Hamilton throws away win with shock error and Ricciardo takes memorable F1 victory

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has played host to some of the most dramatic moments in Formula 1 history.

On this day, 18 years ago, Lewis Hamilton threw away a comfortable victory with a pit lane blunder, and six years later, Daniel Ricciardo announced himself on the world stage with a sensational maiden win at the very same circuit.

On 8 June 2008, Hamilton was cruising towards what looked like a routine victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, having led from pole and built a gap of more than five seconds over Robert Kubica.

When Adrian Sutil's Force India ground to a halt and caught fire, the safety car was deployed, bunching the field and sending the leaders into the pits.

What followed was extraordinary. Kimi Raikkonen exited his pit box ahead of Kubica, and both stopped at a red light at the pit lane exit.

Hamilton, accelerating down the lane behind them, failed to spot the signal in time and slammed into the back of Raikkonen's stationary Ferrari.

Nico Rosberg then piled into the back of Hamilton's McLaren for good measure. Hamilton and Raikkonen were both out on the spot, while Rosberg limped on after fitting a new nose.

The chaos gifted Kubica and BMW Sauber the opportunity of a lifetime. The Polish driver took a famous victory, the only win of his career and the team's sole triumph in Formula 1, with Nick Heidfeld completing a remarkable 1-2.

It remains the only F1 world championship grand prix victory by a Polish driver.

Ricciardo's breakthrough

Exactly six years later, the Montreal circuit delivered again. The 2014 Canadian Grand Prix saw both Mercedes cars struck by MGU-K failures mid-race, costing them crucial straight-line speed.

Hamilton retired with overheating rear brakes, while Rosberg was left nursing a wounded car at the front.

Starting sixth, Ricciardo had driven a patient, measured race. With five laps remaining, he pounced, overtaking Sergio Perez for second before sweeping past the struggling Rosberg on lap 68 to take the lead.

He held it for just two laps before a safety car, triggered by a heavy crash between Massa and Perez on the final lap, sealed the result.

It was Red Bull's first win of the turbo-hybrid era and ended Mercedes' run of victories to start the season, confirming Ricciardo as a genuine front-line competitor.