a perfect example of the skill set he provides. Against Flamengo, Neto was again the aggressor. His fearless attacking play makes him worth paying to see. This summer, Neto sent a message: sign a wonderkid if you like, but don't forget the name on the back of his shirt. Felipe Cardenas Still only 20, Kenan Yildiz was picked out as one to watch by The Athletic's Serie A expert James Horncastle before the Club World Cup. Not everyone has seen as much of the Juventus forward, but his performances in the U.S. will have those who watched him paying a lot more attention in future. He has already delivered attention-grabbing moments in Europe, including a fine curling strike against PSV — the first in the revamped Champions League group stage. 2⃣0⃣ – Happy Birthday, Kenan Yıldız! 🎁🎂 😎 🆚 PSV in 2024 👏🤩#UCL — DE (@UEFAcom_de) May 4, 2025 He also scored on his Serie A debut and scored one of the best goals in Serie A last season. Tutta l'eleganza di Kenan Yildiz 🤵‍♂️🔟#TorinoJuve 1-1 — Lega Serie A (@SerieA) January 12, 2025 Juventus have had a fairly gentle start to their Club World Cup campaign, thrashing Al Ain of Abu Dhabi 5-0 and Wydad 4-1. Still, Yildiz's opening goal of the tournament would have beaten any goalkeeper in any team, while most defences would have struggled to stop him creating the opening own goal against Wydad or scoring Juve's third in that game. Steve Madeley