From Hakkinen to Hamilton – 8 dramatic DNFs from the lead

George Russell’s heartbreaking DNF from the lead at the Canadian Grand Prix, caused by a battery failure, places him in a storied line of drivers who have suffered similar fates. The incident handed a crucial victory to Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli, significantly widening the championship gap. Throughout F1 history, such retirements have often proven title-defining. From Mika Hakkinen’s final-lap hydraulic failure in 2001 to Kimi Raikkonen’s suspension break in 2005 and Sebastian Vettel’s painful home-race crash in 2018, these moments capture the cruel unpredictability of motorsport. Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, and Lewis Hamilton have also navigated similar heartbreaks, highlighting that even the sport's greatest legends are not immune to the fragility of their machines at the most critical moments.